{"id":11236,"date":"2015-05-20T13:49:01","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T12:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/blog\/?p=11236"},"modified":"2015-05-20T13:49:01","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T12:49:01","slug":"la-plume-de-ma-tante","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/bloggle\/?p=11236","title":{"rendered":"La plume de ma tante"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"La<\/p>\n

I wrote a new song last week based on the phrase ‘la plume de ma tante<\/em>‘ (My aunt’s quill\/pen\/feather). This phrase cropped up in a conversation I had with friends a few weeks ago when we were talking about learning languages, and how languages are taught. <\/p>\n

According to Wikipedia<\/a> this phrase possibly appeared in French textbooks in the 19th century and early 20th century, and was designed to teach people French vowel sounds. Other phrases used in a similar way include Le petit b\u00e9b\u00e9 est un peu malade<\/em> (the little baby is slightly ill), and Un bon vin blanc<\/em> (a good white wine). An equivalent phrase, which appeared in the first Assimil English course for French speakers, is My tailor is rich<\/em>.<\/p>\n

While it’s unlikely you would often use such phrases in everyday conversation, they do have their uses: to illustrate aspects of pronunciation, to practise using various grammatical structures, and to learn vocabulary. Moreover they tend to be easier to remember if they are silly and\/or bizarre. My song could be used to learn family words, how to say where things are, or are not, and words for furniture, clothes, animals, etc. <\/p>\n

Here are the lyrics, a recording and a translation of my song:<\/p>\n

La Plume de Ma Tante<\/strong><\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em>
\nO\u00f9 est la plume de ma tante ?
\nDis-moi si tu sais o\u00f9 elle est.
\nJe l\u2019ai vue ce matin je pense,
\nMais maintenant elle a disparu.<\/p>\n

Ce n’est pas sur la chaise de mon oncle,
\nEt c\u2019est pas sous la table non plus.
\nCe n’est pas dans le piano de mon grand-p\u00e8re,
\nEt ce n’est pas dans le seau de ma s\u0153ur.<\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em><\/p>\n

Ce n’est pas dans le frigo de mon fr\u00e8re
\nEt ce n’est pas dans sa poche non plus
\nCe n’est pas dans le manteau de ma grand-m\u00e8re,
\nEt ce n’est pas entre le marteau et l’enclume.<\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em><\/p>\n

Ce n’est pas derri\u00e8re la dinde
\nEt ce n’est pas au-dessus du dromadaire
\nCe n’est pas dans la piscine de mon papa
\nEt ce n’est pas dans le nez de ma ni\u00e8ce.<\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em><\/p>\n