Pictured are some walkie talkies, or, as they’re known in France, talkie walkies. The French are proud of their language, and rightly so, and they go out of their way to create new words so the English language doesn’t take their language over. In fact, they even have theAcadamie français, with 35 current ‘immortals’ who get to wear funky outfits while they toy with the idea of replacing recent English words (like ‘software’) with made-up French words (like ‘logiciel‘).
Yes, these people are called ‘immortals’ by the French due to their contribution to the French language. I imagine they had heavy hearts when the French government decided to change all ‘Arret‘ road signs to ‘Stop’ signs. They’ve also given into the French usage of ‘weekend’ and ‘wifi’ (pronounced ‘whiffy’), which is a major bonus when playing Scrabble in French.
But these are exceptions. When a new English word barges nonchalantly into the French language, the immortals are on the case toute suit. They come up with an entirely new word that sounds French. So what happened with ‘talkie walkie‘? Of course the French pronounce it with an accent which sounds cool and hilarious in equal measures, but it doesn’t sound at all French. I can only presume that they’ll be called something completely different within a few years.
But for now, we can all rejoice in the talkie walkie. Rejoice with me by listening to the recording! What do you think?
Logiciel is one case where the AF have got it spot on, it is a much more apt and accurate description of what is being described. Software is a dreadful Americanism that has entered the language.
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