ENGLISH abounds in words and phrases taken from other languages such as Latin, Greek, German, Italian, Spanish and French, to name a few. These foreign words and phrases are drawn from a wide range of subjects which include cookery, fashion, music, medicine, law, philosophy and folk sayings.

They are used to give a description another flavour, an argument an extra depth, a cutting edge, a style, an elegance an erudition. However, a word of caution. An overloading with these exotic bits of language can make any utterance or piece of writing sound pedantic or pretentious. Only a judicious and appropriate use of these linguistic entities from other semantic fields can justify their presence in English. Apt and pithy, they help in clarifying meaning and are immediately comprehended by those who are exposed to or have studied other languages. Each language has degrees of precision and the possibility of extending the meaning of words and phrases. Instead of making several sentences to explain a concept or describe an event, a word or a phrase from another language offers a compact alternative which gives a conversation an added punch. Thus, practice of the most common phrases from other languages will definitely accelerate your language development and facilitate a sophisticated use of English.

This week let's have a look at French words and phrases.

Column A Column B

1. ennui a) an expert on matters involving the judgement of beauty, quality or skill in art, food or music

2. raconteur b) a learned man

3. atelier c) verve

4. blas`E9 d) nickname

5. soubriquet e) the unravelling of a plot; the final outcome of a situation

6. claque f) bored

7. savant g) composure

8. abattoir h) workshop

9. `E9lan i) a group of hired applauders

10. connoisseur j) a skilled storyteller

11. d`E9nouement k) not impressed, excited or worried about something because you have seen or experienced it many times before

12. sang froid l) slaughter house

1. nom de plume a) an instinctive ability to act appropriately in a given situation

2. d`E9j`E0 vu b) person or subject that is hated or detested

3. savoir faire c) social blunder

4. coup d'`E9tat d) a name used by a writer instead of his real name

5. faux pas e) a sudden overturn of a government

6. b`EAte noire f) the feeling that you have previously experienced what is happening to you.

I 1-f 2-j 3-h 4-k 5-d 6-i 7-b 8-1 9-c 10-a 11-e 12-g

II 1-d 2-f 3-a 4-e 5-c 6-b