Love French

MATHIEU Kwacanivatu’s letter (FT 31/10) was very interesting indeed when he discussed the merits of the French language. While it is undisputedly the language of love, French is referred to as a romance language because of its Latin or Roman origins. One might call it a “faux ami” or misleading word.

We use French in Fiji more than we probably realise. In Fiji’s far from peaceful history we have experienced three “coups d’état or coup d’états”, translated literally as “a sudden blow to the state”.

We call the head of a national team at an international sports event as “chef de mission”. Who doesn’t like a buttery, crescent-shaped pastry, namely a croissant with their coffee at their favourite café?

French is the official language of 29 countries in the world and spoken in many more. Our closest Pacific island neighbour, where French is spoken, is not Vanuatu as many might have thought, but Wallis and Futuna. French, in fact, is quite widely spoken in the Pacific.

Americans must love French as it is frequently used by them. “B” in FBI is “bureau” or office. When an embassy doesn’t have an ambassador, they have a “chargé d’affaires” or deputy. They even pronounce herb as the French do with a silent “h”.

I only fully grasped English grammar and especially verbs and tenses at school when I learnt French. As an English teacher, I often find myself explaining grammar to my students by using examples from the French language.

It also can open our eyes to seeing things in a different way. Some will argue that English is correct by putting the adjective before a noun for example: “the black cat” until we find what is normal in French is the other way around: “le chat noir”. After all, whichever side you place black/noir, it’s not going to change the colour of the cat. Accepting there is more than one way to (no, I’m not going to put what some might have thought – animal activists will hang me up) express an idea can help to reduce ethnocentricity, especially when we find we use French before English; that’s pluralism at its best.

JULIE SUTHERLAND

Tamavua

Cane payment

I NOTE in the media, discussion between canefarmers and other parties about alleged discrepancies in the final cane payment for the 2019 cane crushing season.

Certainly I cannot comment as I don’t know much about the matter in hand, but I would comment that the residents of Tavualevu, Tavua Town and surrounding settlements, have been breathing in smoke, soot and trash from cane fires for the past three months. Perhaps some of the monies allegedly in dispute could be diverted to us as compensation for the damage to our lungs and the environment.

The FSC moans every year about burning problems. Why keep moaning if you don’t do anything about it? One way is to hit cane burning farmers in the pocket and reward those who send in green cane. After all the hype about expected industry improvements this year, little has eventuated.

ALLAN LOOSLEY

Tavua