[lit-ideas] Re: Ze Conseil superior of ze audiovisuel
- From: David Ritchie <ritchierd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 20:18:22 -0800
Having found an old copy of the "New Yorker" and read this evening Julian
Barnes' review of Michel Houellebecq's latest, "Platform," (well it was his
latest back then) I am inclined--while it's "open season" on the
French--(particularly the Proustian penchant for long sentences and
subordinate clauses; doesn't W wish they had a word for "penchant") to
repeat the eurojoke that Barnes quotes. "A British delegate to some E.U.
committee outlines his country's proposals, which, being British, are
typically pragmatic, sensible and detailed. The French delegate reflects
noddingly on them for a considerable period of time, before delivering
judgment: "Well, I can see that the plan will work in practice, but will it
work in theory?"
I realize that it's not fair to write in Franglais without translation.
Thus:
Absolutment correct, les euromecs. Laissez passer plus de soixante pourcent
de chansons immigrants, et sur comme les oeufs sont les oeufs, avant que
vous pourriez dire "Jack Robinson," le lasagne et chips, toute la boufe
anglaise, vous tombera dessus comme le loup sur le fold.
Quite right, chums. Allow in more than sixty percent of foreign songs and,
as sure as eggs is [are] eggs, before you can say "Jack Robinson," lasagne
and chips, all the rubbish that the English eat, will fall upon you like the
wolf upon the fold.
David Ritchie
Portland, Oregon
------------------------------------------------------------------
To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off,
digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
Other related posts:
