h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

hi all,

just thought i'd bump this up in view of recent events - ie F77636?thread=190898.



For those not in the know, 'non-English' languages have been officially banned on h2g2.

I thought we'd had some French go unmoderated in recent months. Oh well.

I have posted the suggestion that they could restrict foreign-language postings to certain threads, which was why i was thinking about this one.

had to go quite a way back in my convs to get it, though!

So, as it's 'Ask the h2g2 community' page, here's the question:

Is there demand on h2g2 for an 'authorised' and self-regulating French language thread.

For more details on this suggestion, see the News Flash on my unofficial French Connection page at A694497.

And no, this is *not* just self-publicity! The thought of it!

seeya
spiff

At the moment it may not be wise to try anything like this. Nerves are pretty frayed. There is probably little call for genuine conversation in French, as there are, as far as I know, still no native speakers here. The annoying thing about the whole business is that we went through it a year ago and the bad taste still lingers.

right, well, just wanted to add my 2c, I spose. It's nice to know there are quite a few linguists around, though.

It's funny that there is such a strong German presence on h2g2 and apparently so very few French native speakers.

At risk of moderation, Où etes-vous, les Français?*

seeya
spiff

*translation - Where are you, you Frenchies?

I did a thorough search once and there are none. You'd know by little mistakes in their English, even if they tried to hide it. And I think I'd know if someone new had joined.

I would love to post in French as a way of learning the language. Also I have Belgium relatives and it would have been nice to write to them, as I was hoping for help on the language. (Not forgetting my volunteer Spankimonkey or whatever it was - sorry!)

Salut Kaz,

Comment vas-tu?





Veux-tu essayer une conversation entièrement en français, alors?

Speef

Hello Kaz

how are you?

what was the last sentance, I recognised words, but didn't get the whole meaning


you know you are going to get in trouble for this!

Talking to yourself again, Kaz! Tusk!

'Would you like to try a whole conv in French' was the last sentence.

So, wudja?

As to getting into trouble, i've found that French gets through moderation pretty well, actually. Obviously it is pot-luck, but a lot of mods *understand* French quite well.

Very different to *speaking* French, to be sure, but for the purposes of modding, sufficient.

Alors, cette conversation en français...

J'habite Strasbourg, en Alsace. Comme c'est tout près de l'Allemagne, je peux pratiquer ma 3me langue étrangère aussi, de temps en temps.

*note to mods - bon courage pour la traduction! *

what does essayer mean then?

oh and the answer is yes

ummm


oui monsier (I know thats spelt wrong - I'm having a brain misfunction) j'ai would

I am so useless! whats would?

Zut, alors!

You know, when you've been ed!

'essayer' is 'to try', in the infinitive.

'would' is a modal verb in English in this context, expressing the conditional form. French uses inflection to express the conditional, so you use the verb 'aimer' (inf) and conjugate:

form the conditional by taking the future form and changing the endings appropriately: 'j'aimerais'

Trouble is, Kaz, you now owe me about 5 Euros! I do some language teaching here and charge hard cash for exactly this kind of 'service'.

Don' Panic! I won't be sending round the 'boys' to collect!


A bientot
Speef

*wondering if this will get through - optimistically*

Tu es encore la?

I spose i can't be too surprised that this thread expired when i (jokingly) said i would be charging for help with the French language!

Ne'er mind, c'est pas la fin du monde (juste du 'fil')

>Kaz: (Not forgetting my volunteer Spankimonkey or whatever it was - sorry!)<

Spankimonkey indeed! That sounds disgusting as well as illegal.

The offer is still open if you need help.

Back on topic.

I don't see any need for a French thread/quarter. However I do object to the extremely long times that posts are kept in moderation, by the time they are out the thread has moved on. C'mon guys, most of you work in Bush house - go and see your World Service friends get them to translate it.

Liam.

Hmmm... just realised how old this thread is.

Liam.

Spiff, I don't think it was your jokes about us paying for help that killed the thread. I think it was the heavy-handed way in which the Editors banned all foreign language postings, then changed their minds a few days later because they couldn't hear themselves think for the uproar. Most of us casual French speakers got tired of the effort of posting in French, then waiting for the moderators. It's just not worth all the effor.

Mais en réalité la plupart de ce que j'ai dit en français sur h2g2 (prononciation en français?!) n'a pas été enlevé 'en attendant Modo', comme on l'a surnommé récemment.

Comme la plupart des mods sont étudiants, et donc la plupart d'entre eux ont appris le français jusqu'au niveau gcse (pas de commentaires sur ce que ce niveau peut réellement valoir),

*reprise de souffle*

... il se trouve que la plupart des phrases relativement simples restent, ou du moins ré-apparaissent assez vite.



now that's just *asking* for it, eh folks!

cya
spiff

Mais c'est possible qu'il y a un double signification dans votres mots. Les moderateurs sont cautieux.

visiblement! Modo s'est manifésté en mon absence! The irony might be more enjoyable if it hadn't been so predictable.

Well, i guess it was asking for it!

I don't hold it against the mods, anyways (hi mods ), after all, it's a lot to ask of them and i've heard it suggested that they're not paid nearly enough to dedicate themselves to checking and passing all 'acceptable' foreign language posts. I don't think it's in their job description, exactly, nor in their wage packet.

By sticking to simple vocab and phrasing, though, you can usually get by quite well without the need for 'posting removed' messages appearing to often.

cya
spiff

From worse to worse!

In case anyone is interested, I have turned over responsibility for The French Connection - a page intended to offer a hub for all things related to France and French culture on h2g2 - to a Frenchman.

The new page is at A816725.

I think this is probably the last time i will drag this thread up from the depths of... well... wherever it is these things sink to.

So, au revoir, adieu, bon voyage and passez une bonne soirée!

salut
spiff