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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
a few things
I need a favor. I'm doing a little poll. Those of you who know French in any way -- by which I mean, you took French in high school, you taught French in a high school, you have a friend who lives in Montréal, you once watched a movie where someone said 'bonjour', you can read the word 'French' and know what it means: If you were going to pronounce, say, the name of the Charlotte Brontë book "Villette", say like if you were going to, I dunno, read the book aloud (I am totally not obsessed and you need to just shut up, I heard you), would you say it:
a) Vill-ette?
b) Vee-lette?
c) Vee-yette?
d) Some other way?
Tomorrow I might call my high-school French teacher and ask her (there are advantages to living in the same small town your whole life -- see?). But I may not, if someone can answer with authority here. Or else take a stab in the dark and inadvertently confirm that my super-secret suspicion is correct.
And also I have a meme. Thank you, Michael, for always being willing to supply me with blog content on those dry days.
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
Put him in a long-boat till he's sober, of course! Earleye in the mornin! Sheesh. Don't you people know anything?
Would you rather fall and skin your knee on carpet, pavement, or a clay tennis court?
You know... who comes UP with these things? (no offense, Michael, I know you feel the same way). Really there's no point in answering this because all of these will happen to me sooner or later anyway. But come on, what's next? "Death by drowning, electrocution, or rabies?" Oh, wait, I think I saw that in a survey not too long ago.
Who let the dogs out? Who? Who?
You know, I actually have serious negative associations for this song thanks to a bunch of drunk people on a train on a day about six years ago when I did not look my best after a long day of traveling. Shuddery horrific schoolbus flashbacks start... now.
What's the strangest thing that has happened to you lately?
I posted to my blog three days in a row. I think.
If you could, would you be a taxi driver for a day? In what city?
Ah, no. City driving is enough of a struggle without paying passengers.
In high school, the kids voted you "Most Likely" to do what?
Most Likely to Trip Over a Crack in the Sidewalk, Tossing Her Books and Papers Hither and Yon Whilst Causing Serious Bodily Injury to Herself and at Least One Passerby. Or they would have, if they'd had space in the yearbook. I was a shoo-in. Instead I only got Most Likely to Forgetfully Leave a Trail of Her Belongings from Classroom to Classroom Throughout the Day. Or something along those lines.
What is your favorite color of a rose?
Pink for small ones, cream-colored with pink edges for big ones.
Why does Mickey Mouse wear gloves all the time?
Because he's such a dapper young mouse. He is totally puttin' on the Ritz.
Where would you hide a safe in your house to assure that it couldn't be easily found?
We have our secrets.
What's bedtime like for you? Do you still sleep with a teddy bear from childhood? Do you mind that little crack of light through the curtains or do you need to have total darkness?
Oh gosh, no teddy bear. Books, and a really handsome good-sized husband who's asleep loooong before I am, would be more accurate. We leave the hall light on and the bedroom door open so we can see to get to the bathroom. And now that you know this, your life will never be the same, right? Yeah, I know. You can thank me later.
Comments
My vote is for C. But I fall into the last category of qualificants, so take it with a grain of salt! Oh! wait! I will see what my Encyclopedia of Literature says...brb...
shoot it doesn't give a pronunciation. Sorry! Let us know what you find out.
Posted by: Denise at August 30, 2006 11:44 PM
Okay...I forgot to look it up under the title of the book instead of just the author's name. Anyway, here is what it said:
Villet \vi'let\
hope that helps
This encyclopedia's pronunciation guide helped me win an argument over Franny and Zooey....:-)
PS
I like your reading voice! I can see where C gets her talent
Denise
Posted by: Anonymous at August 31, 2006 12:05 AM
ugh of course I meant to add an E on the end of Villet..sorry for the multiple comments
Posted by: Denise at August 31, 2006 12:07 AM
About "Villette", I've wondered about that, too. I personally pronounce it in what is probably not the authentic French way-- "Vill-ette"-- but it's not something I'd feel comfortable doing in front of someone who might KNOW. ;o) I think the other two options do sound more French; I'm just accustomed to the first pronunciation since I've been thinking of it that way for a while. Maybe there's a French lurker with a definitive answer...
Posted by: Michael at August 31, 2006 05:42 AM
Ummmm...I'd say "C," but not with any authority. (After 3 years in high school and a year in college, I should know something, but *sigh.*)
Posted by: Kristen at August 31, 2006 07:27 AM
It's me again...I just wanted to add, in case you were wondering (since how would I type them out?, there were no diacritical marks over any of the letters in the pronunciation key.
Posted by: Denise at August 31, 2006 09:04 AM
I'd go for a. When we studied this at university, the lecturer pronounced it this way....perhaps she was wrong!
I have a native-French-speaking friend - you know I'm going to have to ask her now!
Valerie
Posted by: Valerie at August 31, 2006 06:37 PM
I'd guess veeyet, but what do I know? Micky is SO puttin' on the ritz ;-)
Posted by: jenn at August 31, 2006 10:11 PM
Your response to the safe question practically had me doubled-over laughing. It sounds like something that myself or one of my friends would say, in a voice that imitates Pirates of the Caribbean. (I swear that is the one word that I cannot figure out the spelling of just by typing it out. Blast and confound you, equatorial location!)
Oh, and I stole and filled out your meme. Because I had nothing better to do than pander other people's information.
Posted by: CountryGoalie at September 3, 2006 08:41 PM
Hi Rachel,
I've never seen this meme around. I had to laugh at both the questions and your answers. It sure was a weird one. And Mickey - totally dapper!
Posted by: Lauren at September 7, 2006 04:03 PM
