French basics for short phrases and pleasantries.

[Imperfacundus]

Just not forum politique.

 

[Pacifica]

Just not forum politique.

 

[Hawkwood]

Ah easy enough. So "forum poésie" say or whatever noun I choose. I'd have gone for an ex-pat one if it was lively, the thought just occurred to me about immersing myself properly.

Ta

 

[Hawkwood]

Just not forum politique.

Why didn't I think of that. Ta.

 

[Hawkwood]

Could impy or pax translate this below for me please?

"I've not got a laptop yet but will be buying one next month."

Normally I'd work this out myself but I want to have it right straight away.

Merci.

 

[Pacifica]

"Je n'ai pas encore de PC portable mais je vais en acheter un le mois prochain."

 

[Hawkwood]

Ah sorry, one last bit. "But I can chat via text until then"

Big thanks, Pax.

 

[Pacifica]

"Mais je peux chatter par sms d'ici là."

 

[Imperfacundus]

How do you tell apart je ne peux pas le faire and je peux ne pas le faire in casual ne-less speech ?

 

[Pacifica]

I'd keep the "ne" in the second one.

 

[Imperfacundus]

But otherwise just by context ?

 

[Pacifica]

To my mind, "ne" is requisite in the second one. I guess it's possible for someone speaking really carelessly to leave it out, but that would be a mistake.

 

[Imperfacundus]

Note to any American or British students thinking of going to live with a host family in France:

Upon arrival, your first word to the host should be ''Bonjour!'' As they welcome you into their home, be sure to show your appreciation for their hospitality and generosity. Here is an example phrase you might find useful (the assumed genders here are masculine for speaker, feminine for addressed):

''Merci, beaucu, vous êtres très gentille et bonne. Je suis tellement excité de m'introduire à vous!
Translation: ''Thank you very much, you are very kindhearted and good. I am so excited to introduce myself to you!''

Enjoy your stay and remember to have fun!

 

[Pacifica]

Are you turning all Etaoin Shrdlu or what?

 

[Dantius]

 

[Pacifica]

I mean deceiving learners with misleading advice, as she tried to do.

"Beaucu", intentional misspelling for "beaucoup", which mean "very much", sounds like "beau cul", which means "pretty ass".

"Bonne" does indeed mean literally "good (fem.)", but when applied to a woman in French that can mean "hot", "sexually attractive".

"Je suis tellement excité" can be taken as "I am so sexually aroused".

And, "m'introduire à vous" is, well, indeed a literal translation of "to introduce myself to you", but it isn't very idiomatic in the sense of the English expression, and the verb "introduire" can have connotations which you may guess.

 

[Imperfacundus]

Terribly sorry, I must note that the phrase was not entirely accurate.

You see, it should say êtes rather than *êtres.

À toute à l'heure, les élèves !

 

[Hawkwood]

''Merci, beaucu, vous êtres très gentille et bonne. Je suis tellement excité de m'introduire à vous!

Je peux vous compandre mais je ne peux pas savior votre insinuation.

 

[Quasus]

Does anybody know of a busy french online forum that's all in French, for French people so to speak? I've an idea to immerse myself. I don't need help with the signing up, I just need pointing in the right direction. Typing in 'French Forum', 'French Language Forum' etc is merely giving me dead ex-pat forums with not much going on.

The topic of the forum isn't that important, more that it's busy and full of French peeps.

Ta.

Adding "dernier message" to the query also helps.

 

[Hawkwood]

Ah I see. I've managed to make a couple of skype connections over the last few days so I'll probably put the French forum on hold for a while. I did join one but it was hard striking up banter.

Merci.