Mayday!

[iamdjdz]

Here, does 'mayday' the distress call of old come from the French help me, 'M'aidez!'? Just in case anyone knows?

And are there any other words in English that come from other language's pronounciation, like a completely different word created from the phonetic pronounciations?

And what is this called? (if indeed it exists)

 

[teulk]

Here, does 'mayday' the distress call of old come from the French help me, 'M'aidez!'? Just in case anyone knows?

Just done a quick "google" and i found references to the above so it may indeed be correct what you say

 

[Mirri]

someones been watching Red Dwarf not sure if its true, if it is then why?

 

[Kristoph]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayday_(distress_signal)

Mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications, derived from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come [to] help me."

 

[Dist]

Here, does 'mayday' the distress call of old come from the French help me, 'M'aidez!'? Just in case anyone knows?

According to red dwarf, thats exactly where the word mayday comes from. So far i have had no reason to daubt red dwarf on this matter

 

[Kristoph]

This might help too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_phrases_used_by_English_speakers

 

[Scuzi]

Yes it does originate from the French term and it is far from 'of old' as we still use it today.

 

[iamdjdz]

Just had a thought whilst standing outside earlier...

Seems I'm right.

Is there a name for this process of deriving words from other languages?

 

[Jono]

Fifteenth wednesday after pentecost. Fifteenth wednesday after pentecost!

(or something)

 

[semi-pro waster]

Is there a name for this process of deriving words from other languages?

There are a few words and ways that you can derive words but I think in this case it is either a calque or perhaps a semantic loan since the word mayday would have existed in the UK prior to use as a distress call.

 

[B@Th*nG]

ascension sunday... ascension sunday

B@Th*nG

 

[AJUK]

What's the french for entrepreneur?

 

[meghatronic]

What's the french for entrepreneur?

Oooh that's a toughy! I think Bush knows though.