The Nuances in Language

[kimmarley]

This is my first post

It is also my last post

 

[mynameisben]

This is my first post

It is also my last post

post partum depression in microcosm

 

[sr71plt]

This is my first post

It is also my last post

I can't wait for your next post.

 

[TE999]

This is my first post

It is also my last post

Not much point in answering this post is there?

 

[jomar]

"This is my first post

It is also my last post"

In other words: +-=0

Excellent. Did you ever even exist?

Whoa.

 

[Boxlicker101]

That's why we usually say something such as "my most recent..." or "my latest..." unless the poster has no nntention of ever posting again.

 

[kimmarley]

Sorry, an opportunity like that only comes once in a membership!

 

[oggbashan]

Sorry, an opportunity like that only comes once in a membership!

So does being a virgin. Only 28 posts to go and you lose your virginity.

I hope that it's an enjoyable experience.

 

[bronzeage]

This is my first post

It is also my last post

It will always be your first post. Whether or not it is your last post will never be certain.

 

[annanova]

That's why we usually say something such as "my most recent..." or "my latest..." unless the poster has no nntention of ever posting again.

That's my issue with French. I keep seeing actors and directors talking about their "dernier film" which I, logically, translate as "last film." With some of them I think, "Thank GOD, he's retiring!"

Three months later, that same actor is again talking about his last film. I turn to the mister and ask, "Didn't he retire?"

(You should imagine a French accent here) "No, it is just his last film, it is how we say, the film he made last."

"Then they should say, 'his most recent film.' I know the bloody French language can say 'most recent.'"

I usually get a disgusted look for comments like that.

 

[TE999]

That's my issue with French. I keep seeing actors and directors talking about their "dernier film" which I, logically, translate as "last film." With some of them I think, "Thank GOD, he's retiring!"

Three months later, that same actor is again talking about his last film. I turn to the mister and ask, "Didn't he retire?"

(You should imagine a French accent here) "No, it is just his last film, it is how we say, the film he made last."

"Then they should say, 'his most recent film.' I know the bloody French language can say 'most recent.'"

I usually get a disgusted look for comments like that.

(In a French accent) "It is, how you say, to laugh, n'est-ce pas?"

 

[Tio_Narratore]

That's my issue with French. I keep seeing actors and directors talking about their "dernier film" which I, logically, translate as "last film." With some of them I think, "Thank GOD, he's retiring!"

Three months later, that same actor is again talking about his last film. I turn to the mister and ask, "Didn't he retire?"

(You should imagine a French accent here) "No, it is just his last film, it is how we say, the film he made last."

"Then they should say, 'his most recent film.' I know the bloody French language can say 'most recent.'"

I usually get a disgusted look for comments like that.

Words don't only mean their direct equivalent in another language. "Dernier" is primarily "last," but it also means "latest." "Latest" and "most recent" mean the same thing in English, but "late" can mean "dead" as well as "behind its time." I don't think les Anglais mean "most dead" when they say something like "his latest girlfriend." You're mostly complaining about French not being English with simple word substitutions, mais tabernaque!; that's not how languages operate.

 

[Handley_Page]

Words don't only mean their direct equivalent in another language. "Dernier" is primarily "last," but it also means "latest." "Latest" and "most recent" mean the same thing in English, but "late" can mean "dead" as well as "behind its time." I don't think les Anglais mean "most dead" when they say something like "his latest girlfriend." You're mostly complaining about French not being English with simple word substitutions, mais tabernaque!; that's not how languages operate.

A most illuminating comment, which highlights the difficulties of the translator.
We don't always mean what is written down (although it might help if the original French was in good French).

 

[annanova]

Words don't only mean their direct equivalent in another language. "Dernier" is primarily "last," but it also means "latest." "Latest" and "most recent" mean the same thing in English, but "late" can mean "dead" as well as "behind its time." I don't think les Anglais mean "most dead" when they say something like "his latest girlfriend." You're mostly complaining about French not being English with simple word substitutions, mais tabernaque!; that's not how languages operate.

Oh, I'm fully aware of "false friends" when it comes to direct translation between French and English. I'm using such a word in my "latest" story.

I said that I get a lot of disgusted comments from the mister whenever I make comments like that about his native language. I should have added that I then point out to him, "You know, if you were to use French around the house more often, it would help to eliminate minor confusions like this."

He's pretty clueless.

I'm a fan of the nuances in language and love learning how wordplay works in the various languages.