> The French use the word "Clavier" to refer to a computer keyboard, too? That seems odd; the word has too many musical connotations for me to be able to wrap my head around its being used for typing purposes. :-}

But "keyboard" is applied in computer and music applications in English, too, isn't it?

> I had a heck of a time with French, myself, and I've always done very well with languages. Latin, Spanish, Italian and German all came very easily for me, but French (and Russian, as well) did not. This strikes me as being odd, too, since French has so much in common with Latin, Spanish, and Italian.
>
> I think part of it has to do with the pronunciations of words. Speaking French words always triggers a bit of a gag reflex, for my part. I guess it's the emphasis on the back of the throat that does it.
>

I poked a little fun of my bro when he had to start taking Spanish, because he can't trill his tongue. When i mentioned that French uses the uvula to trill, he really surprised me at how well he can do that. So somehow, this North Mississippi boy found a way to speak Spanish with a French accent. Cracks me up.

> The one thing I do like about French is that it's the only language in which you'll find words ending in "ieaux" and have all five letters silent. ;-}
>

I'm convinced that if the French all learned shorthand, so they could leave out all the extra letters, they'd be writing English.

But yeah, a universal translator would be much less complicated than having to use a transporter to find someone who could translate for you.

> > Bea" Le PC, ce n'est marche pas, tres merde."sty
>
> Dar "Non, aucun maudire en français" ien

Penny "the only French i know are from songs. My favorite is Faure: 'Ô ma rebelle, ô mon cher ange, mon enfer et mon paradis!'" stamp