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Le inventeur de franglais est morte
The inventor of the term 'Franglais', Miles Kington, is dead. But his legacy is beaucoup endurable.
Franglais has entered the Chambers Dictionary: 'French with many English words'.
Its rules are simple. Insert as many French words as you know into a sentence, fill in the rest with English, then speak with absolute conviction.
Although it was not known as such in the sixteenth century, Franglais is found in Shakespeare and has been used probably for as long as the French and English have had to talk to each other.
Churchill spoke in what he called "Pidgin French". (Does "si vous m’obstaclerez, je vous liquiderai" count?) Much the same thing.
Here are some good Kington examples: 'A man is accused of driving his car "Avec toute la finesse d'un Rangers fan".'
Or, 'A door-to-door salesman assures his customers "Je ne suis pas un nutter religieux".'
Perhaps the best is: "Le hangover: Il y a un petit homme dans ma tete, qui fait le demolition work".


