Archive for the ‘Language in advertising’ Category

Pardon my mock French

May 21, 2009

The McDonald’s people have rolled out an advertising campaign for their McCafés, which offer (in their words)

expresso coffee, gourmet cakes & muffins and delicious snacks

The television ads show ordinary English words that are spelled with a final E re-spelled as mock French, with an acute accent on the E (as in café), and pronounced with a final stressed /e/, thus converting everyday experiences into something fancier, more exciting (by the addition of something from a McCafé): choré, rinsé, sprinklé. Have the Café Experience!

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