The French Language

[KimboCosmo]

Thanks for posting the "Let's Speak French" videos!

 

I had 4 years of French in high school, and I can't remember much (10 years ago)! But, I'm thinking about taking some classes. I'm in the Chicago area, and there are a couple of French institutes that I plan on checking out.

 

Anyway, I've been thinking about a way for us to learn Celine's French songs. Here's what I'm thinking: someone fluent in French could post a verse from a song for the rest of us to try to translate and learn to pronounce from the recording. They could also post a translation of the verse, either right away, or the next day. The rest of us can compare our translations. I'm sure there will be lots of questions regarding the translations and the pronunciations. Then, one or two days later, they can post another verse.

 

I thought that just a verse from a song would be appropriate. We might get overwhelmed and frustrated with a whole song.

 

I'm not proposing this as a good way to learn French - but I do think it will help us learn and remember certain words, phrases, and pronunciations. I imagine that a lot of you are like me - I'm tired of humming the French songs! My immediate goal is just to be able to sing along and understand what I'm singing!

 

What do you all think? Maybe one of the fluent French speakers could pick out a verse for us to start working on if anyone else likes this idea.

That is a great idea!!! I can't wait!!! I am tired of humming the songs too! I want to speak it soooo good soooo bad!! Arrghhhhh I'm so frustrated!!!

[Célinefull]

alors je ne sais pas encore, mais je peux faire qqchose...quand j'ai du temps le week-end! je vais faire un traduction d'un video qu'ensuite nous pouvons regarder..pour rendre mieux le comprehension? qu'est-ce que tu penses?

 

Seems good to me!

 

But it should probably be something easy at first... I'm thinking about it too...

I don't have much time these days for I have a lot of exams and plans with family and friends, both at the same time

But then it'll be easier...

 

yeah i know - i want to help too but i have assesments and work to do constantly - it never stops here that's how the system is

[nico robin]

Thanks for posting the "Let's Speak French" videos!

 

I had 4 years of French in high school, and I can't remember much (10 years ago)! But, I'm thinking about taking some classes. I'm in the Chicago area, and there are a couple of French institutes that I plan on checking out.

 

Anyway, I've been thinking about a way for us to learn Celine's French songs. Here's what I'm thinking: someone fluent in French could post a verse from a song for the rest of us to try to translate and learn to pronounce from the recording. They could also post a translation of the verse, either right away, or the next day. The rest of us can compare our translations. I'm sure there will be lots of questions regarding the translations and the pronunciations. Then, one or two days later, they can post another verse.

 

I thought that just a verse from a song would be appropriate. We might get overwhelmed and frustrated with a whole song.

 

I'm not proposing this as a good way to learn French - but I do think it will help us learn and remember certain words, phrases, and pronunciations. I imagine that a lot of you are like me - I'm tired of humming the French songs! My immediate goal is just to be able to sing along and understand what I'm singing!

 

What do you all think? Maybe one of the fluent French speakers could pick out a verse for us to start working on if anyone else likes this idea.

That is a great idea!!! I can't wait!!! I am tired of humming the songs too! I want to speak it soooo good soooo bad!! Arrghhhhh I'm so frustrated!!!

yep that a good idea!

[LaFeeRailleuse]

I'd be happy to help (if I can)

 

I have a microphone and an account on Youtube, so I could easily record sentences and edit them so as to create a little video that you could watch (it's maybe easier than downloading a file from megaupload, for example).

 

Do you guys like the early songs? I thought that they could maybe be easier to learn and translate, since the words are simpler, for she was a teen when she performed them. (But if you prefer newest songs, I'm fine with that...)

Basically it's up to you, just lte me know!

[Krys]

I'd be happy to help (if I can)

Do you guys like the early songs? I thought that they could maybe be easier to learn and translate, since the words are simpler, for she was a teen when she performed them. (But if you prefer newest songs, I'm fine with that...)

Basically it's up to you, just lte me know!

 

ooo i like D'amour ou D'amitie and C'est Pour Vivre. i like singing to the words of Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore as well though i dont understand anything i'm singing lol

[KimboCosmo]

So with my busy scedule and lack of free time...I'm wondering when would be a good time to start learning French. Maybe I should just sign up at a community college for French...?

[chicagofan]

Hey Kimberly,

 

If you can fit the classes and some study time into your schedule, you should sign up! Does the local high school offer adult continuing education? Mine does, and it offers a couple of French classes. They're a lot cheaper than the community college, but you don't get college credit for them.

 

Regarding which song to start with - how about any of the 3 that lamourpourceline mentioned - D'amitie, C'est Pour Vivre, or Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore?

[Elaine]

I have another suggestion.. what about Ziggy?? This was the first song I could understand many of the words in French... There are also some of Marc Dupré's songs which are easy to understand...

 

I like this idea of learning through songs... I've learned a lot so far!

[kathyc25]

This is a great idea! maybe a popular would be good since everyone knows it. I love Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore

[nico robin]

This is a great idea! maybe a popular would be good since everyone knows it. I love Pour Que Tu M'aimes Encore

yep yep i lov ethat song

[LaFeeRailleuse]

J'ai compris tous les mots (I understood all the words)

J'ai bien compris merci (I understood well, thanks)

Raisonnable et nouveau (Reasonable and new)

C'est ainsi par ici (That's the way it is here)

 

Oops! There's a storm above my place, I gotta go, coz' I hate being on line when there are lights!

I'll just let you read that and go on later! Sorry!

[LaFeeRailleuse]

Que les choses ont changé (How things changed)

Que les fleurs ont fané (How flowers faded)

Que le temps d'avant (How time past)

C'était le temps d'avant (Was time past)

 

Que si tout zappe et lasse (If all is worn away and is wearysome)

Les amours aussi passent (Love stories fade too)

Il faut que tu saches (I want you to know)

 

J’irai chercher ton coeur si tu l’emportes ailleurs (I'll go seek your heart if you bring it away)

Même si dans tes danses d’autres dansent tes heures (Even if in your dances, some others dance your hours)

J’irai chercher ton âme dans les froids dans les flammes (i'll go seek your soul, in the cold, in the flames)

Je te jetterai des sorts pour que tu m’aimes encore (I'll cast spells on you, so that you love me again)

 

 

Fallait pas commencer m’attirer me toucher (You shouldn't have begun, arousing me, touching me)

Fallait pas tant donner moi je sais pas jouer (You shouldn't have given so much, I do not know how to play)

On me dit qu’aujourd’hui, on me dit que les autres font ainsi (I'm told that nowadays, others do it this way)

Je ne suis pas les autres (I'm not the others)

Avant que l’on s’attache, avant que l’on se gâche (before we get attached, before we spoil each other)

Je veux que tu saches (I want you to know)

 

 

J’irai chercher ton coeur si tu l’emportes ailleurs

Même si dans tes danses d’autres dansent tes heures

J’irai chercher ton âme dans les froids dans les flammes

Je te jetterai des sorts pour que tu m’aimes encore

(translated above)

 

 

Je trouverai des langages pour chanter tes louanges (I'll find languages to sing your praises)

Je ferai nos bagages pour d’infinies vendanges (I'll pack our luggage for everlasting vintages)

Les formules magiques des marabouts d’afrique (The magic formulas of the African wizards)

J’les dirai sans remords pour que tu m’aimes encore (I'll tell them without remorse to you, so that you to love me again)

 

Je m’inventerai reine pour que tu me retiennes (I'll be a self-proclaimed queen, so that you hold me back)

Je me ferai nouvelle pour que le feu reprenne (I'll make myself new so that the fire catch)

Je deviendrai ces autres qui te donnent du plaisir (I'll become those others that give you pleasure)

Vos jeux seront les nôtres si tel est ton désir (Your games will be ours, if so is your will)

Plus brillante plus belle pour une autre étincelle (Brighter and more beautiful, for another spark)

Je me changerai en or pour que tu m’aimes encore (I'll turn into gold, so that you love me again)

 

 

 

I hope it's ok...

Let me know, english-speaking people, if anything I wrote in English doesn't seem right to you!

[Krys]

damn its beautiful thanks

 

i think only this sentence doesnt make sense to me

"C'était le temps d'avant (Was time past)"

[Elaine]

damn its beautiful thanks

 

i think only this sentence doesnt make sense to me

"C'était le temps d'avant (Was time past)"

 

It's kind of linked to the previous sentence... Something like "How time past was time past". According to my interpretation, it means that what is past can never be changed and we should leave that behind...

[Krys]

ah well, its only one line

[kathyc25]

That`s awsome! And it looks like a lot of the french words resemeble those in English too

[LaFeeRailleuse]

damn its beautiful thanks

 

i think only this sentence doesnt make sense to me

"C'était le temps d'avant (Was time past)"

 

It's kind of linked to the previous sentence... Something like "How time past was time past". According to my interpretation, it means that what is past can never be changed and we should leave that behind...

 

Yeah you're right, those two sentences are linked!

It's not so easy to translate in a good way, because it's kind of poetic! Goldman writes in a great way! i love it.

 

[Célinefull]

OMG Mylène that's so much work you did a great job! I've never actually translated a full song before!

 

basically that sentance there means "what's done is done".

 

Some things i thought could be said differently:

il faut que tu saches: you have to know

J’irai chercher ton coeur si tu l’emportes ailleurs: i'll go looking for your heart if you take it away.

Je m’inventerai reine pour que tu me retiennes: I'll reinvent myself as a queen, so you'll take me back.

Je me ferai nouvelle pour que le feu reprenne: I'll make myself new, so that the fire retakes.

si tel est ton désir: If such is your desire, i.e. If that's what you want.

some things that have always puzzled me:

 

Vendanges: I though that was when you picked grapes - it's always made no sense to me, why would taking him to harvest grapes make him fall in love with her again?

Même si dans tes danses d’autres dansent tes heures: WHAT the hell does that mean? "Even if in your dances someone else dances your hours"?

 

Anyway BRAVO Mylène! trop trop bien fait moi je ferai le prochaine..d'amour ou d'amitié je pense.

[Célinefull]

I had some spare time so i translated these songs:

 

d'amour ou d'amitié

c'est pour vivre

ce n'était qu'un rêve

Lolita (trop jeune pour aimer)

 

i put them in a word file because it's clearer to view

 

http://www.alize-cornet.net/parolesceline.rtf

 

lol i had to upload it to the same URL as my Alizé Cornet fansite because my other URL isn't working - so enjoy! Let me know any requests for other songs.

[nico robin]

beautiful lyrics thanx for the translation

[kathyc25]

Thanks so much

[LaFeeRailleuse]

OMG Mylène that's so much work you did a great job! I've never actually translated a full song before!

 

basically that sentance there means "what's done is done".

 

Some things i thought could be said differently:

il faut que tu saches: you have to know

J’irai chercher ton coeur si tu l’emportes ailleurs: i'll go looking for your heart if you take it away.

Je m’inventerai reine pour que tu me retiennes: I'll reinvent myself as a queen, so you'll take me back.

Je me ferai nouvelle pour que le feu reprenne: I'll make myself new, so that the fire retakes.

si tel est ton désir: If such is your desire, i.e. If that's what you want.

some things that have always puzzled me:

 

Vendanges: I though that was when you picked grapes - it's always made no sense to me, why would taking him to harvest grapes make him fall in love with her again?

Même si dans tes danses d’autres dansent tes heures: WHAT the hell does that mean? "Even if in your dances someone else dances your hours"?

 

Anyway BRAVO Mylène! trop trop bien fait moi je ferai le prochaine..d'amour ou d'amitié je pense.

 

Thanks! I'm glad you like it, and thanks for correcting some of my mistakes!

 

You're right about "vendanges"... That's weird... But, as I said, it's kind of poetic, so sometimes, the meaning isn't so obvious...

 

"Je m’inventerai reine pour que tu me retiennes: I'll reinvent myself as a queen, so you'll take me back."==> are you sure about that one? Because the verb "retenir" implies that she's not gone, but about to leave!

[Célinefull]

yeah your right but 'hold me back' means' 'stop me from doing something'...maybe ' so you keep me' is a better translation? I just thought in the context of a love lost, you know?

 

as i said - so well done, there is no way i could translate an english song that well into French so very good job!

[LaFeeRailleuse]

yeah your right but 'hold me back' means' 'stop me from doing something'...maybe ' so you keep me' is a better translation? I just thought in the context of a love lost, you know?

 

as i said - so well done, there is no way i could translate an english song that well into French so very good job!

 

 

I don't know if ' so you keep me' sounds good in English, but it sounds closer to the French expression in my opinion!

 

I'm sure you did an awesome job with the translations (I can't download them now, because I'm busy with school and I wouldn't have much time to read them, but i will when I am done with my exam)

[Elaine]

I think it'd be nice if we worked a little with grammar too, so we could learn a little more. What do you think? Well, I'll start doing that and if I'm wrong or think it's useless just tell me ok? Reminding you that I have only basic level of the French language.

 

Here you go:

 

Passé compose (It's similar to the Present Perfect)

 

Formed by Subject + Auxiliay verb "Avoir" (Have) or "Être" (be) (conjugated) + verb in the passé composé.

E.G:

 

"J'ai compris tous les mots"

 

Je (Subject) + ai (verb avoir in the 1st person) + compris (Verb comprendre in the passé composé)

 

 

Conjugation of the verb "Avoir"

 

J'ai

Tu as

Il/ Elle/ On a

Nous avon

Vous avez

Ils/Elles ont

 

I have a list with some verbs in the Passé composé in my French book, so if you're interested I scan for you! Just let me know...

 

I hope this was helpful...

[LaFeeRailleuse]

Conjugation of the verb "Avoir"

 

J'ai

Tu as

Il/ Elle/ On a

Nous avon

Vous avez

Ils/Elles ont

 

I have a list with some verbs in the Passé composé in my French book, so if you're interested I scan for you! Just let me know...

 

I hope this was helpful...

 

Very good job (just a little detail : it's avonS, we don't prononce this S... but it exists nontheless)

That's right:

 

I understood = J'ai compris (verb : comprendre)

I said = J'ai dis (verb : dire)

I walked = J'ai marché (verb : marcher)

I took = J'ai pris (verb : prendre)

I sang = J'ai chanté (verb : chanter)

etc etc...

[Krys]

i have a French text/workbook hidden in one of my many drawers. if anyone wants it, i can help scan it for ya

[kathyc25]

Oh good idea...that`s what I get stuck on

[Elaine]

Conjugation of the verb "Avoir"

 

J'ai

Tu as

Il/ Elle/ On a

Nous avon

Vous avez

Ils/Elles ont

 

I have a list with some verbs in the Passé composé in my French book, so if you're interested I scan for you! Just let me know...

 

I hope this was helpful...

 

Very good job (just a little detail : it's avonS, we don't prononce this S... but it exists nontheless)

That's right:

 

I understood = J'ai compris (verb : comprendre)

I said = J'ai dis (verb : dire)

I walked = J'ai marché (verb : marcher)

I took = J'ai pris (verb : prendre)

I sang = J'ai chanté (verb : chanter)

etc etc...

 

I always forget this "S"!! Thanks for correcting me!!!

[Balazs]

I want to study French too!!! I'm finishing now the high school where I had tons of English and Spanish classes (oh my God, i haven't got ENglish lessons in the last two years, because i made the language exam, so i've forgotten a lot).

 

But if everything will be okay with my graduation and I could study at the university where I want, I could study English and Spanish with big number of classes, and I will start to study French!!!!

Edited May 17, 2007 at 08:22 AM by Balazs