French Lessons

[ApprenticeCrone]

Can someone please help me translate this, so I can put it on my profile/signature?



"My apologies, but I do not know French. I rely on your patience and goodwill, and translators."

[Gothikadoll]

in French that would be

"Désolé (or désolée if you're a girl), mais je ne parle pas français. Je compte sur votre patience, votre bonne volonté et les traducteurs"

[ApprenticeCrone]

Thank you very much, I appreciate the help!

[Gothikadoll]

no problem

[Neytiri-Navi]

et cetera Neytiri, it's latin that's normal if there is no accent.

Okay, thanks Gothik', but my computer didn't correct it X)

[cgribouille]

Hello!
I don't know if I'm on the right topic (I need an anglish lesson, not a french lesson ) but let's try.
I want have to send an email to one of my professor and tutor (I hope it's the good word), who is not French, and I don't know how to start. Shoud I use Dear Mr X? It sounds too formal for me but I can't write Hi!
So, please help me (yes I exaggerate I little )

Edit : oh and when I writes to me he says "Dear C"

[ApprenticeCrone]

"Dear Mr. X" is not too formal. That format is in use even among close friends and family members.

If it bothers you, though, you can just start off with the name itself, without any salutation.
"Mr. X,
[further writing goes here]"
Hope that helped.

Trickier is actually the closing! "Sincerely, your name" is very very formal. Still formal but less rigid is, "Thank you, your name." Even more informal is "Thanks".
Somewhere in between formal and informal, people use other adjectives.
Such as, if you are asking a question:
"In confusion,
your name"
or if you are reporting good progress,
"Cheerfully,
your name".

[cgribouille]

Ok ok and can I start with just "good evening" or something like that?
Sure you helped me! Thank you
For the closing, I often use "cordialement" in French (I think it's "kind regards" in english) when I write to my professor, what do you think about that?

[ApprenticeCrone]

"Good evening" is not used very much because there is no way to know when the letter/email will be read. (So it could be morning or afternoon or such). It is not wrong -it is just not used much. You could do it.

Kind regards is a nice closing to use. It is more formal than familiar, but not overly formal. So it works!

[cgribouille]

OK, thank you very much
Don't hesitate if you want some tips in French