France could ban 'confusing' gender neutral words that 'endanger the language' under law proposed by 60 MPs. The MPs argue that the gender inclusive nouns make learning proper French more difficult and could even endanger the entire language.
However, neither my Portuguese phrase book nor a conversation with an Englishman who had been resident in The Algarve for 20 years could shed any real light on how I should say "thank you" when shopping or eating out.
I did Latin and French at school. Greek, like German has male, female, and neuter and sentence structure can seem back to front to us and illogical. It also has words that have different meanings depending which syllable is emphasised. For example ‘skolio’ can be either a school or an opinion. It can lead to hilarity or embarrassment like the island , commonly mispronounced by foreigners as a rude word for female genitalia.
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
My recollection of one of the difficulties of leaning French in school was the fact that words were male or female
Inanimate objects are also given a sex in French. I still think it’s an easier language than German though where they usually stick the verb at the end of the sentence. 😳
I did French, German and Latin in school. Those were the days.
"People denied a platform by universities will be able to seek compensation in the courts under government plans designed to make campuses places where 'freedom of speech can thrive' The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will aim to end the so-called 'no platforming' of speakers and academics on campuses Regulator the Office for Students will get the power to fine institutions and student unions for breaching new duties People who believe their freedom of speech has been impinged will also get the power to go to court to seek financial compensation " By DAVID WILCOCK, WHITEHALL CORRESPONDENT FOR MAILONLINE