Today's question is from Amer Grine, from the group: French, Reading and Writing
I’d really like to know how you managed to learn how to spell French words… The spelling is very difficult and has a lot of exceptions… How do you keep all those words in your head?
Here’s my answer:
Given that a large proportion of native French speakers themselves have significant difficulties with written French, your goal of excellence is commendable but virtually unattainable for three reasons:
1- The difficulties and exceptions were deliberately created over the centuries by the ruling class to categorize and sort learners by level and prevent the working classes from accessing knowledge and positions of responsibility!
2- Political and educational disputes have exacerbated these difficulties due to a lack of consensus between the “classical” and “modern” camps… This has led to a sort of dual system that coexists, with one side or the other dominating depending on which political faction is in power!
3- Successive reforms and “societal” changes in the language have most often tended to make French more complex; the most recent reform, from 1990, is a perfect illustration of this—I’ll have the opportunity to come back to that later…
The bottom line: do your best and enjoy yourself without feeling guilty. Have fun with the French language, appreciate its musicality, and above all, share its art of living!
To illustrate my point, here’s a delightful video by Muriel Gilbert that will give you a very informative and enlightening demonstration of a mechanism that’s been at work for centuries. What she tells you is worth knowing so you can PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE and RELAX when facing the challenges of the French language, turning it into a playful exercise rather than a perpetually futile ordeal! Sharing this perspective with learners provides a breath of fresh air without compromising our commitment to excellence.
