International Herald Tribune

When deception is deceiving: false friends and other enemiesIn a word

International Herald Tribune | March 16, 2002 | Copyright
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One of the more vexing aspects of getting to know a language is the phenomenon described in French as faux amis, or false friends. They could better be described as true enemies. Just when you're starting to feel comfortable in a language, they sneak in and shatter your confidence. You know you've stumbled upon one when, in the midst of a conversation, the person you're speaking to suddenly goes blank or blushes or smirks. For some reason, my most embarrassing experiences with faux amis ­ call them faux pas ­ have had a sexual innuendo. The classic example…

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