French Government Bans Term 'E-Mail'

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French Government Bans Term 'E-Mail'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Sunday July 20, 2003 @02:15AM from the won't-somebody-please-think-of-le-words dept.

Licensed2Hack writes "'Goodbye "e-mail," the French government says, and hello "courriel" -- the term that linguistically sensitive France is now using to refer to electronic mail in official documents.' . Curriel? 'Hey Pierre, curriel me those sales figures.' Just sounds wrong!" Especially if you don't actually speak french ;)

12 of 1,094 comments (clear)

Nice, the poster wrote courriel wrong. by jesco · 2003-07-20 02:19 · Score: 5, Funny

Interesting, the submitter of this story didn't even manage to write courriel correct... despite it being displayed two lines above...
I got One Word for Them... by Greyfox · 2003-07-20 02:21 · Score: 5, Funny

"Crossandwitch."

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I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
right. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-20 02:22 · Score: 5, Funny

In other news French legislation against junk e-mail has been delayed until the French can come up with a French sounding substitute for the word spam.
1. Re:right. by Jafafa+Hots · 2003-07-20 02:43 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  paté
  
  --
  This space available.
Re:can't you tell by my ridiculous accent? by AndroidCat · 2003-07-20 02:25 · Score: 5, Funny

This will be about as successful as the Quebec Office de la Langue Français' attempts to get people to stop using hotdog and hamburger. (They invented words for those too.)

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One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
Re:This is stupid by mlush · 2003-07-20 02:44 · Score: 5, Funny

English-speaking people don't bitch about "rendez-vous", "à propos", etc.
Probably something to do with English being mostly made up of foreign words
This french habit is just arrogance.
To the French arrogance is not just a habit, its a way of life
Reminds me of the a joke.. by Mindjiver · 2003-07-20 03:16 · Score: 5, Funny

What's the difference between the USA and yoghurt?
Even yoghurt develop its own culture after a while.

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I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Re:This is stupid by eht · 2003-07-20 03:29 · Score: 5, Funny

We recognize it in ourselves, but our arrogance is something to be proud of, other's arrogance is something to be ashamed of.
Re:This is stupid by An+Onerous+Coward · 2003-07-20 04:50 · Score: 4, Funny

"English-speaking people don't bitch about "rendez-vous", "à propos", etc. This french habit is just arrogance."
From henceforth, please refrain from using the word rendzevous. Instead, please use the more patriotic "freedom meeting." Furthermore, please avoid using accenting characters in words like apropos and resume (a short account of one's career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position) as such accents give them an inappropriate, un-American character. By doing so, you will be doing your part to fight terrorism at home and abroad.

Thank you,

The Department of Homeland Security

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You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!
Re:Just sounds wrong by rocjoe71 · 2003-07-20 04:52 · Score: 5, Funny

It's a very specific feature of English that almost any noun can be verbed, as you did.
You gotta be shitting me... Oh wait, you're right.

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Height: 38U, Weight: 0 Newtons, Eyes: #0000FF, OS: Gray Matter 1.0 (Alpha)
P�t�? by dark&stormynight · 2003-07-20 04:54 · Score: 4, Funny

Will SPAM now become Pâté? Also, the SPAM song won't be as funny if you sing...

Pâté, Pâté, Pâté... wonderful Pâté!
Re:This is stupid by commodoresloat · 2003-07-20 05:42 · Score: 5, Funny

English-speaking people don't bitch about "rendez-vous", "à propos", etc.
That's because we don't know what they mean.