Re:Verlan: French slang that inverses words
by shean_massey on Sunday February 02, 2020 @05:36PM
(#22219955)
I really don’t like the example of “monter en haut”. Certain verbs, like “monter” can have very different meanings without the noun.
Monter en haut: to go up (not specifically stairs, contextually maybe, could just as well be an elevator or a tree house ladder for example)
Monter a cheval: to get on a horses back
Monter un meuble: to assemble furniture (think ikea)
The noun here is not irritating, it’s essential.
Re:Verlan: French slang that inverses words
by K0SM0S on Sunday February 02, 2020 @06:41PM
(#22220268)
I agree with the sentiment, but it's logically redundant since you cannot possibly “monter en bas”, so you should really just say “je monte”. In context, everybody knows if you're talking about the elevator or a horse (right?), and otherwise you may specify. And you're likely to add something, like “je monte chercher blabla” or “elle est montée depuis une heure”, which usually removes ambiguity.
Also, there are proper ways to say “monter en haut”! — monter à l'étage, monter l'escalier, monter dans sa chambre, etc.
Speaking of which, I find that it's particularly important to speak properly around kids, it reinforces good logic, thoroughness I think. My parents were like that, I've always been like that, and I guess I'll do the same to my kids, haha.
To me it does, it's irritating, like "to go up upstairs" (“monter en haut”). But most people evidently don't care, journalists do it all the time now.
I think it comes down to familiarity with expressions (or acronyms), as you explain. The more you internalize what a conjugate thing is, the more it becomes its own — and grammar be damned on the way, as logic evidently isn't the only path to understanding/speaking (perhaps not even the most common).