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The GOOD
Acceptable and justifiable words and terms that do enrich the language.
They conform to the long-established system for French spelling.
They fill a gap or void when there is no existing (single) word to express a reality or a specific shade of meaning.
They replace an existing word with multiple meanings in order to better distinguish a particular meaning (distinctness).
They condense a certain meaning into a one- or two-syllable word (brevity).
They express a North-American way of thinking or reality—not a European.
French
English
Comment / Justification
Bon matin !
Good Morning!
North Americans say “Good Morning” and generally not “Good Day” to one another.
boume (m)
boomboom
"boume" yes; "boom" no. "Boume" conforms to French spelling.
canne (f)
cancan
Distinctness: Large can (like a coffee can)
The word “boite” also means “box.”cannette (f)
can
Distinctness: Smaller can (like for pop or beer)
carde (f)
card
Distinctness: Greeting card as opposed to a map.
fonne (m)
fun
Brevity: One-syllable word to express a very common reality as opposed to longer multi-syllable words like “amusement” or “divertissement”
mappe (f)
map
Distinctness: Map as opposed to a greeting card.
smatte
smart
Distinctness/Brevity: As in English, offers a different shade of meaning distinguishing it from “bright” or “intelligent” or “brilliant.”
tipper
to tip
Brevity: Instead of “donner un pourboire à,” one word says it all!
toune (f)
tune
"toune" yes; "tune" no. "Toune" conforms to French spelling.
The BAD
Questionable words and terms. Are they really necessary?
Do they compete with a perfectly good existing word?
They mostly conform to the long-established system for French spelling.
(Could they be better spelled?)
French
English
Comment
bôlte (f)
bolt
Why not just use the word “boulon”?
chum (m)
pal / buddy
Why not just use the word “pote”?
maller
to mail
Why not just use the word “poster”?
pinotte (f)
peanut
Why not just use the word “arachide”?
pizza (f)
pizza
Why the need for the double “z”? Technically, that’s an Italian spelling thing, not a French.
sandwich (f)
sandwich
Why not conform to French spelling by writing this word “sandouiche”?
tchéquer
to check
Why not just use the word “vérifier” or “consulter”?
The “Bad” category is the category that has some “wiggle room.” You might say it's the "gray zone." This is also the category that fuels most debates as you might have guessed.
The UGLY
TRASH! That pretty much sums it up. Unjustifiable words and terms that serve no purpose. Of particular note is the word ending "-ing"; it has NO place in the French language of Canada!
They do not conform to the long-established system for French spelling.
They are nothing more than raw unadulterated English.
They are simply used for snob appeal or erroneously used as a replacement for an existing French word/term in good standing.
The ONLY proper place for…
…words like these in the French language.
"French"
baseball (m)
bowling (m)
building (m)
camping (m)
cheap
drywall (m)
email (m)
ferryboat (m)
fun (m)
jogging (m)
leadership (m)
marketing (m)
pick-up (m)
planning (m)
shopping (m)
uploader
week-end (m)
If there were no other reason not to use raw Anglicisms in French, spelling alone would be it! Let’s face it, spelling in English just plain sucks. Have you ever tried to explain to a French speaker why "snow" and "now" don't rhyme? The “system” leaves a lot to be desired. Spanish speakers probably have small anxiety bouts when they look at French, but must have nightmares after examining text in English.
So WHY would we French speakers want to take on the English language’s outrageous spelling system when we have a perfectly good one already?
But ultimately the first and foremost reason to just say NO to Anglicisms is this…
We are perfectly capable of creating
our own terminology!
Vive la Différence !
CATEGORIZING ANGLICISMS
