Month: May 2010

Posted in Cross Cultural Comments Paris Paris Favoritz

Favoritz: a moment in the Luco

au Luco last Sunday at about 7.

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Posted in Cross Cultural Comments

27 mai au 11 juin 1942

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Posted in Cross Cultural Comments France Paris Paris Favoritz

Favoritz: Tampopo

Apparently, “tampopo” (that’s to say the Japanese pronunciation of this word) means “dandelion” or in French,  “pissenlit.”

Japanese restaurant where the staff is Japanese. Call for reservations: 01 47 27 74 52.  Speak slowly and very clearly. For simplicity, you might want to reserve with well-known names like “Carla” or “Yoko.” Pour deux – Two, please. One o’clock. Treize heures.

Excellent timely service … not fast food.

66 rue Lauriston 75116 Paris

About dandelions, suburban American culture tends to demonize this delicious plant and its pretty yellow flowers as a weed. However,  green dandelion leaves are just a little bitter but crispy and are eaten in France as a treat. Wild salad.  Of course, the French eat all sorts of things, n’est-ce pas?

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Posted in Cross Cultural Comments

on questions and money

A little while ago, I was peeling potatoes in the kitchen and as we all know, as well as being therapeutic, cooking is a philosophical activity. You’re there with the elements from land and sea; there’s earthy touching and then cleaning and water and heat and maybe some music to maintain the rhythm … Anyway,

Don’t you think that unanswered questions are just like borrowed money?

The longer they remain unanswered … the more interest they accrue!

Like bills to be settled, in a balanced account, legitimate questions deserve being paid for with fair, timely answers!

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Posted in Newsletters Cross Cultural Comments Savannah Favoritz

Newsletter May 28, 2010

Last week we had some pretty hot weather here. There’s an optimistic saying in French which says “Après la pluie, le beau temps.” Since Tuesday, someone re-wrote it this way: Après le beau temps, la pluie!” 

Both rain and sunshine are essential for beautiful landscapes. Both are essential for balance. We’d never appreciate the one without the other.

No matter how mysterious life may seem to be, few of us doubt the scientific principle of cause and effect. My taste for discovering unusually beautiful places in the country is certainly due to a specific cause. As a child, I had the extraordinary luck to have an Uncle Harold who had a passion for four things: (i) nice comfortable cars (ii) discovering off the beaten path places to visit (iii) good restaurants … and (iv) artistic nudes. Sounds like Uncle Harold could have been French, doesn’t it?

There’s a post today on a place to discover. Chaumont s/Loire. You’ll find four photos and a couple dozen words as well as a link to the Domaine. Take a minute to glance at it. I don’t think you’ll regret it. In Uncle Harold’s tradition. May he rest in peace.

Uncle Harold was a man of modest means. In order to finance such excursions, he worked every day in his small business of selling wines and liquors.

In order for me to live up to his reputation, The Paris Savannah Company is now innovating by setting up online language coaching and training.  Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re interested in a distance learning or coaching solution.

The Paris Savannah Connection is an eclectic collection of “quips” aimed at fostering cross cultural understanding and communication, the English language and related topics.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with The Paris Savannah Connection!

Mark

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Posted in About Learning a Foreign Language Cross Cultural Comments Fluency Cinema

The Interpreter

The movie “The Interpreter” is one I highly recommend.

Nicole Kidman is extraordinary and the plot is all too real. 

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Posted in Photos Cross Cultural Comments France

Favoritz: Chaumont s/Loire

Do you know this extraordinary place?

Not only is it a landmark historical site having been home to Diane de Poitiers, it is also home to one of Europe’s most remarkable schools of artistic landscaping as well as the International Festival of Gardens. Every year it features creations from landscape artists from all over the world.

Here are four photos I took last summer.

… the Domaine of Chaumont s/Loire

Two hours and a few minutes from Paris if the weather’s fair

Soul.

Body

2010:

Body and Soul.

This year’s theme is “Body and Soul.”

Why do we need to discover?

… do we need to open our eyes?

vision and sight

… do we need to listen?

hearing and listening

… worlds away …

creation / expression

and

examples

of artistic creation

 

 

 

 

 

… the Royal … address?

The king’s signature?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the valley

is there

for those

ready

to explore

it

For more photos and all the info … here’s a link to the Domaine.

My suggestion: Plan your day … and include lunch at the Grand Velum.

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Posted in Photos Cross Cultural Comments Savannah

rainbow over marsh

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Posted in Music Cross Cultural Comments Audio Video

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

In The Wizard of Oz … Dorothy dreams … and sings … Somewhere Over The Rainbow. All-Time Masterpiece. performed by Judy Garland.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?

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Posted in About Learning a Foreign Language Notes on English Cross Cultural Comments Keywords Translation

A word on “translation” and “interpretation”

When you’re not involved in these worlds of multilingual communication, these words seem to be synonomous because they have something important in common: rendering meanings from one language to another.

What’s the difference then?

Interpreters speak. Translators write.

And that’s where it begins!

Choosing a translator or an interpreter is not as simple as opening up your ibrowser. Here are just a few of the vital basics:

The original: Provide a quality original. Many translations appear to be poor translations … only because the original is not up to standard.

Language pairs: The translator or interpreter goes from a foreign language to his/her native language. He is writing or speaking to others who understand his native language.

Competence: He/She must know the subject matter in depth. Don’t expect a generalist to translate or interpret a legal contract or a manual on using agricultural machinery.

Experience: It takes many years to provide quality at an acceptable speed. A professional translator translates about 10 full pages/day in his speciality.

Think ahead: Most reputable professionals are in high demand…and are under high pressure. Don’t expect them to be available at the last minute. Reserve their time in advance.

Proofreading: Nobody’s perfect. It’s best to plan on your own proofreader who can work with the translator.

Proofreading 2: How many people will read what’s printed? That should be a determining factor in how many proofreads are necessary. Your audience will spot ANY errors. If your document is important enough to be shared, try to get it … right! If it’s going to be distributed to 50 people, you have 50 potential error-spotting critics … How much more if you have 500, 5 000 or 50 000 potential readers??

Costs: You get what you pay for!

In this field, remember the golden rule: No guessing.

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