{"id":5675,"date":"2023-12-12T09:32:28","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T09:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/?p=5675"},"modified":"2024-05-14T10:31:16","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T10:31:16","slug":"%f0%9f%92%acstreet-linguistics-in-toulouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/2023\/12\/12\/%f0%9f%92%acstreet-linguistics-in-toulouse\/","title":{"rendered":"?’Street Linguistics’ in Toulouse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jordan Codispoti | Ava Niendstadt | Emily Poland | Ari Lissack<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonverbal elements of language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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            <\/strong>The French language is often referred to as the language of love, but what gets forgotten are the intricate sound effects that enhance the emotive fabric of French. French linguistic tics and noises, \u201ctics de langue\u201d or \u201cbruitages linguistiques,\u201d are interesting components of the language. These idiosyncrasies, which are based on everyday, casual speech, add to the charm and the uniqueness of French. They are small, often subconscious sounds, interjections, and expressions that add depth and nuance to conversations. As foreign students learning how to be confident and conversational in a new language, taking the time to understand these unique habits adds a whole new level to our comprehension and expression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The French language is often referred to as the language of love, but what gets forgotten are the intricate sound effects that enhance the emotive fabric of French. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since being in Toulouse, we have noticed a plethora of examples of these onomatopoeic noises and expressions used by our hosts, our teachers, our friends, and strangers we interact with on a day-to-day basis. At first, it was confusing because the sounds have different meanings in America, but over time we have been able to assign meaning to these small noises or words to further advance our capabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our opinion, the most subtle noise, but noticeable to a foreign ear, is the raspberries. The noise is created by placing the tongue between the lips and expelling air. It means to have no idea or no clue. It is used as a familiar replacement for a sentiment beyond a simple \u201cnon\u201d or \u201cje ne sais pas,\u201d adding a bit of drama. \u201cHmm\u201d and \u201chein\u201d are used to seek agreement, confirmation, or clarification, in an interactive manner. This specifically gauges the listener\u2019s response instead of asking straightforwardly, \u201cWhat do you think?\/can you repeat that?\u201d \u201cHop\u201d, pronounced without the \u201ch\u201d like \u201cup,\u201d is a way to say \u201cthere we go.\u201d Similarly, \u201chop l\u00e0\u201d is used when finishing an action. The phrases “bah” and “euh” are frequently used in French speech too. Similar to the English “well” or “um,” “bah” is an interjection that expresses hesitancy. When weighing options or responding to unexpected news, it frequently helps to create a natural flow in speech. “Euh” is a filler word that creates a pause while looking for the appropriate words, enhancing the rhythm and flow of speech, instead of \u201cum.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These linguistic quirks and tics not only serve as subtle ways to express emotions, attitudes, and nuances in communication but also give the French language personality. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another very often used expression is \u201ctac.\u201d It is sort of a nonsense thing, similar to people in America mindlessly humming or going \u201cdoot-doot-doo,\u201d while completing a task or explaining steps. In addition, instead of saying \u201coh!\u201d when receiving clarity or expressing confusion, the French always use \u201cah!\u201d The French frequently use the word “bof” to denote indifference or a lack of passion. It is used in place of the English word “meh” when a person isn’t very enthusiastic or interested in something. “Bof” is a quick way to express a neutral or lukewarm attitude. Finally, where Americans believe that \u201cooh l\u00e0 l\u00e0\u201d is a phrase always to express amazement and awe at something fashionable or beautiful, it also is most often used as \u201coh l\u00e0 l\u00e0\u201d in other contexts to react with annoyance, frustration, or surprise, almost to say \u201coh dear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These linguistic quirks and tics not only serve as subtle ways to express emotions, attitudes, and nuances in communication but also give the French language personality. They add to the emotional and melodic nature of the language and act as an essential piece of the cultural fabric of the spoken language. These noises were confusing at first when being fully immersed in the language, adding another element to our adjustment in a new country. One\u2019s ability to participate in more genuine and meaningful conversations in French can be improved by understanding and adding these noises and tics into their repertoire. They act as cultural markers to navigate the expressive quality of the French language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The evolution of languages often corresponds with changes in overall lifestyle. With the introduction of technology we have seen a change in written informal language. There is much more opportunity with texting to use an informal written language than there would have been before. The French language has thus adapted, like English, to cater to the newfound need for written expression. Texting and online chats are the main source of informal written language and where much of the slang comes from. Learning French in highschool and college classrooms, texting and informal language are not mentioned in our textbooks, so being in France and having some of our first informal text conversations can be jarring. For most of us, texting consists of asking for a lot of clarification on small phrases or abbreviations that make the text incomprehensible for a non native speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For most of us, texting consists of asking for a lot of clarification on small phrases or abbreviations that make the text incomprehensible for a non native speaker. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Similarly to our experiences speaking in French, our understanding of how to communicate is perhaps more formal than needed for everyday life. The French writing skills we have been taught so far have been helpful in learning to write dissertations, but when you receive a text that says \u201cwesh, tfk\u201d or \u201c tkt osef,\u201d the formal writing for dissertations doesn\u2019t offer much help in understanding or responding to the confusing new messages. Many of the differences between informal and formal spoken French translate into texting language as well, but the abbreviations can be confusing and nervewracking to see. But on top of the abbreviations for the French language, they also use English abbreviations and phrases such as \u201clol,\u201d \u201comg,\u201d and pop culture phrases like \u201cit’s giving\u201d in their day to day life. The use of the English slang makes understanding a little easier, but doesnt stop the frantic search online for a list of French slang and their meanings. Some other popular French abbreviations and slang I have seen are, trkl, nrmlt, mtn, bjr, bsr, stv, and askip, which translate to \u201ctranquille\u201d, \u201cnormalement,\u201d \u201cmaintenant,\u201d \u201cbonjour,\u201d \u201cbonsoir,\u201d \u201csi tu veux,\u201d and \u201c \u00e0 ce qu\u2019il para\u00eet\u201d which are all common terms in the French language. If any of us received a text with the full word we would immediately  understand the text, but with the incorporation of the abbreviations our understanding is hindered leaving us confused and questioning what our next step will be in order to understand the message. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from slang and abbreviations, the way words are used and translated changes based on context. For example, a text that says “oui je suis grave chaud” doesn’t directly translate [to “yes I am gravely hot”], but instead means “I would love to.” The connotations of the words change based on the context they are used in, and while this is common in French and English, that doesn’t change the confusion it causes for a non native speaker. For example the word \u201cchaud\u201d which in English translates to \u201chot\u201d but in the context of that phrase, directly translating the word would not only confuse the non native speaker more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our use and understanding of at the very least parts<\/em> of the French slang are an important part of our integration into French culture and connection with other French students. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I spent my junior year of highschool studying abroad in the south of France, and after learning French from a group of French highschoolers, I had become decently accustomed to the slang and abbreviations used in text and in spoken French. But after not using that part of the language for nearly four years coming back to France has been a never-ending cycle of “I forgot about that” when I see or hear French slang in everyday life. Although a lot has stayed the same, there is also a lot that is completely new to me, whether it’s because it was introduced in the last few years or because it was something I had completely missed my first time around. Our use and understanding of at the very least parts<\/em> of the French slang are an important part of our integration into French culture and connection with other French students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formality and Informality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another challenge faced by our group was adapting the formal and somewhat professional French language style that we learned in our American classrooms to casual, everyday conversations. Although this change was expected, the extent to which it would impact our daily lives could never have been adequately predicted. There are so many turns of phrase and colloquial sayings that went unacknowledged in our French classes, and others we learned in school that have yet to prove useful. For example, \u201cComme-ci, comme-ca?\u201d Nobody actually responds that way when asked how they are. \u201cDe rien\u201d to say \u201cyou\u2019re welcome\u201d ? In fact, it\u2019s much more common to say \u201cavec plaisir.\u201d While these changes may seem small, they actually disrupt the entire way we have learned about and perceived the French language, which makes me wonder what in the world the people who created American French textbooks were thinking and whether they knew they were misleading us in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The language barrier makes it difficult to articulate a particularly poignant thought or funny idea, often leading ourinteresting stories and normally crowd-pleasing punchlines to be received with blank stares and empty smiles. These realizations made learning and modeling how real <\/em>French people speak even more urgent. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, it\u2019s a bit jarring to actualize the fact that most of our French-speaking experience (with the exception of Ava, who spent most of her junior year as an exchange student in a French high school) could be impractical. In other words, our acquisition of French as non-native French speakers has been primarily simulated in a context without much cultural input. We learned the formal French language in order to write essays and have class discussions with other learners of French. Collectively, we lacked the resources and experiences necessary to truly know <\/em>and inhabit everyday French. So, in class, we spoke a sterilized version of French that would likely only be understood by others in this unique situation. If a native French speaker were to somehow correctly interpret this attempt at communication, it would sound unnatural and translated. And, perhaps most frustrating, our French lacks personality. The language barrier makes it difficult to articulate a particularly poignant thought or funny idea, often leading ourinteresting stories and normally crowd-pleasing punchlines to be received with blank stares and empty smiles. These realizations made learning and modeling how real <\/em>French people speak even more urgent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the first things I did upon arriving here [to speak more authentic French] was drop the \u201cne\u201d negation […] off of all my sentences. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

One of the first things I did upon arriving here was drop the \u201cne\u201d negation (ne\u2026pas\/plus\/jamais\/que\/etc.) off of all my sentences. Even though I had never once said \u201cje pense pas\u201d (je ne pense pas) or \u201cc\u2019est pas\u201d (ce n\u2019est pas) before living here, these sayings have become regulars in my toolbox. To be fair, this is similar to saying \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d instead of \u201ccannot\u201d or \u201cdon\u2019t\u201d instead of \u201cdo not,\u201d so the adjustment in this case felt somewhat natural. It\u2019s just crazy how many practical things never came up when we were writing French academically. And, of course, we are adjusting to this alongside the added pressure of expressing ourselves quickly and correctly in conversations with others. For example, how you speak changes entirely based on who you are addressing. The presence of formal and informal versions of \u201cyou\u201d in French (\u201cvous\u201d and \u201ctu,\u201d respectively) poses a challenge that doesn\u2019t exist in English. Do I know this person well enough to address them with \u201ctu?\u201d Will this person feel insulted if I use \u201cvous\u201d with them? And how do I ask what pronoun they prefer without using one of them in the formation of the question (\u201cTu\/vous pr\u00e9f\u00e8s\/pr\u00e9f\u00e9rez\u2026?\u201d)? Furthermore, formal and informal speaking patterns change based on the environment and age demographic…obviously. Our French class never taught us the slang words young people use when speaking to each other or the filler words and phrases (\u201cdu coup,\u201d \u201cgenre,\u201d \u201cbref,\u201d etc.) they naturally use when speaking. Knowing the French equivalents of things like \u201cum,\u201d \u201cy\u2019know,\u201d and \u201clike\u201d is essential to understanding everyday French and sounding like a \u201creal\u201d French speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Ironically, another thing our group discussed about speaking casually in French is how we feel like common French vocabulary is just a really formalized version of English. Since around 40% of English words come from French (that\u2019s like 80,000 words, thanks Ari for enlightening us), a lot of things that French people say can technically be translated similarly in English. However, we\u2019ve also noticed that these cognates have a much more formal connotation in English than in French. For example, the verb \u201cam\u00e9liorer\u201d means \u201cto improve,\u201d but \u201cameliorate\u201d is also a word in English. We would never say we want to ameliorate our French skills, but this is how we articulate it in French. The same goes for a ton of other words: poser (to pose, to ask), r\u00e9pondre (to respond, to answer), d\u2019habitude (usually, habitually), and voyager (to voyage, to travel), just to name a few. Thus, sometimes it is a little difficult to say these phrases with a straight face. I\u2019m not sure why this is but it certainly makes me wonder what learning English as a second language is like for French speakers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language Inclusivity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            <\/strong>One of the biggest differences between French and English is the way in which each language is viewed by its speakers. The Acad\u00e9mie Fran\u00e7aise<\/em>, the governing body of the French language, has for nearly 400 years worked to keep spelling, grammar, and vocabulary within \u201cexpected\u201d and \u201cacceptable\u201d standards. English however has no such authority. There isn\u2019t one standard dialect of English. Parisian French is often promoted as the standard dialect to the detriment of the many regional dialects and languages of France which have their own unique histories. Although non-native English speakers with accents do face discrimination, the variety between English accents and the global usage of the language certainly makes English a much more accepting language to speak for new learners. The issue of inclusivity of differences in speech is not a black and white debate, as there are plenty of merits to preserving a language\u2019s \u201cstandard\u201d form  and the culture which it carries, but it does not fail to merit debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The French language is often treated as the language of high culture in the anglophone world. Given the historical dominance of France in European diplomatic and cultural affairs, it is no surprise that French vocabulary makes up a large part of English in addition to the Norman brought over in the 11th century. On the other hand, now that we live in a world dominated by the English speaking superpower of the US, it should be no surprise that English loanwords appear in French. Unexpectedly from my American perspective, using English words or phrases when speaking French can add emphasis, authority, or even importance to what is being said. The Acad\u00e9mie Fran\u00e7aise, as well as the French government have tried to crack down on invasive anglicisms. The French government has enacted laws which require French to be used in commercial contracts, advertising, and in media broadcasts. If you look closely at some advertisements from companies that might use an English word to make the advertisement more \u201ccool,\u201d there is always an asterisk with a direct French translation available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The <\/em>Acad\u00e9mie Fran\u00e7aise, the governing body of the French language, has for nearly 400 years worked to keep spelling, grammar, and vocabulary within \u201cexpected\u201d and \u201cacceptable\u201d standards. English however has no such authority. […] The idea of a language governed by an older authority disconnected from the situation on the ground is completely foreign to an American English speaker. […] Who has a right to control a language more than its speakers?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this defensive attitude towards French is not universal. Many people, particularly young people, continue to increasingly incorporate English into their speech. While walking to class at the University of Toulouse 2, which is littered with posters and banners from various anti-authority groups, I noticed a sentence written onto a bulletin board: \u201cFaire des fautes d\u2019orthographe, c\u2019est ok. Arr\u00eatez de sacraliser le fran\u00e7ais\u201d or \u201cMaking spelling mistakes is ok. Stop sanctifying French.\u201d The conservative idea of protecting the French language as it naturally evolves is opposed by the younger generations, who are almost always at the forefront of linguistic innovation. In English we hear about new words that are invented and put in dictionaries every year. Spellings change, or even can be accepted in multiple ways. The idea of a language governed by an older authority disconnected from the situation on the ground is completely foreign to an American English speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand each of these very intertwined languages, understanding their cultures and how they live and breathe is crucial. Languages are said to be living creatures which evolve, grow, and adapt to the situation around them. While there is no harm in wanting to control the chaotic development of a language, the right of a single authority to govern a language spoken by hundreds of millions is certainly questionable. Who has a right to control a language more than its speakers?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jordan Codispoti | Ava Niendstadt | Emily Poland | Ari Lissack Nonverbal elements of language             The French language is often referred to as the language of love, but what gets forgotten are the intricate sound effects that enhance the emotive fabric of French. French linguistic tics and noises, \u201ctics de langue\u201d or \u201cbruitages linguistiques,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5459,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[343164,30101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-la-une-en-anglais-2023","category-2-la-une-in-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5459"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5675\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}