Some photographers like to take pictures of doors and windows that they see in France. I'm one of them. But I also like to take pictures of words. That's what these are, in no particular order besides, maybe, chronological.
This is a mysterious expression when you first hear it. Then you realize that this way of saying "Don't worry about it!"
is elliptical. The long form would be something like Il ne faut pas que tu t'inquiètes ! or De quoi tu t'inquiètes ?
Personally, I think the spelling on this T-shirt is wrong — the verb needs a final S.
is elliptical. The long form would be something like Il ne faut pas que tu t'inquiètes ! or De quoi tu t'inquiètes ?
Personally, I think the spelling on this T-shirt is wrong — the verb needs a final S.
I wonder if this man just did some shopping in this fromagerie. And what he's looking at.
We had our annual fondue savoyarde — cheese fondue — last month, but we haven't yet had our first wintertime raclette.
I don't know what café/restaurant put up this sign.
We had a great meal in this restaurant in the Marais during our 2006 stay in Paris. Unfortunately, the next time
we went to Paris, I think just months or a year later, it had gone out of business.
Do you know what a rose des sables is?
we went to Paris, I think just months or a year later, it had gone out of business.
Do you know what a rose des sables is?
Paris is an international city, and you see a lot of English words as well as French ones. I liked the reflection in this sign.
Ah, la rose des sables. Paul told me, long ago, it was the formation of dried sand after a camel has peed on it.
ReplyDeleteIn Wikipedia, though, I found this: « À partir d’un germe ou point singulier, les cristaux de gypse croissent dans toutes les directions. Le développement de ces cristaux écarte le milieu encaissant. Dans les sables proches d’une nappe phréatique voisine de la surface du sol et imprégnés d’eaux riches en sulfates et en carbonates (eaux séléniteuses), les « roses des sables » peuvent se développer. Par suite de l’évaporation, la concentration ionique de la nappe augmente, ce qui permet aux cristaux de gypse de croître dans le sédiment imbibé d’eau. C’est donc au toit de la nappe, enfoui sous quelques mètres ou dizaines de mètres, que le processus s’accomplit. Le gypse étant une évaporite, un climat chaud favorise sa formation (Dan et Yaalon2, 1982) »1. in French
Deleteand this, in English: "Desert rose is the colloquial name given to rose-like formations of crystal clusters of gypsum or baryte which include abundant sand grains.[1] The 'petals' are crystals flattened on the c crystallographic axis, fanning open in radiating flattened crystal clusters.
"The rosette crystal habit tends to occur when the crystals form in arid sandy conditions,[1] such as the evaporation of a shallow salt basin. The crystals form a circular array of flat plates, giving the rock a shape similar to a rose blossom. Gypsum roses usually have better defined, sharper edges than baryte roses. Celestine and other bladed evaporite minerals may also form rosette clusters.[1] They can appear either as a single rose-like bloom or as clusters of blooms, with most sizes ranging from pea sized to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.
"The ambient sand that is incorporated into the crystal structure, or otherwise encrusts the crystals, varies with the local environment. If iron oxides are present, the rosettes take on a rusty tone."
Definitely less poetic than Paul's version!
Here, t'inquiète is in the imperative tense and even though in the second person does not take an S. So this is correct. French is so confusing!
ReplyDeleteNe te fais pas de souci would be the same meaning as the popular t'inquiète which would be Ne t'inquiète pas in classic French.
DeleteIt's hard for me to see how t'inquiète(s) is in the imperative without the pas. It makes more sense to see it as indicative or subjunctive, actually. It's the same with t'occupe(s) — meaning De quoi est-ce que tu t'occupes? I think the imperative without the S is a red herring that just confuses the issue. Can you think of other examples of such slang phrases like these? I mean negative imperative forms where there is no ne and no pas? I can think of one that's sort of similar: when you are giving somebody criticism or advice and the person thinks it's none of your business, the person can react by saying De quoi je me mêle?, meaning: Pose-toi la question : de quoi je me mêle?. Meaning "stop meddling".
DeleteAs you know, I'm not familiar with this kind of "évolution" of the language. However, I know that t'inquiète is an ellipsis for Ne t'inquiète pas in classic French. I already used, t'inquiète pas with the meaning of don't worry. Now, after the NE, the PAS is dropped. Next it will be the T' ! That's how I understand it. Many times, in popular language, the NE is dropped as in t'occupe pas (de ça), meaning this is not your business.
DeleteYou are right for De quoi j'me mèles.
Back to the S and the pronoun
Deletetu ne t'inquiètes pas = you are not worrying
ne t'inquiète pas = don't worry
The first is an affirmation ( if you put a question mark it will be a question);
the second is an order.
Here is what I found about Decquoi j'me mèle which is considered as slang!,
Delete(Argot) Réponse agressive à une question trop indiscrète pour indiquer à quelqu'un de se mêler de ce qui le regarde.
Agressive answer to a too nozy question to tell somebody to mind his/her own business.
The polite answer to a very nozy question is Si on vous le demande, vous direz que vous n'en savez rien. If you're asked, say you just don't know.
DeleteLa Rose des Sables makes me think of the restaurant Le Vent de Sable where we had lunch several times and once with Ellen and Paul.
ReplyDeleteI remember that. Very good couscous. Oh, now I have a hankering to go to a restaurant. The latest rumor is that restaurants will remain closed until around Easter!
DeleteFun post for us all, Ken!
ReplyDeletet'inquiètes...this is one of those words I look at and am not sure how to pronounce! Love the fondue and cafe signs, they're very cool!
ReplyDeleteFrance has the BEST signs! Thanks for these examples.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I loved these signs :) Ken, I look forward to your blog every morning, with my first cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteI was having the same kinds of thoughts as both you and chm, about t'inquiète!. On the one hand, no need for the final s if it's a command form, but on the other hand, why does this expression get used as a command form, without the pas?
and without the ne ?
DeleteThe ne part of the negative construction is insignificant phonetically. It gets dropped in the spoken language. It's the second part of the negative construction — pas, jamais, plus, rien — that transmits the (negative) meaning. Without the ne and without the second half of the negative construction, what do you have left? The opposite of what you want — the affirmative!
DeleteDans le cas présent, puisque le S manque, je pense que le PAS est sous-entendu. De toute façon ce n'est pas une expression à reccomander!
DeleteKen, it is interesting that from 1945 onwards, the influence of Gaullism probably, the appearance of any English word on signs and in public usage was virtually banned. Then, I am not exactly sure when, the tide turned and in recent visits to Paris I have noted with astonishment the frequency and almost the fashionableness of English words and phrases on signs etc., Roderick
ReplyDeleteAnglomania seems to have appeared in Frsnce in the 1750s with ups and downs ever since. In the old days because of pronunciation English words became unrecognizable. Such as boulingrin for bowling green and redingote for riding coat. There are probably others that do not come to my mind right away. Since the end of the 19th century and with the Entente cordiale there was a reemerging of anglomania. I don't mind English words in French as long as they express something we don't quite have. But when they try to replace a perfectly good French word, then I say, Holà!
DeleteThe one that really stopped me in my tracks was the ordinary red Stop sign. It says "Stop", just the way it does in the U.S. Most peculiar.
DeleteThe STOP sign is odd. In Québec, it often says HALTE. I guess STOP really is an international word though. When I took my old Peugeot in for service before its recent inspection, the mechanic told me this: Vous n'avez pas de stops à l'arrière. I'd never heard break lights (feux de frein) called stops before — but I just checked my Peugeot owner's manual and it uses the term feux stop. The little switch in the break pedal had stopped working and needed to be replaced.
DeleteLa plupart des commentaires que je lis sur le 'net disent la même chose. Recommandée ou pas, c'est une expression intéressante and un peu mystérieuse. Le génie de la langue...
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