tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post775866846216508158..comments2024-02-19T07:51:46.118-05:00Comments on Throw Grammar from the Train: Toilé and troubleJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03173219179480606941noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-46462695003756213352011-10-17T01:58:58.398-04:002011-10-17T01:58:58.398-04:00Never thought toilet comes from french word.Never thought toilet comes from french word.Toilet Paperhttp://www.toilet-paper.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-22174315942639875282011-09-30T06:29:06.098-04:002011-09-30T06:29:06.098-04:00A mail-order clothing catalogue I use regularly of...A mail-order clothing catalogue I use regularly offers blouses featuring "broderie anglaise" with an accute accent on the final "e", presumably because they think it makes the word look more French.<br /><br />Kate (Derby, UK)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-1607961871627503812011-09-29T06:45:14.293-04:002011-09-29T06:45:14.293-04:00I was talking once to an usher at a Viennese theat...I was talking once to an usher at a Viennese theater, who for some reason was gushing about his enjoyment for his job. He announced (translated), that what he liked above all were the toilets. It took me a second to realize that he was talking about the elegant dresses the women wore. (German also uses "Toilette" to mean both the wardrobe and the plumbing, though in that situation he'd have probably said "WC" if he'd meant the latter.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-70474551477766991922011-09-22T11:47:30.684-04:002011-09-22T11:47:30.684-04:00Nope, no odes at OdeToTheCommode.com, but there is...Nope, no odes at OdeToTheCommode.com, but there <i>is</i> a section called Potty Central, which made me giggle.<br /><br />I wonder: can you buy Le Toilé at Tar-zhay?Nancyhttp://nancyfriedman.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-11214127888199360812011-09-22T09:29:36.856-04:002011-09-22T09:29:36.856-04:00Perhaps their use of 'Le Toilé' was a play...Perhaps their use of 'Le Toilé' was a play on words related to the work (or toil) of cleaning the toilet, as they sell cleaning products.<br /><br />At least that was my first impression upon seeing the ad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-32541635465278778412011-09-22T01:29:09.821-04:002011-09-22T01:29:09.821-04:00I don't think it was an invention. I think the...I don't think it was an invention. I think the copywriter was probably just wrong, and nobody checked it.<br />But I love your heading!<br />— K<br /><br />Kay, Alberta, Canada<br />An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous TravelKay L. Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09966266404058177742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811866763970314328.post-60370798197019473452011-09-21T22:19:17.208-04:002011-09-21T22:19:17.208-04:00Many readers of the ad will mentally pronounce the...Many readers of the ad will mentally pronounce the cute phrase like this: "Lay twa-lay". <br /><br />Like Pepe (or is it Pepé?) Le Pew, they know that the final -ay sound is the true mark of Frenchiness, and have no clue that the French definite article that sounds like "lay" is strictly plural, or that is spelled with an "s".<br /><br />"Toilette" sounds diminutive rather than Frenchy, and that's not the goal.emptyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04513102801380602436noreply@blogger.com