Thanks for your answers!
Obviously, I should have been clearer. First, I'm well aware that Tolkien
wanted to invent a language which was different from the standard British
English at his own time. But then, as a specialist in English literature and
Old English, he must have tried to recreate a plausible language, even in
his fantasy Middle-Age world; which must be quite different from Burgess's
own purpose, I imagine, in creating the word "rhotacismus". Secondly, I've
never said IF+WOULD should be seen as "a norm"; as a grammar teacher, I keep
telling my students not to use WOULD after IF!
In answer to Bob's questions:
- "Just out of interest, Cécile, can you tell me if the example I gave
"C'est
possible que je serais bonne, si je saurais pourquoi" sounds like natural
French to you and how you would translate it into English."
In fact, it is very very bad French, and is only acceptable from very young
children or maybe non-native speakers Even in oral French, this sentence is
totally incorrect. And to be honest, even my own children, including my
four-year old daughter, don't make the mistake anymore. In English, it would
be "It's possible I would be good, if I would know why"!!
- "How would you translate Faramir's statement into French?"
Well, in correct French, it would be something like: "Mes soucis me
sembleraient moins accablants, si vous acceptiez de me parler ou de marcher
avec moi de temps à autre". So I would emphasize the volitional aspect in
WOULD here.
- "How would you translate the original "If I would have known..."/"If I
had
known..." into French?"
If I would have known = si j'aurais su
If I had known = si j'avais su
Only the second one is correct; the first one might be used by young
children and non-native speakers only.
Amicalement,
Cécile
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