Will you catch all of this in today’s clip? Hear: “interviews”, “m’est affectée”, “un coup de fil” and “malade”. Fill in the blanks as you listen and improve you understanding of fast spoken French. Join us as we continue through this podcast episode!
Learn French with a podcast snippet! This clip is is from Transfert s01ep22. We do not own the content. Listen to the entire episode here.
The above audio sample and transcription is from Transfert s01ep22. We do not own the content. Listen to the entire episode here.
a phone call
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The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
Donc, je suis à à la Voix du Nord, le journal à Lille, et je fais des interviews, euh des audits annuels euh de journalistes. Et je suis dans le bureau qui m’est affectée, et je reçois un coup de fil de ma mère, qui (j’ne sais’p-) jamais ne m’a appelée sur mon lieu de travail, et elle me dit… euh Papa est malade. J’ai dit d’accord.
So, I’m at La Voix du Nord, the newspaper in Lille, and I’m doing interviews, uh annual audits uh of journalists. And I’m in my assigned office, and I get a phone call from my mother, who (I dunno-) has never called me at work, and she says… uh Dad’s sick. I said okay.
The above translation from Deepl
What is “la Voix du Nord”?
“La Voix du Nord” is a regional daily French newspaper. It mainly covers the northern part of France, including the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area. The paper is known for its focus on local news, although it also features national and international stories. “La Voix du Nord” has a significant readership in its region and plays a notable role in the media landscape of northern France.
What does “interview” mean?
The word “interview” in French is indeed borrowed from English, but it is commonly used and accepted in the French language. It refers to the same concept of a formal or informal meeting in which someone asks questions to gather information from another person. The French also have their own equivalent term “entretien” which can be used in more formal contexts.
What does “m’est affectée” mean?
The phrase “m’est affectée” translates to “is assigned to me” in English. It’s derived from the verb “affecter,” which means “to assign” or “to allocate.” The phrase is used to indicate that something has been designated for the speaker’s use or responsibility.
Usage and Context:
In the context of “le bureau qui m’est affectée,” the phrase is indicating that a particular office has been allocated to the speaker. The use of “affectée” with an ‘e’ at the end also implies that the speaker is female, as the past participle agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to.
Examples:
- “La tâche qui m’est affectée est compliquée.” (The task that is assigned to me is complicated.)
- “La chambre qui m’est affectée a une belle vue.” (The room that is allocated to me has a beautiful view.)
When to Use:
You would use “m’est affectée” when you want to express that something has been given to you as a duty, a role, or a resource, particularly in professional or formal contexts.
Cultural Notes:
In many French-speaking work environments, the allocation of resources like offices or the assignment of tasks is a structured process, and having something “affecté” carries the sense of officiality and responsibility.
In Summary:
“M’est affectée” means that something has been officially assigned or allocated to the speaker, indicating possession or responsibility designated to them. In the phrase “le bureau qui m’est affectée,” it is specifying that the office is assigned to the female speaker.
What does “un coup de fil” mean?
“Un coup de fil” is a colloquial French expression that translates to “a phone call” in English. The word “coup” literally means “blow” or “strike,” but in this phrase, it figuratively refers to the action of making a quick call.
Usage and Context:
This phrase is used in informal spoken French and is commonly employed in everyday language when referring to making or receiving a brief and often casual telephone call.
Examples:
- “Je vais lui donner un coup de fil pour confirmer l’heure du rendez-vous.” (I’ll give him a call to confirm the time of the meeting.)
- “J’ai reçu un coup de fil de ma sœur hier soir.” (I got a call from my sister last night.)
When to Use:
“Un coup de fil” is typically used when talking about phone calls in a casual manner. It is not used for formal or official communication but rather for personal conversations.
Cultural Notes:
The expression reflects the French approach to communication, where even a simple phone call has a unique and specific term. It is indicative of the French fondness for expressive and vivid language.
In Summary:
“Un coup de fil” is a casual way of referring to a phone call in French. It’s a common phrase used in everyday conversation about the act of calling someone on the telephone.
How severe is “malade”?
“Malade” is a French term for being sick or ill, covering anything from minor ailments like a cold to serious diseases. The severity isn’t specified unless additional context is provided. For instance, “Papa est malade” simply informs that the father is unwell, and the gravity of the illness is understood through further details or the conversation’s context. It’s a versatile word, and its use in conversation requires sensitivity to the nature of the illness being discussed.
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Will you catch all of this in today’s clip? Hear: “interviews”, “m’est affectée”, “un coup de fil” and “malade”. Fill in the blanks as you listen and improve you understanding of fast spoken French. Join us as we continue through this podcast episode!
