Sunday was a momentous day for Europe. Not only did my French language blog go live, but also, and perhaps more importantly, Poland, the largest of the applicants to join the EU, voted yes by a massive majority to accession in its referendum.
I think it's wonderful that the European family is expanding to include countries such as Poland and Estonia, suppliers of such fiendishly difficult languages, stunning scenery and great music.
Now that trade barriers of all kinds are to be lifted between our countries, perhaps Poland might like to try their hand at exporting enthusiasm for the EU to Britain!
Posted by Eurodan at June 8, 2003 8:31 PMHear hear, again. Alas, the official measure of Poland's enthusiasm is bound to come a very poor second (or third, or fourth, or ninety-eighth) in tomorrow's S*n to the glorious news that "Gordon has saved the Pound" (again).
But anyway...
Daniel - on this momentous occasion (who did you get to cut the tricolour ribbon? - the Monkey Mayor of Hartlepool would've been a good choice) it seems appropriate to report that, in the office on Friday, I overheard the following:
"...I want them to have the full gamoo of options..."
Gamoo?? It took my brain a few seconds to process that one and realise that, rather charmingly, the speaker believed "gamut" to be a French word. Although English is littered with the rusting hulks of French words we've adopted and mangled to suit our own tongue, I don't think I've heard anyone try to forcibly "repatriate" a non-native like that before! Have you?
Posted by: Erato at June 9, 2003 9:28 AMHa ha - gamoo - that's wonderful!
There must be other words in that category... I'll have to have a think.
As it is I'm about to go into a French to English (and back again) interpreting exam. I'll remember to use the phrase 'a full gamoo' at some point ;-)
Posted by: Eurodan at June 9, 2003 10:34 AMHow did the exam go???
Posted by: Erato at June 10, 2003 9:10 AMWell, not too bad, except I was accused of flirting with the external examiner!
I mean, me? All I did was glance at him on my way out of the room - after all, there aren't that many external examiners with a pierced eyebrow...
Posted by: Eurodan at June 10, 2003 11:13 AMIs that a glance that starts at the face, descends slowly down the body to the feet then wends its way back to the eyes, by any chance? ;-)
Posted by: Adam at June 11, 2003 10:38 AMWill *no-one* believe me? *sigh*
Posted by: Eurodan at June 11, 2003 12:35 PM