Languages

As a travel advisor and one whom travels constantly, (I’ve trips in the fall for Ecuador, Switzerland, Tuscany & Ireland) reading signage, local newspapers, maps, etc. while traveling is always intriguing. As interesting is discovering the roots of our Americanized English language in countries where I am traveling. For instance in Paris last year, traveling from my hotel to the Charles de Gaul aeroporte, I noticed a sign “avance en feu” which for the US would simply be a sign which says, “Yield.” The French translation is “Advance in Fire” or in other words, the traffic’s moving like speeding bullets! My maternal grandmother used phrases like “in a few” which is a derivative of “advance en feu”…. Language arts become so alive when you travel!