Re: phonology of borrowed words

On Wed, Nov 20, 2002 at 10:30:41AM -0500, John Cowan wrote:
> Eamon Graham scripsit:
>
> > "French postcard" - that's one I had to get explained to me. ;)
>
> Yeah, but the use of "French" in that one is configurational: the
> postcards in question actually were produced and sold in France to
> English tourists (male).
>
> "French toast" is another example, but apparently the term is unknown
> in Greater Leftpondia: it's day-old bread soaked in scrambled egg and sauteed,
> usually with cinnamon and sometimes sugar, and eaten for breakfast.
> Evidently this is a variant of pain perdu, which is probably why it's
> called "French" in English.
[snip]

French toast is quite well-known in Canada.

OTOH, another term is "French horn" -- a more accurate term for it might
be the German horn, because it did not originate in France, and its most
important developments were in Germany. Similar, "English horn" is another
misnomer--it is neither English nor is it a horn. It is in fact a slightly
larger oboe with a different bell shape.


T

--
You've gotten under my skin. That you got there speaks ill of me. That you
like it there speaks ill of you. -- Speek, K5

Reply