To a Friend in Distress, Upon Learning that "Connoisseur" is Not a French Word
I don't know when it happened, but I believe that the transition was complete by the time of the Revolution. The old pronunciation of words such as françois - "france-sway" - dropped the "w" sound and came to be spelled français, while in those few uses that retained the old spelling, ie the name François, "sway" shifted to "swah." So the French now speak of connaisseurs, and the Swiss have a canton called Valais, formerly Valois.
There is a very elegant remnant that proves the point. It is our word "oboe." This is taken from the Italian, where it is pronounced "o-beau-way." That is a rough and ready transliteration of the Renaissance French that first named the instrument: high wood, or hautbois.
Comments
0-boy, that's co-ol!
Posted by: Ozma | October 6, 2005 10:01 AM
I've actually heard singers, in an effort to recreate historical pronunciation of earlier English, pronounce it "hot boys".
Posted by: Tom | October 6, 2005 01:16 PM
Ozma, the ever so cool, has taken the words right out of my head. Cool indeed. Thanks again RJ!
Posted by: George | October 7, 2005 11:09 AM
"Hot boys" these are the same people who say Dellakwacks for Delaquois, and Grand Pricks for Grand Prix, right? Lisez ma dernière note d'email à vous ce soir, svp, RJ. Celui envoyé autour de 1630cdt, dernier dans la conversation.
Posted by: George | October 7, 2005 05:48 PM