Query for megan, who is SO going to get a huge thank-you on my acknowledgment page if the WIP ever makes it into print....

What's French for, "Did you hear that? I told you he wasn't dead."

Congratulations, JZ!

What's French for, "Did you hear that? I told you he wasn't dead."

Ahhh, a phrase I use often.

Is the "that" a reference to something someone said (a report of someone being alive, for example) or is it a reference to a sound (I hear a certain sound, so therefore this person must not be dead)?

To a report of alive-a-tude:
1) Very casual speech (contraction, ne dropped): "T'as entendu? Je t'ai dit qu'il était pas mort."
2) Casual speech: "Tu as entendu? Je t'ai dit qu'il n'était pas mort."
3) Formal speech: "Vous avez entendu? Je vous ai dit qu'il n'était pas mort."

On hearing a sound:
1) Very casual speech: "T'as entendu ça? Je t'ai dit qu'il était pas mort."
2) Casual speech: "Tu as entendu ça? Je t'ai dit qu'il n'était pas mort."
3) Formal speech: "Vous avez entendu cela? Je vous ai dit qu'il n'était pas mort."

ETA: line breaks

I am amused on the way we get hints of the plot of Susan's novel by the questions you ask of Megan!

Heh.

Sad news for Springsteen fans: Danny Federici died today. He was the organist with the E Street Band for 40 years. The next few shows on the tour have been cancelled. So sad.

Is the "that" a reference to something someone said (a report of someone being alive, for example) or is it a reference to a sound (I hear a certain sound, so therefore this person must not be dead)?

The latter. I'm going to go with the very casual option, as the speaker isn't exactly what you'd call refined and sophisticated. Thanks!

As long as I have you here...how would you say, "I can walk"? Context is that the not-dead person is insisting on trying to do so.

I am amused on the way we get hints of the plot of Susan's novel by the questions you ask of Megan!

Well, I'm hoping that if it sells, y'all will be so consumed by curiosity by then that you rush to pre-order it the instant it's available!

I figured that situation called for pretty casual.

"I can walk" would be "Je peux marcher" but it would depend on the context.

For example, if he was answering the question "Tu peux marcher?", where the person was expecting a no answer, he might say "Si, je peux marcher". Or, if he was emphasizing not needing help, he might say "Je peux marcher tout seul. ( by myself. )"

Thanks, megan!

I figured that situation called for pretty casual.

Yeah, it's actually a follow-on to the question earlier in the week about blows to the head for rendering unconscious--the speaker is all, "See, I *told* you I didn't hit him hard enough to kill him!"

As long as I have you here...how would you say, "I can walk"? Context is that the not-dead person is insisting on trying to do so.

Because he's only mostly dead?

Huh. We just had an earthquake.