• Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
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    4 days ago

    As a French speaker, I never understood what those “hon” used when imitating a French person are supposed to represent.

    • chloroken@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      It’s more directed at the French than French-speakers. It’s supposed to be making fun of the (exaggerated) way that French people laugh in movies and shows. It has a nasal component to it.

      I’ve been to French Canada and France and I can confirm nobody actually laughs like that. It’s just another dumb way people shit on France.

      • mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca
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        3 days ago

        I live next to French Canada. I can confirm that a not-insignificant number of Quebecois laugh like that

      • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
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        3 days ago

        Yea I’m aware it’s directed at French people. I’m not French but I have interacted with a lot of French people and I’ve never heard a laugh that comes close to that.

        • chloroken@lemmy.ml
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          3 days ago

          You asked, I answered. I’m getting the impression you’re just here to complain.

          • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
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            3 days ago

            Yes, and thank you for your answer.

            I have been to France.

            It’s only an impression. I’m not complaining and I was interested in knowing what those “hon” are supposed to represent. I didn’t really expect an answer but I’m thankful for all the answers.

    • Djehngo@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      It’s supposed to be the sound French people make when they laugh, despite none of the french people I know sounding anything like that.

      I think it’s part of this weird cultural stereotyping the internet does where someone posts a funny meme with an inaccurate stereotype in it, then a legion of mouth breathers re-post the same meme whenever the nationality in question comes up, then due to repetition people who have never met that nationality thinks its real.

      People stopped doing the fake “Ching Chong” false Chinese accent bit ages ago (thank god) but I guess France and the French are still valid targets.

      • Velypso@sh.itjust.works
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        3 days ago

        This predates the internet by several decades into the first half of the 20th century.

        It’s supposed to be a French mocking/pretentious/overconfident laugh. Imagine a dude wearing a beret eating a croissant and smoking a cigarette out of one of those long cigarette holder thingies from the '60s.

        Imagine Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast. In fact, im pretty sure he does it a few times in the movie. I think even The Pink Panther (jacques clouseau) does it in the original movies.

    • ms.lane@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      It’s just a silly, unfunny joke.

      Much like how people joke about Australia being upside down.