Pretty Little Things
Sacrebleu!
Mar 13th
I read in the Metro yesterday that France’s language police have launched a drive to stop a glut of English invading their native tongue. No messing with the French! Terms including ‘email’, ‘blog’ and ‘fast food’ should be banished from the French language… well apparently there are a full 65 pages of banned words on the ministry’s new website launched this week! If anyone happens to have the URL, I’d love to take a look!
Here are a few examples – looking at the length of the French translation make me feel tired! I wonder how many hours were spent brainstorming French More >
118 Project
Sep 27th
I am currently holidaying in France and I discovered this striking viral yesterday.
A group of young Geneva firefighters decided to film the clip to end public confusion between their number, 118, and new directory assistance hot-lines. The “118 Project” video features fighters from four local Swiss brigades – some sporting hot pants – dancing and rapping to hip hop beats.
[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SISZUQbhcWQ]
Let me know what you think!
French Presidential Elections 2007 – candidates go viral
Mar 29th
There is now less than a month until the first round of the French presidential election on April 22nd. This post is not about French politics or my political views but about how the French candidates are marketing themselves online. Online politics can be rather dangerous – think John McCain whose myspace page was recently hacked.
I have to admit that I haven’t really looked into what the different candidates have to say but a welcome reminder reached my inbox yesterday.
I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from François Bayrou about his political plans for French expats; I do not More >
Président Chirac is watching your plate
Mar 23rd
I am currently holidaying in France and I was extremely surpised to see health and nutritional warnings at the bottom of food adverts broadcast on TV, the radio and print media.
This campaign launched on February 28th called Manger Bouger (eat and exercise), aims at educating the population, especially children on what to eat and not to eat. The new warnings include:
- For your health, eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day
- For your health, exercise regularly
- For your health, avoid foods containing too much fat, too much sugar and too much salt
- For your health, do not snack between meals
Is France also turning More >
That sweet enemy (je t’aime, moi non plus)
Feb 26th
It’s a well known fact that the Brits despise the ‘frogs’, while the French despise ‘les roast beefs’.
Napoleon once likened the English Channel to a mere “ditch that will be crossed when someone has the boldness to try it.” In 1994, it was permanently breached by the Channel Tunnel — a monument to Anglo-French collaboration that brought London and Paris into day-trip proximity by train. One wonders what Napoleon would have made of that.
French advertising is all about language, culture and themes, right? I found this little gem in the Gare du Nord during my Parisian trip a couple of weeks More >
Une page de pub
Jan 22nd
During my short holiday in France over Christmas, I paid particular attention to the world of advertising in France…
Advertising à la Française…
Adverts are everywhere: on TV, the www, radio, at the cinema, magazines or large advertising boards on the street. Most of the TV channels, either public or pay channels broadcast adverts, each lasting 10-15 seconds. Unlike American channels, French channels show fewer ads, and it’s illegal to broadcast adverts during kids’ programs.
Ads are generally announced prior to their start with a short jingle such as the one shown below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukxsQfnlRvg]
French advertising is all about language, culture and themes…
This may be stating the More >
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