Les francophones s’énervent souvent face à l’invasion d’anglicismes et surtout d’américanismes dont la suprématie des Etats-Unis au 20^e siècle a apporté la mode. Mais que dire de l’influence du français omniprésente dans la langue anglaise ? Sans connaître l’anglais, on peut le comprendre à peu près.

The English language has numerous phonemes with a French origin. A French person discovers an English text with facility. In 1066, the date of the Norman invasion of England, 10.000 French idioms were absorbed and 75% continue to dominate.

Nourishing is important for the English. They envy French restaurants, the menu and dinner à la carte, the haute cuisine cordon bleu, commencing with an amuse-bouche. They respect the chefs, their tradition and savoir-faire. The décor of these places have a certain panache, a je ne sais quoi terribly chic, possibly nouveau riche. And embonpoint is a consequence.

One of the chain of bistrots à la mode is Prêt à manger, not for the gourmets. Entre nous I confess that I prefer Indian or Italian restaurants in London.

The tea rooms offer delicious specialties, cheese cakes, scones, biscuits, sandwiches.  

Fiction

In fiction, the thrillers are an appreciated category which create a frissson. The crime passionnel is de rigueur. For the result cherchez la femme, la femme fatale and the gigolo. The dénouement is a tour de force, a magnificent mise en scène. Every detail counts.The authors have noms de plume for these œuvres, Le Carré for example.

Historical stories abound in causes célèbres, agents provocateurs, arrivistes, bourgeois blasés. The police maintains the esprit de corps and the sang-froid of the profession. No laissez faire, no faux pas.

History is a typical challenge for the English people. They were especially active in the defense of the liberty of the nation contra the dangerous attacks of the Nazis. The liberation of Europe was a great victory, a sort of force for unity with the monarchy. Social progress was a result. No place for mediocrity.

Nature

The attention for the nature and the animals is also very English.  There are splendid national parks and zoological gardens which merit a visit. In London, the Zoological Gardens in Regents Park, and Kew Gardens, just south of London, are famous.

All the principal sports were invented by English or American athletes. As a consequence they have English names: football, rugby, basketball, squash, hockey, ping pong, cricket, etc., except handball (German), and tennis (from French tenez), where you count the points : ace, deuce, love, set and match ! What a joie de vivre when you hit the ball or brandish the racket with élan.

In music, most of the instruments have similar names in English and French. A part from symponies, the titles of pieces are principally Italian : concerto, aria, toccata, rondo, allegro, andante.

English art critics, when they are reasonable and not absurd nor outré, make comments that are intelligible.

Not difficult

Really, English on paper is not difficult. But conversation is different. The accent makes it embarrassing to comprehend and impossible to imitate. Lessons are certainly necessary, voilà !

P.S. Je ne poursuivrai pas ce petit bavardage. J’ai choisi un vocabulaire destiné à rassurer les personnes qui craignent l’anglais. Ce n’est certes pas de la grande littérature, mais un petit exercice linguistique qui se présente comme une réplique aux anglicismes.