One more thing about the French exam...
Sep. 6th, 2005 05:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I've decided that one of the reasons I had some trouble on the French exam today (other than the occasional word I didn't know and hellish syntax) is that I speak French too much. That is, I'd look at a word or phrase, KNOW what it meant, but be unable to translate it. The French was the best word to describe it, and, since my brain had switched into "second-language mode," I couldn't think of the English equivalent.
A few examples:
It seems like once I start speaking in French, I forget how to speak in English (at least until I forget a word and my brain is jarred back into its mother tongue). Am I the only one who has problems like this, or am I just strange?
A few examples:
- The title of the first piece contained "chansons de geste." Now, I know what that is, but I have no idea what the English term is. "Epic poetry," perhaps?
- The title of the second piece contained "matière d'alimentation." How to translate this? "Foodstuffs"? "Food products"?
It seems like once I start speaking in French, I forget how to speak in English (at least until I forget a word and my brain is jarred back into its mother tongue). Am I the only one who has problems like this, or am I just strange?