E-mail?

Well this is interesting. While doing a french writing exercise, I had to stop for a minute and think about how to spell the french term for e-mail. (I usually use courrier electronique, I think.) I knew that the french had several different words for e-mail, and that the french people also used the word 'e-mail' a lot even though it's english, but I didn't know that they had banned the word e-mail back in 2003. Interesting. I'm sure no one will read the link (who does stuff like that?) but the most popular word in french according to the linguistics minstry is 'courriel,' which seems to be hotly disputed as to the fame of its usage. I think my favourite comment on the whole situation is made by, of all people, a French Canadian:

"Hmmm. For years I have been following this "defense" of the language by the french in France and Quebec.It is understandable that they would want this. As a native french-speaker, I take that to heart. But I do think at some point it goes to far. I am not sure this is one of them.I also think it is a sign of the reflectivity that the the French have for their language, that Americans do not have for theirs. I would not want us to have an "academy" like the French, although we did so many years ( notice how many American english words are decidely different than English every elsewhere, including Canada). But I do wish we would consider where our language is going in terms of usage, etmology, slang encroachment and grammar among many others- ( god, if I here another split infinitive, or "hot water heater" or "ATM machine" I will "allez postal".) "


I laughed so hard at that. Go split infinitives! Anyways, I think I'll start using the term courriel, maybe? It's simple to spell, which is basically all I need to know, and it's short for, as per usual some really long french phrase. More short words in french would make me happy. Seriously, and what's with everything being 'of' something? Honestly!