The French strike again

[Mark Padgett]

News story today:

"The Culture Ministry has announced a ban on the use of "e-mail" in all government ministries, documents, publications or Web sites, the latest step to stem an incursion of English words into the French lexicon.

The ministry's General Commission on Terminology and Neology insists Internet surfers in France are broadly using the term "courrier electronique" (electronic mail) instead of e-mail — a claim some industry experts dispute. "Courriel" is a fusion of the two words."

So far, there is no substantiation to the rumor that the French Culture Ministry has announced a ban on the use of "basketball", instead preferring the term "FEEBLEball."

I'm sure they will make that announcement soon.