Re: Standard Average European

Tim Smith wrote:

>>
>Actually, I was hoping to avoid giving examples, because my French isn't
>very good, but since you ask, I'll do so, apologizing in advance for any
>errors.
>
>If I understand correctly what Christophe said (and remember that we're
>talking about colloquial, spoken French, not the kind of French that one
>learns in school or in a "Teach Yourself" book), the word order is
>determined solely by pragmatics (topic-comment), not by grammatical roles.
>Thus, "L'agent de police, le bandit, il l'a vu" could mean either "the
>policeman saw the gangster" or "the gangster saw the policeman".
>
Word order might be relevant in your example.

I think the problem might arise if there is only one noun mentioned:
"l'agent de police, il l'a vu" could perhaps mean either : The policeman saw
him OR he saw the policeman.

It may be that only one role/constituent (subj or obj?) can be
fronted/topicalized ?? Moi, sais pas. (How's that for colloq. French???)

I recall seeing a bill-board in Paris (advertising a soup IIRC) with a
grinning African and the caption "y a bon"  Everyone said that was atrocious
French. Rather like "mm mm good"(TM)

Replies