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From: Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: It is not just Physics that Should be Hard in Hard SF
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:10:07 -0700
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On 10/23/2024 5:52 AM, Cryptoengineer wrote:
> On 10/21/2024 11:52 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
>> On Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:09:37 -0000 (UTC), Don <g@crcomp.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Robert Woodward wrote:
>>>> William Hyde wrote:
>>>>> Don wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Bobb[ie] Sellers, how do you imagine Poirot's being Belgian 
>>>>>> precludes his
>>>>>> (and Christie's own) Francophilia? Or perhaps, as you see it, their
>>>>>> Francophilia is also imaginary? (In the latter case we'll agree to
>>>>>> disagree.)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Read the books, and you will understand.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It has been a few decades since I have read any of the Hercule Poirot
>>>> stories, but I don't remember any comment that he was a Francophone.
>>>> That he almost certainly was one was obvious.
>>>
>>> It's fun for fiction fans to fuss budget over the nuances of Poirot's
>>> psychological proclivity for French. (Christie's own Francophilia's
>>> beyond doubt, at least for me.)
>>>     Regardless, ratiocination's ready to resolve this riddle.
>>> POIROT'S EARLY CASES is a favorite, packed with Poirot parlance. The
>>> stories are splendidly sprinkled with Fench. He uses Mon Dieu! (My God!)
>>> in four of the stories:
>>>
>>>     "The Affair at the Victory Ball"
>>>
>>>         'Aha!’ said Poirot. 'Aha! Mon Dieu! Japp, that gives one
>>>         to think, does it not?'
>>>
>>>     "The Double Clue"
>>>
>>>         'What a woman!’ cried Poirot enthusiastically as we
>>>         descended the stairs. 'Mon Dieu, quelle femme!'
>>>
>>>     "The King of Clubs"
>>>
>>>         'Mon Dieu, I cannot always be talking blood and thunder!’
>>>
>>>     "The Lost Mine"
>>>
>>>         "He turned up that evening - Mon dieu, what a figure!"
>>>
>>> "Parbleu!" (Heavens above!) is used in three stories. These examples
>>> illustrate how Poirot reverts to French when surprised. Such behavior
>>> indicates French serves as his mother tongue.
>>
>> As one would expect of a (French-speaking) Belgian.
>>
>> You did know that Belgium is linguistically mixed, right?
> 
> I lived in Belgium for 6 years in the 70s, in Waterloo. I
> could see the monument from my house.
> 
> The north speaks Dutch, and the people are 'Flems'
> The south speaks French, and the people are 'Walloons'.
> There was more than a little friction when I was there.
> 
> Brussels is officially bilingual, but in practice is a
> French island surrounded by Dutch speakers (the border
> is about 10 miles south of town).
> 
> There's also a small area in the far east of the country
> which speaks German.
> 
That's what happens when all your neighbors insist on conquering you so 
they can fight each other.  :P

-- 
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky 
dirty old man.