Date: Mon, 25 Aug 1997 13:46:54 +0000
From: H.Robinson-AT-ulst.ac.uk (Hilary Robinson)
Subject: Re: Cixous Monarch notes?


Brigitte wrote:

>Ah, it's a little more complicated to me.  In French, the verb parler means
>to speak, and "parler de" means to speak of or about.  However, when the verb
>is NOT followed by "de," the meaning changes somewhat.  For example, "parler
>francais" to speak french (not to speak as a frenchperson!).  Also, "parler
>populaire" means "popular speech", and "parler irlandais" means Irish brogue.
>Thus, in these last two examples, the meaning of "parler" is not so much "to
>speak" as it is "speech."  Further, in "parler affaires" or "parler boutique"
>the meaning is "to talk business" or "to talk shop".  I think that these last
>two examples provide the basis for the term "parler femme".  So it means not
>just to talk AS a woman, but to talk about the subject of woman, with
>expertise.  Thus, men can also "parler femme."  French is such fun!

Thanks for this, brigitte, it helps. But: Does Luce Irigaray anywhere open
a space for men to 'parler femme'? My hunch is that she insists on women.
And if people 'talk shop', isn't it only people who are *of* the particular
shop who can talk it? :-)  Plus: how would there be a distinction between
people speaking with an Irish accent, and people speaking Irish? 

Hilary




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