On the ITV1 chat show Parkinson (03/04/2006), Mr. Blair talked about his most embarrassing prime ministerial moment.
When giving a press conference in France, Tony Blair was asked if there were any French policies he would like to imitate.
Mr Blair, trying to answer in French, replied: "I desire your prime minister in many different positions."
It suddenly occurs to me: do native French speakers know that the expression "pardon my French" in American English means "excuse me for using (choose one) vulgar/blasphemous/obscene language" ?
Thanks for the kind words. I'm always eager for corrections, ideas and anecdotes from the peanut gallery. Anybody who has a suggestion for a post on new and different problems we 'aliens' have with French will be my friend for life (not to mention being footnoted in the blog).
Welcome to the group! These blogs were originally published as articles in France Today, a sister publication of France-Amérique. But as they are not being put on the France Today website, I've decided to distribute them here, in case somebody finds them useful (or even better, funny).
Comments
On the ITV1 chat show Parkinson (03/04/2006), Mr. Blair talked about his most embarrassing prime ministerial moment.
When giving a press conference in France, Tony Blair was asked if there were any French policies he would like to imitate.
Mr Blair, trying to answer in French, replied: "I desire your prime minister in many different positions."
Thanks for the kind words. I'm always eager for corrections, ideas and anecdotes from the peanut gallery. Anybody who has a suggestion for a post on new and different problems we 'aliens' have with French will be my friend for life (not to mention being footnoted in the blog).
Cheers,
nora
Sherrill Jones
Stony Brook, NY