Gail Stein - The Pocket Idiots Guide to French Phrases

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Table of Contents

This book is dedicated to my patient, proofreader husband,
Douglas; my skilled computer consultant son, Eric;
my most ardent fan and son, Michael; to my parents,
Sara and Jack Bernstein, whose love and support have
helped me to become the woman I am today; and to my
sister, Susan Opperman, who got all the art genes, my
brother-in-law, Jay, who makes sure I stay warm, and
Zachary, my precocious nephew.

Introduction

In todays fast-growing, ever-expanding, multicultural world the acquisition of at least one foreign language is a must for both business and pleasurable pursuits. If youre traveling, working, or just a student at heart, you may want or need an intensive crash course or a simple brush-up in French. The time to do it is now!

Learning French will allow you to enter a world of endless opportunities, intriguing experiences, and exciting challenges. Learning French will provide you with the key that opens the door to a different lifestyle, a distinctive culture, and a unique, romantic outlook on life. Learning French will give you a valuable tool that will serve you well when you least expect it. Open up your mind and immerse yourself in this wonderful experience. Study French with patience and love and the rewards you reap will be boundless.

Whats Inside

So youre curious about French and thats why youve picked up this book! Learning this popular Romance language is a very practical thing to do because its used internationally: Its spoken on all seven continents throughout the world. Wherever your travels may take you, youll find that a knowledge of French will prove invaluable and will greatly enrich your experiences.

Now if youre like most of us, you want to achieve quick and easy results with a minimum amount of work. Well, then this is the book for you. Youll painlessly and effortlessly learn all about pronunciation and grammar without having to sacrifice speed and accuracy. Students, travelers, and business people alike will find all the basics, in addition to common daily vocabulary and expressions that are useful in every conceivable situation. A wide range of topics is presented: food, clothing, health, leisure activities, business terms, and much more.

This book is not a just phrase book, a travel guide, or a foreign language text. What makes The Pocket Idiots Guide to French Phrases, Second Edition, unique is that it compactly combines all three of these elements: It gives those who want an extremely good working command of French an extremely useful tool. In no time flat, youll understand and be understood in French with ease and enjoyment. Therell be no embarrassment and no frustration. Yes, learning French can be fun!

Extras to Help You Along

Besides the idiomatic expressions, helpful phrases, lists of vocabulary words, and down-to-earth grammar, this book has useful information provided in sidebars throughout the text.

Full Speed Ahead

This box tells you how to work with French grammar easily, or reminds you of rules you might have forgotten from previous chapters.

Attention!

This box tells you how to avoid making a mistake.

An Extra Workout

This box gives you a chance to practice what youve learned. These tips will help you begin to put your French skills to use.

Acknowledgments

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to some very special people who have made a difference in my life and have greatly enriched it.

A special: I love you! accompanied by hugs and kisses to:

Ray Elias for getting my program up and running, for ensuring that the local bookstores keep Stein in stock, and for being an even greater guy 38 years later; Werner Elias for making a very important delivery, for which I will be eternally grateful; Roger H. Herz for being a dear friend and a cooperative consultant; Marty Hyman for giving me the best legal advice imaginable; Marty Leder for making me laugh and keeping my spirits up; Chris Levy for being the best advisor and confidante in the world, for always knowing the right thing to do, and for teaching me lessons I needed to learn; and Michael Koch for giving me his help, support, and input.

I would also like to acknowledge the contributions, input, support, and interest of the following people:

Natercia Alves, Marie-Claire Antoine, Monika Bergenthal, Vivian Bergenthal, Richard Calcasola of Maximus Hair Salon, Nancy Chu, Trudy Edelman, Richard Edelman, Barbara Gilson, Robert Grandt, Franois Haas of the Office of the French Treasury, Nancy Lasker of LOral, Max Rechtman, Marie-Madeleine Saphire, Barbara Shevrin, and Billy Fields and the Alpha production team.

Trademarks

All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

The Quickest and Easiest Pronunciation Guide

Now, before you jump into the chapters and accompanying exercises, familiarize yourself with the pronunciation guide in this section. Its really quite simple to sound irresistibly French especially if you were lucky enough to have been born with a good ear. If you can carry a tune or play a musical instrument you should have no trouble at all imitating the lilt, intonation, and stress of the language. Just follow these fast and easy steps:

Lose your inhibitions immediately and put on your best French accent. Dont be afraid to ham it up!

Allow yourself to slip and slide the sounds together while speaking the language.

Use your nose wisely for the correct pronunciation of French nasal sounds.

Remember that some French accents change the sound of the letter on which they appear.

Understand that practice and devotion will help improve your accent. Be patient!

Stress

In French, each syllable of a word has just about equal stress, so when speaking, try to pronounce each syllable of a word with equal emphasis. When you remember, place a slightly stronger emphasis on the last syllable of a group of words. Speak smoothly, speak musically, and speak evenly. My best advice: For maximum results, stay on an even keel.

A Liaison or an Elision?

Liaison (linking) and elision (sliding) are two linguistic elements of the French language that give it its fluidity and melodious beauty.

Liaison refers to the linking of the final consonant of one word with the beginning vowel of the next word.

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