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Re: Garage

To: cobra@cdc.hp.com
Subject: Re: Garage
From: phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov (Philip J Ethier)
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 92 21:25:46 CST
Roland Dudley writes >

>And isn't garage of French origin.  I believe the British
>pronunciation is closer to the French.  Probably for the same reason:
>proximity; not to mention the influence of the French language on
>English.

Quite the reverse, old man.  The British Anglicize words from French much 
faster than the Yanks, using the accent on the first syllable in nouns.  
I think they don't want to sound like bloody Frenchmen.  

French = ga-raj   Yank = ga-RAJ (much harder J)  British = GAR-idge or GAY-raj

A Yank will eat a french-sounding fil-LAY mig-NON, 
whereas a Briton wants his FILL-it steak.

Maybe proximity breeds contempt?

OK, I have been wrong about other languages, now you Englishmen out there can 
correct me!  I am an American, a French-Canadian and Irish mix.  I don't speak 
French or Gaelic and I have never been across the pond, but I am willing to 
learn.

Phil Ethier, THE RIGHT LINE, 672 Orleans Street, Saint Paul, MN   55107-2676
h (612) 224-3105  w (612) 298-5324     phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov
"Carburetor is a French word meaning 'leave the damned things alone'." 
                                                                 - Dick O'Kane


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