Touche? - PC vs Mac

Question

Mac recently released an advert, pretty insulting to the PC users of this world! One major point seems to stand out - at one point the MAC user ridicules the PC user over the use of the word ‘touche’ – however, it seems MAC may have got it wrong..

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ <- Mac advert - click the 'Touche' box below the ads

Not exactly on-point, but "the PC" is just fine in his use of the word "touche"; while appropriate to acknowledge the validity of a counter-point in an argument, its primary use comes from fencing, where an opponent acknowledges your "hit" (or "touch", which would be more literal) on his person. The use by "the PC" is valid because, in essence, he's acknowledging the "touch" of the inital statement by "the Mac", not needing to say/do anything else as counter-point.

My first English (French) question on EnglishForward.com!

Is the use of 'touche' by the 'PC' valid, as the quote suggests?

O and here's another version of the ad run: http://www.bestweekever.tv/2006/07/07/bwe-mac-ads/

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Sorry-- I don't have a MAC and I don't speak French, Hitch.  We need a Canuck.

Clive · Answer

(Pops up in super-hero costume, with large letters 'CANUCK' emblazoned across chest)

Did somebody say 'Canuck'? Not only that, but I have some French, and I fence. I just don't have room for the rest of that on my chest.

Supposedly, fencers say 'touche' (with accented e) to acknowledge a hit by their opponent. In my experience, English-speaking people never say that. They just say 'Yes'. Or 'aaauughhhh' if your opponent's blade has broken and you get the jagged piece between your third and fourth ribs. Actual competitions involve electric equipment these days, so hits are identified in a more objective way. We live in less genteel times, so competitors today are probably less inclined to voluntarily concede a hit.

As regards the term 'touche' in conversation, I'd say it is used not simply to acknowledge a successful point made by the other person, but rather to acknowledge a skillful reply to a point made by the initial speaker which in some way turns the initial point back on the speaker. In both fencing terms and conversational terms, such a reply is often called a 'riposte'.

Interestingly, fencing has contributed quite a few terms to the topic of conversation. For example, in addition to the conversational sequence of 'thrust, parry, riposte', lively conversation is often referred to as 'cut and thrust'.

As regards the ad, I can't get it to run on my computer. However, the quoted comment suggests that 'touche' can be said simply to acknowledge a good point. I don't agree, for the reasons above.

Clive

Pieanne · Answer

There's also "Touché la tortue"...

But that might be irrelevant.

Hitchhiker · Answer

So what we're basically saying is 'Mac was right?' - <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/6.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/6.gif' alt='Emotion: sad'/>

Santrac · Answer

Wait!!! And why are you checking Mac website at all??? Are you falling for the propaganda or is it just that old one “keep your friends close, but.....”?!!

Mac was right?!!!! I’ve seen them crash, hitch’!

Hitchhiker · Answer

Yeah - but they got this 'touche' thing right.. there was a moment there, a moment of hope.. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' alt='Emotion: wink'/>

Hitchhiker · Answer

http://tv.truenuff.com/mac - much less biased..

Touche? - PC vs Mac

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