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Commentaire de claire hass

sur Diam's : « C'est pas l'école qui nous dicte nos codes »


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claire hass (---.---.100.65) 19 mai 2006 17:59

Dear Marc,

Your observations about English, as seen from the outside looking in, are quite insightful, yet they do not do justice to our language’s incredible succinctness.

You ask the equivalent of « Bon Courage »,- well, this depends on which epoque one refers to. Until recently, and including some current speakers and writers, we would use « Godspeed » for « Bon Courage ». This would be more so in a letter then in conversation.

It also depends on the gender. As anglosaxons have eternally gone to war,(the men), many expressions which implore courage refer to courage on the battlefield. Hence the expression, « STand Tall. » But in the psychological sense, for example in contending with a difficult psychological situation, one might say to a friend, regardless of gender,« tough it out ».

Between young men, military or athletic, an expression such as « hang in there », or « stay the course », means to have the courage and stamina to see a task through to the end.

To your ear, our language is a monotone. But to us, when we pause, ands for how long, is significant. So is inflection.

And so many of our words which derive from German, sound like what they mean : whisper, whittle, cranky, trickling, crafty, etc etc.

The most subtle feeling can be perfectly expressed in a precise and touching manner in English.

And our use of an understatement is very effective, especially if you want to provoke a serious dialogue.

Above all, it can be deduced by what we do Not say, - what we deliberately exclude,- what is truly inferred.

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