TouteFrance

There are loads of French language learning tools out there, books, CDs, videos, DVDs, all for those with varying levels and wanting to learn the language quickly or slowly. I’m going to be looking at various tools as and when I come across them, but recently I found a good French language tool on LanguageGuide.org that has pictures with an audio of the word as you hover your mouse over the image. I really like this one, not only do you find out what the word is, but how to pronounce it at the same time!

Along with the pictorial vocabulary guide as they call it, there are grammar lessons and some readings to follow with audio.

I’ve recently been wondering about the difference between ‘organique’ & ‘biologique’, since they both translate as ‘organic’ in English. What’s confused me is that I’ve always used the word ‘biologique’ when describing organic food, e.g légumes biologiques. However, I was given some organic chocs for Christmas, and as you can see in the image, they’re described as ‘organique’.

So, do the French also use the word ‘organique’ when describing organic produce? Does ‘biologique’ sound so bad in English that nobody would buy products labelled this way (it does remind me of biological washing powder, so doesn’t sound terribly appetising!), or has it just been wrongly labelled?

I think what’s confused me (and please tell me if I’m wrong) is that the French have 2 words for ‘organic’ where as we only have one. ‘Biologique’ being used to describe organic produce, but ‘organique’ being used as a scientific term or to describe architecture, design etc. If anyone can shed light on this, I’d be happy to hear your thoughts!

Some of you may know that the journalist Miles Kington, recently died. But did you know he was also king of Franglais? This article on the BBC is a great read about how the English are so keen on using Franglais as more often than not, language skills are somewhat lacking! I think many of us have slipped in the odd English word into whichever language we’re trying to speak even when we’re desperately trying to communicate in the local language. Although I speak French, there are many times when I forget words and throw the English in, in the hope of being understood. I even use a mix of French and pidgin Spanish when holidaying in Spain, and that can work a treat!

So, vive le Franglais, Franish and any other combination de mots that gets you understood!