And the Anglophones involuntarily (or happily) butcher the French language.
I’m not sure if this happens a lot at your place, but it does at mine.
Have your colleagues, clients, business partners, mates, bosses, office secretary sent an invitation –for whatever purpose– which, at the end of it, says in bold letters:
« Please RSVP by 30/03/06»
Now, the thing is, that’s such a superfluous request.
What most errr … English speakers fail to realise is that, RSVP has got a built-in “please” in itself.
RSVP : French for " répondez s’il vous plait "
S'il vous plait = if you please
Répondez = the polite form to ask, respond (please).
Thus, please RSVP by 30/03/06 = please respond please by 30/03/06.
If only I had a dollar for everytime I am to respond to the nagging please respond, please!
