One of the first things I learned at the Alliance Française was that the French are notorious for their use of acronyms. This seemed strange to me, because I had always thought that the French were all about the beauty of their language.
Not that they aren't, but acronyms pepper their speech and writing. One of the most famous newscasters here is known by his initials, PPDA. There are so many other examples I could give to make my point, but I'm really tired and don't much feel like spending half an hour explaining. I will say that every teacher in the country knows what the B.O. is, and I'm not talking about their scent after a hard day of teaching, either.
So today I went to the post office (I mean the P.O.) to give them a letter I'd received. No one by that name lives here, and I said as much to the worker behind the glass.
She took the letter (ironically enough from La Poste itself, from their financial services branch), scribbled on the bar code at the bottom of the envelope, and said in a self-satisfied manner, "Ça, c'est un NPAI." It took a lot for me not to laugh out loud. NPAI (say it with me, En Pa Ay Ee) means "N'habite pas à l'adresse indiquée."
Oh hell, I might be too tired to explain why the lady at the post office made me laugh with her official NPAI label. It was just funny, that's all.
Now let's see how funny you can be. I dare you to come up with a phrase for the "acronym" in the title of this post. I'll go first, but it might suck: Furry Rodents Are Not Carrying Ebola.
Your turn now.
F.R.A.N.C.E
F***ing Rats Are Not Cute... EVER!!
Posted by: Amber | December 20, 2005 at 17:40
Heheheheheh
Posted by: Amber | December 20, 2005 at 17:40
Heheheheheh
Posted by: Amber | December 20, 2005 at 17:41
Fun reading a non-cutesy entry, for really all normal citizens enjoyment.
Posted by: bhd | December 20, 2005 at 17:53
Farting runners are not common exercisers.
Posted by: Karan | December 20, 2005 at 20:27
Furrballs really are not a Christmas expectation.
Posted by: Sarah | December 20, 2005 at 21:58
Fleshy Rhinos Almost Never Chew Edamame?
Posted by: Platypotamus | December 20, 2005 at 22:34
Feeling Really Ashamed, Ned Catapults Earthward.
Posted by: Allan | December 21, 2005 at 01:05
For ransom, all neighbors chanted eagerly.
"Fun, really," assembled newbies conceded earnestly.
Posted by: Sarah | December 21, 2005 at 02:28
Funny - can I get back to you on the phrase? I just woke up, and such deep thinking is beyond me at the moment.
Great comments
Posted by: cassie-b | December 21, 2005 at 07:12
Acronymns. My current job uses them constantly. When I first started working here several years ago, I didn't understand a damn thing. Now I realize I talk like that.
Posted by: Chris | December 21, 2005 at 07:57
I remember just enough french to actually be able to read and understand that!!! Cool :)
Okay, here's mine...blame the Telus commercials I guess...
"Furry Rabbits are Nice Christmas Entertainment!"
Ha! I should work in advertising ;)
Posted by: Carrie | December 21, 2005 at 11:46
Forever Rank, Amy Never Cleans. Ever.
Feline Radicals Are Nuisances, Cat Extremists.
Posted by: newwavegurly | December 21, 2005 at 12:12
:lol:
Friends. Radicals. Animals. Nature. Carcas. Expanse.
Posted by: anica | December 21, 2005 at 13:01
Festivities Reveal Ali Nipping Christmas Eggnog
France Révèle Allan's Nouveau Coeur En feu
:D
s'il vous plaît pardonner mon français comme je ne le sais pas à tout ;)
Posted by: zip | December 21, 2005 at 14:02
Frogs Ridicule Acronyms No-one Characterise's English
In my experience they do it all too often, SNCF is one of the most famous, for rugby leauge clubs we have UTC (union Treiziste Catalan), UVC another one.
I think its because they like long names for things, if you look at the UK SNCF was British Rail, now Rail Track, in Franace it would something like "voie des rails que les trains courent dessus" so they use acronyms.
;)
Posted by: Sadfish | December 22, 2005 at 06:59
Forget Reading Another Nonsensensical Comment. End.
Posted by: ResearchGuy® | December 23, 2005 at 09:12