Canadians are blase

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 4:55 am

This Canadian teacher says that when he enters the department office that the people are "blase" (with frenchy accent on the e). They sit sullenly and take no notice of him.

Another Canadian teacher says this usage is incorrect. I find it merely immodest. What do you think?

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:22 pm

I suppose you could get to blase (with the French accent) from a more suitable word, with enough blurring and extending of meaning boundaries (just like the largest but often less accurate thesauruses), but I imagine it strikes many English speakers as not quite the word your first, wannabe star Canadian teacher is looking for (you could even say he is quite blase about learning and using words); that being said, it could be a Canadian invention or a loanword from the Francophone parts of Canada or vice-versa, and I am in no position to judge (and am too "blase" to check).

I don't know if it's "immodest", the guy just sounds like he needs some intelligent conversation or something...and if the sullen atmos lifts, who knows, it could even help him pick up a correct usage or two.

I'll prepare to be Googled...

coffeedecafe · Post by **coffeedecafe** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:30 am

if you crossed into ontario or quebec the blase term would feel more natural. as you go farther west the english speaking predominates, so bored might be a better term?

wjserson · Post by **wjserson** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:54 pm

Although I know the term, and what it means, I can't say I've ever heard it in normal everyday usage.

If you do Google it FH, you'll probably find the song called 'Blasé Blase' by Snap. Remember them? They weren't a Canadian group, as far as I know.

As a Canadian living in Ottawa (along that border between Quebec and Ontario) I've heard less then 10 times in my life. It usually is used when someone is trying to define something (an atmosphere, individuals, etc) as too boring, too uneffected, or too laid back, and can't choose which of those to say. The word 'blazé' usually means all of these. Personally, I wouldn't use the word and those that do are most likely trying to give an impression that they're suave or intellectual.

The 'frenchy accent on the e', Woodcutter, is called an 'accent ègue' and is used on most e's that are pronounced 'ay'. Many people on this site already know that, most likely.

I guess it's just like many of these once fashionable terms that exist in English : lassez faire, gauche, à la mode, soirée, etc. But their usage, as you know, is becoming more and more obselete.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:47 pm

I submit that "with the accent egue" would in fact leave over 50% here somewhat confused, and that's why I chose to write it that way rather than look up what that "must pronounce the e" phenomonen was called. As I have mentioned before on this forum, I was a naughty boy in French classes and I do forget the precise term for them there accents a little bit. I can't put one on the letter on the computer, neither.

Hey though, you aren't so fine yourself! Ten times? Ever tried reading books or quality newspapers?

wjserson · Post by **wjserson** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:55 pm

I did say "everyday usage". A newspaper , fashion magazine, or song by Snap is not the context I was referring to. Shouldn't you know if your Canadian colleague's "usage is incorrect" if you've read it that much in magazines?

And for those 50% of us who don't know the name, there it is on my posting.

woodcutter · Post by **woodcutter** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:42 am

Yes, well, my Canadian colleague was very sure he was right, and though I was pretty darn sure he was wrong where I come from, I thought those of you who live within garlic smelling distance of Quebec might have a different take on it.

By the way, dictionary.com has "very sophisticated" too for blase, which is news to me.