“Littéralement” non-literally

Question

In English there has been a recent popularization over the questionable use of the word 'literally'. It has been pointed out that it is a common informal usage (often called a mistake) in English of 'literally' as an intensifier rather than as a marker of non-figurative use, especially since it seems to be used non-literally by well-respected modern authors. There is a lot of evidence that it has been used non-literally literally for centuries.

"Literal", in English, is primarily used to imply 'exactly as spoken/written' so that when something is said that sounds like hyperbole, it will be taken as truthful rather than exaggerated.

But that situation also is semantically ambiguous in that things could seem truly exaggerated. And then, if one didn't know otherwise, the term 'literally' could be understood as an intensifier, and therefore taken in a non-literal manner.

It seems to me that there is nothing special about 'literal' in English that it should be the only language to exhibit such ambiguity leading to semantic drift.

The Romance languages all have variants of 'littéralement'. I'm wondering if a term is transparent (it says what it means) that it might be less open to semantic drift. But semantic drift happens all the time, so that may not be a barrier at all.

Is there any evidence in French, written or spoken, that the corresponding terms for 'literal' have figurative uses similar to English?

Has this phenomenon occurred in French and if so is it a long standing mistake or only recent?

Answer 1

As a French native, I can confirm this is used in France in the same way thus making the same mistake. From personal experience only, I would assume it's recent (after 2000) as I've been using it for some times. My parents and other family members always told me that in the context I was using it, it made no sense at all. I used it to emphasize or to implicitly say "véritablement" (truly).

Borrowed from the latin word litteralis, from literra (letter), the adverb, authentified around the mid-15th century, means what is understood "word for word".

Looking at two renowned French dictionaries and two other sources, I found this:

Larousse

1. D'une manière littérale, à la lettre : Traduire littéralement.

1.i) In a literal way, to the letter: Translating literally.

2. Absolument, tout à fait : Il était littéralement épouvanté.

2.i) Absolutely, exactly/entirely: He was literally terrified.

Littré

1. D'une façon littérale. Traduire, expliquer littéralement. Il ne faut pas prendre littéralement ce qui ne se dit que par métaphore. "Rousseau, dans tous les soins qu'il prescrit à cet égard [au sujet de l'enfance] ne fait que suivre exactement le système de Locke ; il est vrai qu'il ne le cite pas, mais il le copie littéralement", [Genlis, Adèle et Théod. t. I, p. 85, dans POUGENS]

1.i) In a literal way. Translating, explaining literally. One should not take literally what is only said through/via metaphor. "Rousseau, in all the care he gives in this regard [in regards to childhood] is only following exactly the Locke's system; it is true that he's not quoting him, but he is copying him literally" , [Genlis, Adèle et Théod. t. I, p. 85, in POUGENS]

The Trésor de la langue française informatisé also mentions it can be used as a synonym of "absolutely": "Some time ago, when I had nothing, literally nothing, after having eaten for next to nothing, I was still lounging in my gondola" (Histoire de ma vie (Story of my Life), Sand). Far from any hyperbola.

L'Academie Francaise (The French Academy) has a section on "literally" where it warns not to use it as a superlative or in any emphatic way (e.g.: I'm literally exhausted -- I agree their example here contradicts the last Larousse example).

Here is a quote from Pensées (Thoughts) (1670) by Blaise Pascal:

Deux erreurs. 1. Prendre tout littéralement. 2. Prendre tout spirituellement.

Two mistakes. 1. Take everything literally. 2. Take everything spiritually.

As to why we're using this word wrongly, the newspaper Le Figaro blames the anglicism "literally" that was translated as "littéralement" in TV shows such as How I Met your Mother. I wouldn't take their word for granted.

I hope I was able to help. If not, my apologies!

Answer 2

Le Dictionnaire historique de la langue fraçaise (éd. Le Robert, sup. A. Rey, 2011) dit début 20^e pour l'emploi familier pour « rigoureusement, tout à fait ».