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Is it wise or not to use direct translation when learning a foreign language?
They call them “faux amis.”
I can remember learning about them in my high school French class. “Fake friends” or “false friends” are believed to be dangerous in the French language . . . those words that appear to sound alike in both French and English.
For example, “television” and “télévision,” or “radio” and “radio,” or “hotdog” and “hotdog” aren’t “faux amis.” They actually represent the same thing in both languages.
“Faux amis,” on the other hand, are spelled alike and sound very similar . . . but their meanings are worlds apart!
As one can clearly see by the chosen adjective in this expression, the idea of a “false” friend indicates that something about it isn’t true or real. Something about it is inaccurate. Perhaps one could call it a false assumption.
Learning the Language
I met my first “fake friend” up close and personal during my first year living abroad in France as a foreign exchange student. Only nineteen-years-old, I found myself living with a French family in a tiny, picturesque village north of Paris.
My summer job was as a nanny—au pair—caring for two adorable children. Thomas was three and wore the cutest round glasses. He would correct my pronunciation throughout the entire children’s book that I would read to him at bedtime. It was very humbling. Every day, I placed Thomas on the infant seat attached to my bike and rode him back and forth to the village school.
I also cared for a three-month-old baby girl named Pauline. The day after arriving in France, my French “Maman,” Marie-Thérèse, placed her precious bundle in my arms and walked out the door to work all day. Panicked, I called my mother in the US for advice, as I had never in my life changed a baby diaper!
Meeting the French Family
In honor of their new American nanny, the French family for whom I worked decided to invite their entire extended family for Sunday lunch. This was a traditional, fancy, sit-down French meal that would last several courses and several hours.
I couldn’t wait to have this family cultural experience. In preparation, I worked hard on correctly formulating and practicing one complete sentence that I could share with the family during the meal.
Prior to my arrival in France, my language learning had taken place in a classroom. I’m thoroughly convinced now that one cannot learn a foreign language confined within four walls. One must be fully immersed in the language and culture, with no chance of escape, only survival. One must literally be placed in a “sink or swim” situation.
At this point in my journey, my French was basic classroom French. I could construct simple grammatical sentences; however, my vocabulary was quite limited.
I was really good at direct translation!
Preparation For the Big Moment . . . Direct Translation
Sitting alone in my bedroom the night before the big family meal, I thought long and hard about my big debut with the new relatives. What could I say . . . something that would make me look really good, revealing my great language ability and my deep cultural insight?
After minutes, maybe even hours, of pondering, the revelation came to me.
At just the right moment during the next day’s meal, I would say, “I love French bread, because there are no preservatives.”
Perhaps my statement could lead to a more in-depth conversation about the differences between French and American bread.
I was so excited! This was the perfect sentence.
Practice Makes Perfect, Right?
I worked hard to translate and write out my sentence. The structure was simple enough.
“I love French bread . . .” That was easy. “J’aime le pain français . . .”
The next part also didn’t seem too challenging. “ . . . because there are no . . .” was translated as “ . . . parce qu’il n’y a pas de . . .”
After that, I was a bit stumped. I didn’t know the French word for “preservatives.”
This was in the dinosaur days before internet and google translate, but no worries! I had packed in my suitcase my very heavy and very thick Harrap’s French/English dictionary. Thumbing through the “p’s,” I couldn’t find “preservatives.” It was too expensive to call my college French professor back in the US.
I could remember back to my French textbooks and literature books. There was so much cross-over between the French and English languages. Many American words had made themselves into the French language, “hamburger,” “jean,” “t-shirt.” I was educated and could make an educated guess.
Surely, I could use direct translation!
“Preservatives” in English must be “préservatifs” in French . . . same word, just slightly different pronunciation.
Because French has both masculine and feminine noun forms, I had to decide on the gender of my new word, “préservatifs” or “préservatives.”
With no rhyme or reason, I chose to make this new noun masculine. It sounded better, more distinguished.
I had it . . . my new and complete sentence. “J’aime le pain français, parce qu’il n’y a pas de préservatifs.”
I wrote it out and memorized it, practicing it over and over in front of the mirror until I had it down just right. In my sleep that night, I would be rehearsing it.
I was ready for my first French family feast, and they were going to be so impressed!
Ready or Not, Here I Come!
The next day came, and I was delighted to meet Pépé, Mémé, Tata, Tonton, and all the little cousins. Their entire family was present that day, and they were as excited to meet the blonde American stranger as I was to meet them.
We enjoyed a gourmet meal with appetizers, lamb, vegetables, salad, cheese, wine, fancy desserts, and of course, delicious and fresh French bread.
I prayed for just the right moment to say my sentence. Waiting and waiting patiently, I built up the courage to open my mouth and let it flow. I found the perfect moment, and I seized it.
“J’aime le pain français, parce qu’il n’y a pas de préservatifs.”
There I said it, with such pride and joy. My face was beaming ear to ear with a radiant grin, as I knew that my pronunciation was near perfect.
Boy, were they going to be impressed by this American girl!
Something is Wrong!
Then, I realized that something was wrong.
Impressed they were! I felt the weight of heavy silence. Quiet chuckles slowly broke out around the table, building up into a loud roar from all sides.
At first, I thought that they were just very impressed with my spoken level of French, my distinguished use of vocabulary, and my fine-tuned pronunciation.
Then, I realized that something was wrong.
They were not laughing with me, they were laughing at me. There is a big difference.
I turned to Eric, my French “Papa,” who pulled me aside from the table. He proceeded to explain to me, in his broken English, what a “préservatif” was. It was a very awkward and uncomfortable moment.
His limited vocabulary didn’t allow him to find the exact translation, but I understood enough from his descriptive words and gestures. A “préservatif” in French is not at all a “preservative.” Rather, it is a “condom!”
I couldn’t believe my ears!
I looked at him with eyes as big as saucers, and my mind and heart were filled with horror. This American girl had just made a public proclamation before their entire extended family that “I like French bread because there are no condoms!”
I returned to the table to apologize, “Pardonnez-moi.” We all laughed together.
That would be the last time that I would try to use direct translation when I didn’t know a word in French.
I didn’t know until then that a “false friend” had also been invited to our big French family Sunday meal!
—The Cultural Story-Weaver
MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—“THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
Let’s Weave Cultures!
Do you know any “faux-amis” (“false friends”) in other languages? When and where have you accidentally used them? How did you know that you had made a mistake? What did you do when you realized?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures!” Write about them in the comment box below.
