Comments on: building blocks http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:42:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Isabella http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2286 Isabella Thu, 17 Feb 2005 16:22:17 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2286 "They learn the gender and the noun as one indivisible unit of language from the beginning." That is a very interesting observation. However, I've noticed my little one (and her daycare companions) using French nouns without articles, and initially this surprised me. However, it may go a long way toward explaining the dismissal of articles in Quebecois (I'm in Montreal) and why so many people get them wrong — somewhere along the line historically (perhaps by analogy with the overwhelming anglo language/culture) they decided noun and article were separate units. “They learn the gender and the noun as one indivisible unit of language from the beginning.”

That is a very interesting observation. However, I’ve noticed my little one (and her daycare companions) using French nouns without articles, and initially this surprised me. However, it may go a long way toward explaining the dismissal of articles in Quebecois (I’m in Montreal) and why so many people get them wrong — somewhere along the line historically (perhaps by analogy with the overwhelming anglo language/culture) they decided noun and article were separate units.

]]> By: Ria http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2285 Ria Thu, 17 Feb 2005 16:09:12 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2285 My prof at Paris III wrote an interesting book about his grand-daughter learning to speak. The book is "Caroline grammairienne en herbe" by Henri Adamczewski. My prof at Paris III wrote an interesting book about his grand-daughter learning to speak. The book is “Caroline grammairienne en herbe” by Henri Adamczewski.

]]> By: R J Keefe http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2282 R J Keefe Thu, 17 Feb 2005 00:57:00 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2282 PA, you have discovered the secret of - something. "Labouche" indeed! Perhaps that's how student dictionaries ought to be arranged. If it were up to me, all the words would be feminine. I really like the extra 'e's, not to mention the sounded-out finals. (Twould be a veritable end to honking.) But, seriously, "labouche" reminds me of something French - it might be universal-outside-America, for all I know - the habit of always adding "monsieur" or "madame" or a proper name to everyday greetings. Bonjour tout court? Cela ne se dit pas. PA, you have discovered the secret of - something. “Labouche” indeed! Perhaps that’s how student dictionaries ought to be arranged.

If it were up to me, all the words would be feminine. I really like the extra ‘e’s, not to mention the sounded-out finals. (Twould be a veritable end to honking.)

But, seriously, “labouche” reminds me of something French - it might be universal-outside-America, for all I know - the habit of always adding “monsieur” or “madame” or a proper name to everyday greetings. Bonjour tout court? Cela ne se dit pas.

]]> By: Bob http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2281 Bob Wed, 16 Feb 2005 21:02:43 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2281 One of our daughters used to stride around the house, swaggering really, when she was around 2-3 years old and say "sonabench." It was all one word said with a great deal of force but we had no idea what she was saying. Turns out that a John Wayne movie, The Cowboys, was on at my evilinlaws and one of the boys called John Wayne a sonofabitch. Does she walk around saying mommy, love you, daddy, or anything remotely endearing? Nope, we were all sonabenches in her eyes. :roll: One of our daughters used to stride around the house, swaggering really, when she was around 2-3 years old and say “sonabench.” It was all one word said with a great deal of force but we had no idea what she was saying.

Turns out that a John Wayne movie, The Cowboys, was on at my evilinlaws and one of the boys called John Wayne a sonofabitch.

Does she walk around saying mommy, love you, daddy, or anything remotely endearing? Nope, we were all sonabenches in her eyes. :roll:

]]> By: vitriolica http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2280 vitriolica Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:51:01 +0000 http://www.petiteanglaise.com/archives/2005/02/16/building-blocks/#comment-2280 why can't we all speak esperanto? i'm kidding. why can’t we all speak esperanto? i’m kidding.

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