Matt M. wrote:
May I suggest Coluche or Desproges ? I supposed these are not known by canadians ? I don't see why french langage would be represented by a French man. By the way, we write "français" for the language and "Français" for the french man. These two words are absolutely not interchangeable. That's both grammar flaw and countrycentrism.
Ça me semble que dans une liste on devrait mettre une majuscule comme ça:
- Anglais
- Français
- Espagnol
- Latin
- Espéranto
n'est-ce pas? Mais de toute façon, in English we try not to say "the Frenchman" if referring to an indefinite person; that's sexist. We say "a French person." But I don't think you were trying to be sexist - all this to say that we should cut each other a little slack when dealing with languages not their own.
Canadian or even more generally English usage on capitalization is often a matter of individual choice, and I can remember when, at least for adjectives, a distinction like the one Anthère makes was taught in schools. But the situation is so muddled that writing guides simply ask writers to be consistent within their own works.. Translating "Français" as "french man" is acceptable, but I would prefer "French man" with a capital letter.
Sexism doesn't enter into this at all. "Frenchman" in one word that does have associated difficulties, but attitudes are by no means unanimous on this. The movement for non-sexist language does see it as sexist, but others of us would see the "a French person" as bringing unnecessary awkwardness to the language. Those afflicted with political correctness often draw the false conclusion that those who do not follow their solutions for non-sexist must be speaking in a sexist way. I certainly do not consider the word "frenchman" to be sexist.
The "-man" suffix used in conjunction with a nationality is often seen as somehow a racial slur. In Canada their has been a movement in the Chinese ethnic community to rename all geographical places with "Chinaman" in their names.
Eclecticology