As France celebrates ‘le 14 juillet’ (or Bastille Day), did you know that around 30% of English vocabulary is of French origin? (Some sources suggest this percentage is even higher!)
The Norman Conquest and centuries of medieval rule by a French-speaking elite had a profound impact on the English language. Many French-origin words are related to legal, military and political terminology as well as to more abstract concepts.
It’s for this reason that France’s national motto of 'liberté, égalité, fraternité', which had its origins in the French Revolution, looks and sounds so very familiar to English-speaking eyes and ears (‘liberty, equality, fraternity’).
For an alternative translation, which favours Old English/Germanic-origin words, try ‘freedom, fairness, brotherhood’. A reminder that there’s always more than one way to translate a text!
For French translations by mother-tongue linguists, contact MTT
