France might be just across the English Channel from Britain, but Emma Jane Kirby says both nations are still prone to the pitfalls of linguistic misunderstandings. The 65th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings took place in France Last weekend, standing on Pegasus bridge in Normandy for the D-Day celebrations, I was touched to see two classes of French primary school children singing the British national anthem in honour of the veterans. As I went closer, I realised with delight that while they had got the tune off pat, the words were just slightly off the mark. Standing tall and proud, the children were calling on the Almighty to "sieve the Queen and her setter, Victoria." It took me straight back to my own school days when I had learned to sing the nursery rhyme Frere Jacques. For many years I had warned Frere Jacques to wake up not because the morning bells were ringing (sonnez les matines), but because there was "sunny semolina" to be had.
France might be just across the English Channel from Britain, but Emma Jane Kirby says both nations are still prone to the pitfalls of linguistic misunderstandings.
Last weekend, standing on Pegasus bridge in Normandy for the D-Day celebrations, I was touched to see two classes of French primary school children singing the British national anthem in honour of the veterans.
As I went closer, I realised with delight that while they had got the tune off pat, the words were just slightly off the mark.
Standing tall and proud, the children were calling on the Almighty to "sieve the Queen and her setter, Victoria."
It took me straight back to my own school days when I had learned to sing the nursery rhyme Frere Jacques.
For many years I had warned Frere Jacques to wake up not because the morning bells were ringing (sonnez les matines), but because there was "sunny semolina" to be had.
"God bless America, land that I love Stand beside her, and guide her Through the night with the light from a bulb"
