Stage

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Hi, I am italian. I have a doubt about one of the meaning attributed to the word "stage" (english pronunciation), which in Italy is commonly used for "training course". In that meaning, in my opinion, it should be used the french pronunciation: as far as I know in english the word "stage" has not that meaning. But I may be wrong, and I hope some who reads this message will tell me.
By the way, the word has become extremely popular since Clinton/Lewinsky affair, when she was defined a "stagista", having a sort of short-term position at the White House.
thank you
C.B.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi, I am italian. I have a doubt about one of the meaning attributedto the word "stage" (english pronunciation), which ... word "stage" hasnot that meaning. But I may be wrong, and I hope some who reads thismessage will tell me.[/nq]
As a native UK English speaker, I've never come across that use.

Mike Stevens, narrowboat Felis Catus II
Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
Me cogitare credo, ergo me esse credo. (Rainy Day Carts)

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mnemosyne > uk.culture.language.english
in <
[nq:1]Hi, I am italian. I have a doubt about one of the meaning attributed to the word "stage" (english pronunciation), which in Italy is commonly used for "training course". In that meaning, in my opinion, it should be used the french pronunciation:[/nq]
Yes, the word "stage" used in Italy to mean "training working experience, generally unpaid", is a French term, not to be mixed with English word "stage", which has other meanings.
Yet, a lot of Italians don't know it, so they pronounce "stage" as if it were English and not French.
Here's how wordreference.com translates the French term "stage" into English
training period
training course
stage en entreprise = work experience placement
The English word "stage", on the contrary, has many other meanings, but not the aforementioned, AFAIK.
Source: The Collins English Dictionary © 2000 HarperCollins Publishers:
stage
noun
1 a distinct step or period of development, growth, or progressexample: a child at the toddling stage
2 a raised area or platform
3 the platform in a theatre where actors perform
4 the. the theatre as a profession
5 any scene regarded as a setting for an event or action
6 a portion of a journey or a stopping place after such a portion
7 short for: stagecoach
8 (British) a division of a bus route for which there is a fixedfare
9 one of the separate propulsion units of a rocket that can bejettisoned when it has burnt out
See also: multistage (1)
10 any of the various distinct periods of growth or development inthe life of an organism, esp. an insect
example: a larval stage
example: pupal stage
11 the organism itself at such a period of growth
12 a small stratigraphical unit; a subdivision of a rock series orsystem
13 the platform on a microscope on which the specimen is mounted forexamination
14 (Electronics) a part of a complex circuit, esp. one of a numberof transistors with the associated elements required to amplify a signal in an amplifier
15 a university subject studied for one academic yearexample: Stage II French
16 by or in easy stages not hurriedlyexample: he learned French by easy stages
verb
17 (transitive) to perform (a play), esp. on a stageexample: we are going to stage ``Hamlet''
18 (transitive) to set the action of (a play) in a particular timeor place
19 (transitive) to plan, organize, and carry out (an event)
20 (intransitive) (obsolete)to travel by stagecoach
(ETYMOLOGY: 13th Century: from Old French estage position, from Vulgar Latin staticum (unattested), from Latin stare to stand)
Ciao!

Enrico C - not a native speaker
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Thanks to Mike and Enrico!
"Enrico C" ha scritto nel messaggio

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[nq:1]mnemosyne > uk.culture.language.english in <[/nq]
[nq:2]Hi, I am italian. I have a doubt about one ... in my opinion, it should be used the french pronunciation:[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, the word "stage" used in Italy to mean "training working experience, generally unpaid", is a French term, not to ... Yet, a lot of Italians don't know it, so they pronounce "stage" as if it were English and not French.[/nq]
Presumably the problem arose because the French adopted an English word, but gave it a meaning more suited to the original French root (étage or estage).
John Briggs

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[nq:2]mnemosyne > uk.culture.language.english in < Yes, the word "stage" used ... pronounce "stage" as if it were English and not French.[/nq]
[nq:1]Presumably the problem arose because the French adopted an English word, but gave it a meaning more suited to the original French root (étage or estage).[/nq]
According to my French dictionary, the Petit Robert, the word 'stage' in French dates from the XVIIth century and was adapted from medieval Latin 'stagium' (from old-French 'estage'). Originally it meant the time a new canon had to reside at a cathedral before he could enjoy his prebend. Since the XIXth century it has its modern meaning.
Henk

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