The month of the dead is still not over.
Death remains a taboo subject and we can be reluctant to talk about it. But in a newspaper, we meet her daily.
One thus sometimes wonders what distinguishes the adjectives funeral and funeral, which have similar meanings, but are not always used interchangeably. According to Dictionary of the difficulties and pitfalls of the French languageThe adjective funeral “qualifies rather what concerns the pageantry, the external forms of funeral ceremonies”: vigil, walking, praise, funeral oration(department of) undertakers.
The adjective funeral “applies more to objects used in the mortuary ritual, in particular those related to burial or cremation”: vault, Pierre, funeral urn (The adjective cinerary is also used in this sense), funeral pyre.
We also use the adjective mortuaryas far as the formalities are concerned, the ceremonies in honor of those who have died. Mortuary ceremony. Chapel, chamber, mortuary sheet. funeral wreath (Where funeral).
We will see, however, that the nuances vary according to the works that we consult. This is also the case for nouns, feminine, funeral and funeral, both of which are only used in the plural. The name funeral designate a solemn ceremony, while the name funeral would be more general. But, as pointed out by Multidictionary of the French language, this distinction is not always observed.
In the Robertwe find the terms state funeral and state funeral. The Head of State will attend the funeral of the victims of the attack. The name burial also used in the sense of funeral. Religious, civil burial.
In Quebec, the terms funeral home Where funeral home as synonyms ofcompany of undertakers or of funeral services. The phrase funeral home, modeled on English, has passed into Quebec usage, specifies the Multidictionary. We also see the word funeral home.
The adjective deadly means both “subject to death” — all men are mortal – and “who causes death, causes death”: disease, injury, lethal dose, fatal blow. We also employ deadly in this sense. Deadly venom.
By exaggeration, we will also speak of a deathly silenceof a work which is of a mortal boredom.
Can we say “my doctor”?
In my opinion, the word doctor is exclusively male. There is no female equivalent. One can say such a doctor, but not my doctor. Is this a new trend that will become the norm? Are there other terms?
Answer
The name doctor is an epicene appellation; its form does not vary according to gender. It is feminine or masculine. We write the doctor, doctor, a doctor, doctor, as we do for names architect, Diplomat, journalist, minister and pilot or, to stay in the field of medicine, the names dentist, geriatrician, gynecologist, oncologist, ophthalmologist (Where ophthalmologist), pediatricianetc.
The feminine is perhaps less used in Europe (Quebec having been a precursor in the feminization of titles), but it is found in dictionaries Larousse and Robert : she is a school doctor, she is a country doctor.
The names doctor and doctor are not exactly synonymous. The name doctor is a title; the name doctor designates a profession. We will therefore write there are many doctors in the room (and not “many doctors”). Go to the doctor (and not “at the doctor”, “at the doctor”). We use the name doctor when talking to your doctor, for example. The term is then written with an initial capital letter. Hello doctor. Do you think, Doctor, that I will have the results before the end of the month?
We no longer use the feminine form. doctor to designate a female doctor of medicine. She is old.
The Office québécois de la langue française advises against the use of the term woman doctor. “The process of formation which consists in adding the noun femme to an appellation in the masculine, such as femme doctor, develops a series of appellations which prevents the use of the existing epicene appellations like doctor (a doctor, a doctor). »
That said, the feminization of titles remains a matter of personal choice. Feel free to stick to the masculine…