A charming shop in Paris
ricain(e) (ree-kah(n) ree-kahn)
: American (slang)
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French lyrics to the famous song, below: Download MP3 or Wav file
Si les Ricains n'étaient pas là, vous seriez tous en Germanie. If the Americans weren't there, you'd all be in Germany. -Michel Sardou, French singer
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
Ricane English and Hound dog French
The other night I received an unusual request from my daughter. Standing in the doorway, her voice was soft: "Can we practice English?"
"Bien sûr!" I said, patting the cushion beside me. We've come a long way since elementary school days, when my kids would stop me at the gates of their école maternelle: "Please don't talk, Mom. Pas un mot!"
What had been embarrassment has turned, over the past few years, into fierté. "I am so lucky to have a mom who speaks English!" Jackie acknowledged, entering my bedroom.
Seated beside me now, my 15-year-old is determined. "I want to pronounce my r's like an American!"
"Really?" I say, beginning our lesson.
"Weally!" Jackie smiles, happy to jump in.
"No, rrreally," I correct her.
"WWWeally," Jackie tries again, clearly struggling. Funny how that R humbles both of us, Jackie in English—and me in French!
"Not 'wheely'."A wheely, I point out, "is something you do to show off on your bike! Try again. Rrrreally… rrrraspberry… rrrrow… row row row your boat."
Jackie laughs. She doesn't recognize Row Your Boat, but the rhyme is funny all the same. My daughter repeats the words, impatient when I don't respond right away.
"Corrige-moi!" She pleads, reminding me of her summer plans. She'll spend a month in Idaho, at her grandparents', and she wants to lose her accent, rrrrapidos!
"OK. Listen up: rrrred… rrrromania… rrrrachel… rah rah rah shish boom bah! "
My student laughs. The pop culture reference escapes her, but silliness is universal, and that she gets.
Enough silliness, Jackie reminds me this is serious business! She only has 5 months to learn to speak like a star-spangled ricaine!
"But you don't have to sound like an American. Everyone will love your French accent!" I assure her.
Jackie shakes her head, and the look on her face is slang for nothin' doin! "I need to learn argot, too!" my daughter adds.
Jackie's wish to conquer her thick accent and to speak street English reminds me of my own aspirations to sound like a native. As an American, I have always wanted to speak French like Jodie Foster!
Jackie urges me to talk in full sentences now, for more repetition and comprehension.
"OK," I agree, wondering what to talk about….
"It is a gift to be bilingual…" I begin.
(Jackie smiles, as she repeats)
Encouraged, I keep the drill going, sneaking in a few affirmations… Jackie repeats each line:
Speaking French and English will open many doors for me…
I enjoy studying language….
…and math, too!!… (Jackie shoots me a sarcastic look, but is obligated to repeat my English words… Which reinforces my idea…)
I know that the more education I get, the more opportunities I will have in life…
I organize my school supplies…. And enjoy keeping my room tidy…. I make my bed each morning…
Jackie shakes her head as she repeats the last sentences. "OK, Mom. Can we work on the r's again?"
As we go through Roxanne, row row, and raspberry shish boom bah, I steal glances at my daughter, admiring her profile as she twists her lips, trying to find the American r channel. If she keeps twisting, she just might reach it! Her silky hair cascades off her shoulder in a fountain of brown and blond. "What is it you call that style?" I ask, referring to her recent trip to the hairdresser's.
"Tie and dye."
The tie and dyed hair looks great on her; but the brown-roots-blond-ends wouldn't work for me, though. I go to the salon to reverse that effect!
As Jackie struggles with the string of "r" words, I reach over and pat her on the shoulder, sweeping her bottle-blond ends aside.
"Don't worry, Jackie. I am incapable of pronouncing certain words, too."
"Weally?"
"The French word for 'truffle'… Impossible for me to pronounce it!
"Vas-y! Let me hear you say it!"
I shake my ahead, ashamed.
"Truffe! Go ahead, say it!"
I can't! I can't say the word. To say it is to appear a fool in front of my student. To say it is to lower oneself below even the Parisian mud puddles. To say it is to eat humble pie…. To say it is to sound like a hound dog. I don't want to sound like a hound dog in French! I want to sound like Jodie Foster!
"Say it, Mom! Come on, truffe!"
"You really want to hear it?"
"Weally!"
"Twoof."
***
French Vocabulary
bien sûr = of course
une école maternelle = preschool
pas un mot = not a word
corrige-moi = correct me
la fierté = pride
ricain(e) = slang for American
l'argot (m) = slang
vas-y! = go ahead!
une truffe = truffle
Our daughter, Jackie. Highlights à la "tie and dye" or "ombré" hair is all the rage in France at the moment.
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For learning the “argot”, maybe your daughter could connect with a high school French teacher here who could put her in touch with his/her students to exchange language “tutoring”. It might be better to start in Idaho, since some argot tends to be regional.
If she did that, she would already have an introduction to some of the natives her own age when she arrives.
Another note: You should teach her about (American) football and baseball. There are hundreds of idioms that come out of those two sports — “southpaw”, “home run”, “on deck”, “couldn’t get to first base”, “out of left field”, “step up to the plate”, “1st and 10”, etc.
For learning the “argot”, maybe your daughter could connect with a high school French teacher here who could put her in touch with his/her students to exchange language “tutoring”. It might be better to start in Idaho, since some argot tends to be regional.
If she did that, she would already have an introduction to some of the natives her own age when she arrives.
Another note: You should teach her about (American) football and baseball. There are hundreds of idioms that come out of those two sports — “southpaw”, “home run”, “on deck”, “couldn’t get to first base”, “out of left field”, “step up to the plate”, “1st and 10”, etc.
That you share these poignantly intimate moments with us is truly a fantastic gift, Kristin. A gift for your readers, a gift for you, and a gift your family will appreciate more and more as time marches on. What a great piece of writing! … and, Jackie, don’t work too hard on “obliterating” your French r in favor of the American r … that French r is one of the most beautiful sounds on earth! Aloha, Bill
That you share these poignantly intimate moments with us is truly a fantastic gift, Kristin. A gift for your readers, a gift for you, and a gift your family will appreciate more and more as time marches on. What a great piece of writing! … and, Jackie, don’t work too hard on “obliterating” your French r in favor of the American r … that French r is one of the most beautiful sounds on earth! Aloha, Bill
What a lovely story! My eldest daughter was born in Paris; we both speak French. It’s been a wonderful bond between us. I’ve been told my “r”s are very good and I wonder if it’s from hearing it so young. I lived in Montreal as a small child and remember my frustration at not being able to communicate with many of the neighbourhood children. They seemed so exotic! I was five when I promised myself I’d learn French one day. Now the accent québecois sounds strange and flat to me, but I do understand it (usually, lol). I’m in heaven when I hear a real Parisian accent, though. Jackie has no idea how adorable her French accent will sound to Americans but I applaud her efforts to improve her English.
What a lovely story! My eldest daughter was born in Paris; we both speak French. It’s been a wonderful bond between us. I’ve been told my “r”s are very good and I wonder if it’s from hearing it so young. I lived in Montreal as a small child and remember my frustration at not being able to communicate with many of the neighbourhood children. They seemed so exotic! I was five when I promised myself I’d learn French one day. Now the accent québecois sounds strange and flat to me, but I do understand it (usually, lol). I’m in heaven when I hear a real Parisian accent, though. Jackie has no idea how adorable her French accent will sound to Americans but I applaud her efforts to improve her English.
Thanks for making me laugh this morning! I especially enjoyed the part where you were indoctrinating during the lesson in English. I have always wanted to learn French. When I was a child my girl friiends would pretend we were speaking French when we would go to the plunge. Of course it was just gibberish, but we loved to fool the boys 😉
Thanks for making me laugh this morning! I especially enjoyed the part where you were indoctrinating during the lesson in English. I have always wanted to learn French. When I was a child my girl friiends would pretend we were speaking French when we would go to the plunge. Of course it was just gibberish, but we loved to fool the boys 😉
Oooh, Long Story so I will try to be brief. In 2006 we attended a wedding in the Dordogne. I boned up on my H.S. & college French as best I could and while attending the wedding was a ‘hit’ with the French in-laws because I was the ONLY ‘Ricane there who spoke French. Even rudimentary French works well in social situations where you can turn the conversations to those words that you know and have many short conversations with dozens of people. Flash forward to 2008 when we are visiting again with the French in-laws, but it is a small, intimate dinner for 8. Apparently they had thought I was much more fluent than I am, since they barraged me with questions and comments ALL in French and about 1/2 through the meal I had to confess that my French is not as good as it had first appeared. Although we were dining on Coq au Vin, I had to eat a little Crow. Story #2: 2006 in a little bistro in Paris again trying out my French. When I became tongue tied our charming waiter encouraged me to continue because, as he said “Votre Francais etes adorable”! …The moral for Jackie is that “Accents can be ‘cute’!” lol
Oooh, Long Story so I will try to be brief. In 2006 we attended a wedding in the Dordogne. I boned up on my H.S. & college French as best I could and while attending the wedding was a ‘hit’ with the French in-laws because I was the ONLY ‘Ricane there who spoke French. Even rudimentary French works well in social situations where you can turn the conversations to those words that you know and have many short conversations with dozens of people. Flash forward to 2008 when we are visiting again with the French in-laws, but it is a small, intimate dinner for 8. Apparently they had thought I was much more fluent than I am, since they barraged me with questions and comments ALL in French and about 1/2 through the meal I had to confess that my French is not as good as it had first appeared. Although we were dining on Coq au Vin, I had to eat a little Crow. Story #2: 2006 in a little bistro in Paris again trying out my French. When I became tongue tied our charming waiter encouraged me to continue because, as he said “Votre Francais etes adorable”! …The moral for Jackie is that “Accents can be ‘cute’!” lol
For all of you who are having trouble making the French ‘r’ sound, here’s an idea from a student years ago. As I was working with the class on this sound, he exclaimed that it sounded like his cat when she had a hairball. Ever since I have encouraged my students to “find their hairball!” That’s pretty much the place in your throat to make the French ‘r’ sound.
For all of you who are having trouble making the French ‘r’ sound, here’s an idea from a student years ago. As I was working with the class on this sound, he exclaimed that it sounded like his cat when she had a hairball. Ever since I have encouraged my students to “find their hairball!” That’s pretty much the place in your throat to make the French ‘r’ sound.
Thank you for the smile, Kristin. And the inspiration. I will be visiting Tourettes-sur-Loup in just two months, and I really want to impress my brother-in-law with my French. Unfortunately all the French I have now is from high school lessons long, long, long ago, and my accent…tres mal. But I will try to learn…perhaps if I can conquer truffe…
Thank you for the smile, Kristin. And the inspiration. I will be visiting Tourettes-sur-Loup in just two months, and I really want to impress my brother-in-law with my French. Unfortunately all the French I have now is from high school lessons long, long, long ago, and my accent…tres mal. But I will try to learn…perhaps if I can conquer truffe…
One of the most difficult French sounds for me to master is the
difference between “rue” and “roue”! Fortunately, my French
teacher had the patience of Job. Joanne
One of the most difficult French sounds for me to master is the
difference between “rue” and “roue”! Fortunately, my French
teacher had the patience of Job. Joanne
Love it! I too have a touch of Jodi Foster-envy. And my impossible to pronounce french word is “roi.” I avoid this word at all costs or end up saying “le king” or ” mari de la reine”. otherwise I end up with the horrible sounding: “wah” accompanied by a very un-french gag-reflex sound. sigh.
Love it! I too have a touch of Jodi Foster-envy. And my impossible to pronounce french word is “roi.” I avoid this word at all costs or end up saying “le king” or ” mari de la reine”. otherwise I end up with the horrible sounding: “wah” accompanied by a very un-french gag-reflex sound. sigh.
Touching and precious story- thank you so much for sharing it. I will save it to re-read! I just love our little “grown ups” and the surprising sweet moments they bless us with. Greetings from Oregon.
Touching and precious story- thank you so much for sharing it. I will save it to re-read! I just love our little “grown ups” and the surprising sweet moments they bless us with. Greetings from Oregon.
Thank you for the great post! It is nice to know that other native English speakers who have been speaking French for along time (and who have spent time in France!) still have trouble with the “r” as well!
What a great thing to be able to share language learning with your children.
Thank you for your wonderful blog, that always makes my day a little better because there is some French in it!
Merci mille fois!
Thank you for the great post! It is nice to know that other native English speakers who have been speaking French for along time (and who have spent time in France!) still have trouble with the “r” as well!
What a great thing to be able to share language learning with your children.
Thank you for your wonderful blog, that always makes my day a little better because there is some French in it!
Merci mille fois!
A thoroughly charming story!
What do you call a person who speaks three languages? –Trilingual
What do you call a person who speaks two languages? –Bilingual
What do you call a person who speaks one language? –American
Je desole’ My father, who was native born Chinese, came to the USA in 1922 at age 11. He learned english when he got here, and had pretty unaccented English. The letter Z, as in magazine always tripped him up though. He pronounced it as Y.
A thoroughly charming story!
What do you call a person who speaks three languages? –Trilingual
What do you call a person who speaks two languages? –Bilingual
What do you call a person who speaks one language? –American
Je desole’ My father, who was native born Chinese, came to the USA in 1922 at age 11. He learned english when he got here, and had pretty unaccented English. The letter Z, as in magazine always tripped him up though. He pronounced it as Y.
My French stumbling block of the day is trying to pronounce “procureur” after having become hooked on the TV series “Engrenages.” I can usually handle one “r” sound in a word, but three is de trop. And as a former teenager (il y a longtemps), there is no doubt that American boys will find Jackie very attractive, French accent or no.
My French stumbling block of the day is trying to pronounce “procureur” after having become hooked on the TV series “Engrenages.” I can usually handle one “r” sound in a word, but three is de trop. And as a former teenager (il y a longtemps), there is no doubt that American boys will find Jackie very attractive, French accent or no.
R and RR in Spanish still completely befuddle me. I cannot roll my R’s. I’m told it’s genetic.
R and RR in Spanish still completely befuddle me. I cannot roll my R’s. I’m told it’s genetic.
Dear Kristin:
This story brought back so many personal memories. I was born in France to a French mother and German father. I came to the U.S. when I was a bit more than two years old…
As a child I begged my mother not to speak French to me. Fast Forward Junior High School, I realized what a great advantage I had to be able to speak this beautiful language(and an easy A to boot). At that point, I begged my mother to speak French to me whenever we had the opportunity.
I learned to love French and went on to get an M.A. in French literature and to teach French for over 40 years. Vive le francais.
I hope that Jackie will continue to take advantage of her Anglophone mother. I have found that being bilingual has brought me many friends and a wonderful teaching career. Warm regards, Janine Cortell
Dear Kristin:
This story brought back so many personal memories. I was born in France to a French mother and German father. I came to the U.S. when I was a bit more than two years old…
As a child I begged my mother not to speak French to me. Fast Forward Junior High School, I realized what a great advantage I had to be able to speak this beautiful language(and an easy A to boot). At that point, I begged my mother to speak French to me whenever we had the opportunity.
I learned to love French and went on to get an M.A. in French literature and to teach French for over 40 years. Vive le francais.
I hope that Jackie will continue to take advantage of her Anglophone mother. I have found that being bilingual has brought me many friends and a wonderful teaching career. Warm regards, Janine Cortell
How about imitating Smokey when he’s annoyed? Grrrrreally? When I studied voice, I found that whereas spoken French puts the R’s in the back of the throat, sung French rolls the R’s. I wonder how they learn to do it.
How about imitating Smokey when he’s annoyed? Grrrrreally? When I studied voice, I found that whereas spoken French puts the R’s in the back of the throat, sung French rolls the R’s. I wonder how they learn to do it.
My own French pronunciation is so bad that I could not believe that the French people at dinner with us one night in Normandy did not break into raucous laughter when I attempted to speak. They didn’t even smile, bless their hearts.
We met a waitress in Brugge who spoke such perfect American that we asked her if she had lived there. No–she watched American movies and then practiced the way the starlets moved their mouths. Your daughter might enjoy trying that.
My own French pronunciation is so bad that I could not believe that the French people at dinner with us one night in Normandy did not break into raucous laughter when I attempted to speak. They didn’t even smile, bless their hearts.
We met a waitress in Brugge who spoke such perfect American that we asked her if she had lived there. No–she watched American movies and then practiced the way the starlets moved their mouths. Your daughter might enjoy trying that.
P.S. I read somewhere that a linguist had determined that before a baby learns to speak–when they are “practicing” sounds–they eventually make every sound that is used in every language! Too bad we loose the ability.
P.S. I read somewhere that a linguist had determined that before a baby learns to speak–when they are “practicing” sounds–they eventually make every sound that is used in every language! Too bad we loose the ability.
What a bright, loving story…truly one of your best. I’ll bet it almost wrote itself. And if it didn’t, it reads as if it did, so there’s your craft kicking in!
Jackie will have a ball, as long as the girls aren’t too jealous. Are “Mean Girls” a problem in France, as they have been here?
And Kristin, hope you’re loving the openness of the sea Bandol in contrast to the inland quality of Sainte-Cécile. That’s my regret about Vaison – no water. When we’re there, we’ve started spending a few days on the coast. Last time driving back, we stopped in Bandol & lunched on great thin crust Roman pizza. Cannot get anything close in our neck of the woods!!!
What a bright, loving story…truly one of your best. I’ll bet it almost wrote itself. And if it didn’t, it reads as if it did, so there’s your craft kicking in!
Jackie will have a ball, as long as the girls aren’t too jealous. Are “Mean Girls” a problem in France, as they have been here?
And Kristin, hope you’re loving the openness of the sea Bandol in contrast to the inland quality of Sainte-Cécile. That’s my regret about Vaison – no water. When we’re there, we’ve started spending a few days on the coast. Last time driving back, we stopped in Bandol & lunched on great thin crust Roman pizza. Cannot get anything close in our neck of the woods!!!
Our dear Kristi,
What a beautiful and heart warming post.
It may have started out as the language lessons between mother and daughter,but it
quickly turned into what a close and loving bond that you and sweet Jackie share.
THANK YOU,dear friend, for making our weekend such a joy.
Love, Natalia XO
Our dear Kristi,
What a beautiful and heart warming post.
It may have started out as the language lessons between mother and daughter,but it
quickly turned into what a close and loving bond that you and sweet Jackie share.
THANK YOU,dear friend, for making our weekend such a joy.
Love, Natalia XO
This story delighted me so very much! So lovely. As ever,thank you for sharing these poignant moments. Best, gina
This story delighted me so very much! So lovely. As ever,thank you for sharing these poignant moments. Best, gina
That was a lovely piece! Thank you!
Our French friends said “A–re, a- re” to their babies while we always said “Hi! Hi, happy baby” to our son. Now their children can say Rue but not Heart, and our son just the reverse.
That was a lovely piece! Thank you!
Our French friends said “A–re, a- re” to their babies while we always said “Hi! Hi, happy baby” to our son. Now their children can say Rue but not Heart, and our son just the reverse.
Great story Kristen!
It made me smile. It’s raining on the coast of Oregon — so you brought some sunshine my way!
Be well.
Great story Kristen!
It made me smile. It’s raining on the coast of Oregon — so you brought some sunshine my way!
Be well.
Bonjour Kristin,
Jackie is quite lucky to have a Mom who speaks French and English or American English! Great story!
Tell Jackie I can relate because I spent a couple of hours today with my new Rosetta Stone French and was having trouble with a few “r” words like rouge.
Tara is taking sailing lessons in Antibes and her first class was yesterday. She said she will only know the sailing terms in French. She is having a blast!
Bonjour Kristin,
Jackie is quite lucky to have a Mom who speaks French and English or American English! Great story!
Tell Jackie I can relate because I spent a couple of hours today with my new Rosetta Stone French and was having trouble with a few “r” words like rouge.
Tara is taking sailing lessons in Antibes and her first class was yesterday. She said she will only know the sailing terms in French. She is having a blast!
Kristin & Jackie, I am in NZ visiting my family,was visiting the local mall and shopping at L’Occitane for perfume,the delightfull assistant was very helpful and we commented on her very good English accent and asked where she came from in France, and when she told us Brittany I was interested due to hereditary links, needless to say she said she was on a working holiday to improve her English before she went home to take up her university studies. She was happy we enjoyed talking to her and my daughter and I commented on her beautifully spoken English, which of course is different again to American English.No matter whatever your accent is if you make yourself understood Jackie, everyone will be delighted to hear you speak. June,Gold Coast, Qld
Kristin & Jackie, I am in NZ visiting my family,was visiting the local mall and shopping at L’Occitane for perfume,the delightfull assistant was very helpful and we commented on her very good English accent and asked where she came from in France, and when she told us Brittany I was interested due to hereditary links, needless to say she said she was on a working holiday to improve her English before she went home to take up her university studies. She was happy we enjoyed talking to her and my daughter and I commented on her beautifully spoken English, which of course is different again to American English.No matter whatever your accent is if you make yourself understood Jackie, everyone will be delighted to hear you speak. June,Gold Coast, Qld