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2torial
#0665:
Learn2
Get By In French
C'est what?
French is spoken by almost 200 million people in
the world--in Europe, the Carribean, South America,
Canada and Africa. It can also sound baffling when
compared with English. However, Francophones take
great pride in their language and any attempt at
communicating with the local way of speaking is
appreciated.
What does "get by" mean? It refers to a basic,
functional ability to arrange food, shelter and
transport and to share basic info about your past.
Although mastering this 2torial may not get you any
linguistic achievement awards, it will be a step
closer to understanding the local cultures and
languages of French speakers all over the world.
And you'll avoid being a part of the unsightly
crowd that floods the streets of Paris in August,
who assume that English is spoken worldwide and
make no attempt to communicate in the native
tongue.
Oh yes, one suggestion: Be ready to make
mistakes. This is possibly the most difficult
lesson to learn. Charlie Parker, one of the best
Western musicians of this century, said it very
well: "If you don't make mistakes, you're not
trying hard enough!"
Feeling nervous and awkward with your first
language attempts is natural--but "getting by"
simply takes patience and an interest in your
surroundings. A hotelier will already be prepared
for your room inquiries, a taxi driver will know
you want to go somewhere, and a waiter will
anticipate that you want a meal. And those
exchanges that fall in between, well, that's where
the confusion and the fun come in.
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