That Professor has a beautiful accent and obviously a great deal of knowledge, but to me it was funny to hear a Brit use the baseball term " ... it's come out of left field."
For those wondering (I was), the reason why it's a "p" rather than any other non-pronounced/aspirated consonant is etymological - it is derived from the Vulgar Latin word "colpus", which itself comes ultimately from the Greek κόλαφος (kolaphos), which is a slap (in the face).
Sorry but Coup de Théâtre doesn't mean a spectacular event. It means a big and sudden surprise. Especially when there is a reversal of situation. For example: Mohamed Ali vs Foreman in Zaïre... Foreman dominates the whole match and suddenly Ali punches and Foreman is down. What a Coup de Théâtre !
1) sometimes you write it because in the feminine version of the word you would pronounce it (for adjectives) e.g: mort - morte (dead) 2) you would pronounce the last letter sometimes if the next word starts with a vowel e.g: nous - nous avons 3) it's a vestigial letter from the original latin/greek/other word and sometimes is still pronounced in other similar words e.g: pied - pédestre
I wonder what relation, if any, "coup" has to the Danish word "kup". "Kup" means robbery, theft or takeover rather than blow, but it's used in the Danish word for coup d'état, "statskup". It's also used when someone has pulled off something extraordinary; especially if they have acquired or achieved something good at an extraordinarily low cost.
The root could be the ancient Greek word "kopo" (κοπῶ) whish is used as the second synthetic in verbs than denote intense action. praxis(action/activity) +kopo = the word for "coup d'etat" in Greek.
I'd say it's a "danification" of coup, because danish may not have the "ou" sound they just take the word and make it easier for danish people to pronounce. In german we use the word coup as it is and everybody knows what is meant. Danish may be less tolerant to foreign words so they still use the same word, just change it.
I agree, the explanation in the video may be historically accurate but I'd rather use "coup de théâtre" in a meaning closer (though not identical) to a "plot twist". (feel free to correct my english)
all those letters play an important role in the proper pronounciation of the words, if you leave any letter out, you will not be able to pronounce it the same way (following the pronounciation rules). So even if a certain letter is pronounced silently or in a different way, doesn't make that letter obsolete. the example "know" is a perfect example. If you leave the silent k out, you will not be able to pronounce it the same way, because then you pronounce it like the word "now" (at this moment)
yes, because if you try to pronounce "hom" it's different than just pronouncing home withour e, home has a medium-long o, because it ends with the e, while hom has a short o.
American Plains Indians "counted coup" in battle by doing something dangerous in order to gain honor like running up to the enemy and tapping them on the head, or stealing their weapon, or anything that would put them in danger, and then escaping unharmed. Then after the battle, they would "count coup."
Because it's good-looking and it annoys foreigners :p Those two peculiarities are quite French. It's also because the French language is codified by the Académie Française (contrary to English for example) and changing orthographic rules would be seen as a blow (a coup?) against French culture and tradition.
I have learned so much from this channel.
That Professor has a beautiful accent and obviously a great deal of knowledge, but to me it was funny to hear a Brit use the baseball term " ... it's come out of left field."
For those wondering (I was), the reason why it's a "p" rather than any other non-pronounced/aspirated consonant is etymological - it is derived from the Vulgar Latin word "colpus", which itself comes ultimately from the Greek κόλαφος (kolaphos), which is a slap (in the face).
Sorry but Coup de Théâtre doesn't mean a spectacular event. It means a big and sudden surprise. Especially when there is a reversal of situation. For example: Mohamed Ali vs Foreman in Zaïre... Foreman dominates the whole match and suddenly Ali punches and Foreman is down. What a Coup de Théâtre !
1) sometimes you write it because in the feminine version of the word you would pronounce it (for adjectives) e.g: mort - morte (dead)
2) you would pronounce the last letter sometimes if the next word starts with a vowel e.g: nous - nous avons
3) it's a vestigial letter from the original latin/greek/other word and sometimes is still pronounced in other similar words e.g: pied - pédestre
I wonder what relation, if any, "coup" has to the Danish word "kup". "Kup" means robbery, theft or takeover rather than blow, but it's used in the Danish word for coup d'état, "statskup". It's also used when someone has pulled off something extraordinary; especially if they have acquired or achieved something good at an extraordinarily low cost.
That heart transition.
The root could be the ancient Greek word "kopo" (κοπῶ)
whish is used as the second synthetic in verbs than denote intense action.
praxis(action/activity) +kopo = the word for "coup d'etat" in Greek.
Coup de théâtre is used to define a sudden and unexpected turn of events.
You didn't mention "counting coup".
interesting
Yay thanks for uploading again!
I'd say it's a "danification" of coup, because danish may not have the "ou" sound they just take the word and make it easier for danish people to pronounce. In german we use the word coup as it is and everybody knows what is meant. Danish may be less tolerant to foreign words so they still use the same word, just change it.
that bit just hit the spot. thank you for sharing. bye
We have a similar word in swedish, and yes I think it originates from the word "coup".
I agree, the explanation in the video may be historically accurate but I'd rather use "coup de théâtre" in a meaning closer (though not identical) to a "plot twist".
(feel free to correct my english)
i'm not sure the use of "Coup de théâtre" is right as explained in the video, orelse we (I'm french) don't use it the same way.
thanks
We could use one here in the U.S.
Is that Brady?
...but in a way, it's quite fitting since the meaning of the word has changed as well.
correction: "coup de foudre" is not just a thunder bolt, it is when the lightning strikes the earth. I know that I'm French and Dutch speaking. ;-)
Please tell me this guy has his own channel where he explains French etc.
Can you Maybe talk about swedish word "Lagom".
Interesting... Thanks.
Coup de main. Coup de guerre.
I think it might be the "danishification" of the french word.
all those letters play an important role in the proper pronounciation of the words, if you leave any letter out, you will not be able to pronounce it the same way (following the pronounciation rules). So even if a certain letter is pronounced silently or in a different way, doesn't make that letter obsolete. the example "know" is a perfect example. If you leave the silent k out, you will not be able to pronounce it the same way, because then you pronounce it like the word "now" (at this moment)
yes, because if you try to pronounce "hom" it's different than just pronouncing home withour e, home has a medium-long o, because it ends with the e, while hom has a short o.
American Plains Indians "counted coup" in battle by doing something dangerous in order to gain honor like running up to the enemy and tapping them on the head, or stealing their weapon, or anything that would put them in danger, and then escaping unharmed. Then after the battle, they would "count coup."
I always thought it was a German thing to change the spelling of words borrowed from French. I guess we Danes are guilty of doing it too.
Because "cou" is throat/neck in French
Nor was mentioned the foul economy creating a "chicken coop d'etat." Feathers flying everywhere-a fowl affair.
Coup contrecoup injury.
In the german language we use "coup" exactly like in English.
Yes. And historically, they're all pronounced. French has got a lot of elision!
For the same kind of reason you still write "know" with an extra 'k'.
The volume is too low. I have the UA-cam slider on max volume and my computer on max volume, and I can barely hear anything.
I always thought coup d'etat was coup de tete, or "blow to the head" as a metaphor
Because it's good-looking and it annoys foreigners :p
Those two peculiarities are quite French.
It's also because the French language is codified by the Académie Française (contrary to English for example) and changing orthographic rules would be seen as a blow (a coup?) against French culture and tradition.
so do the Dutch :) we just add "en" to verbs to conjugate them
"tirer un coup"
hahaha, yeah, some people are unaware...
Yes, kup is a borrowing from the French.
chicken coup
I love French :-)
next time you say bon appetit think about coup and why you don't say the last letter.
The French language seams to have a lot of silent letters.
He explained why you don't pronounce the "p", but not why you still write it. If you don't pronounce it, why write it?
Ordet er af Fransk oprindelse.
Isn't "coup" what a successful bank robbery is called in English?
This comming from an English speaker...