Each week, I offer you a new video on a specific topic to help you better understand authentic French. If you want to practice speaking this topic and finally gain confidence in French, join my French conversation group Ohlala French Coffee. 

 

This week we are going to talk about justice. Granted, it's not the easiest topic to talk about...in any language, really. But, I assume that it is always possible to talk about a topic in a simplified or complex way.

 

So, I'm not going to explain to you how the French justice system works, because I honestly don't understand anything about it. If you're ever interested, I'll give you a link to a YouTube video where the judicial system is explained very well.

 

I'm going to answer a few questions about justice that my students at Ohlala French Coffee will also have to answer in French. Let's get started

 

  • What crimes do you consider serious?

As far as I am concerned, all crimes where there is physical or even mental violence are serious and must be punished. Murder, rape, molestation, physical violence, harassment are serious crimes

 

  • Where do you think people's interest in criminal trials comes from?

I think most people have an interest in criminal trials, because it is something out of the ordinary. Crime is not part of "normal people's" everyday life, so when there is a crime in their area, country, I think they are curious. They follow it a bit like a detective series or a detective novel, even though it's real life

 

  • Is there a trial in your country that has marked you?

Yes, there are several. The one that comes to me first is the Daval case. A man killed his wife, but what was very shocking was that before he was accused, the man publicly mourned his wife's death with his in-laws. One wonders how anyone could do such a thing. After that, the most shocking trials are those concerning the murders and/or rapes of children, it is inhuman, horrible

 

  • Does justice work well in France?

I don't know if I am the best person to answer this question, especially since I have never had to deal with the justice system. But, from what I see and hear, there are of course some small flaws in the French justice system. What I notice the most is that French justice is very slow, there is too much paperwork which sometimes makes it inefficient. There are sometimes very surprising things: a person who steals money will do more time than a man who rapes or beats his wife. I find this incomprehensible and shocking

 

  • What do you think the world would be like if there were no laws?

I think that a world without law cannot exist. If there are no more current laws, I think that the law of the strongest will dominate our world. I don't think it will be a total chaos, there will certainly be a lot more violence, but there will always be good people who will act well without needing the laws for that. But, it will still be a mess!

 

  • Is there a law that you tend to ignore or disregard?

I think... I don't know, I've certainly broken a law before. It doesn't happen often anyway, I respect laws a lot, I think they are important. It can happen to break a law, the most important thing is not to hurt someone or to hurt someone.

 

Vulgarisé = 🇬🇧 popularize

Un meurtre = 🇬🇧  a murder

Un viol = 🇬🇧  a rape

Un attouchement = 🇬🇧  a touching

Un harcèlement = 🇬🇧  a harassment

Un procès = 🇬🇧  a trial

Une affaire = 🇬🇧  a case

Un bémol = 🇬🇧  a drawback

De la paperasse = 🇬🇧  paperwork

Voler = 🇬🇧  a steal

Battre = 🇬🇧  to beat

La loi du plus fort = 🇬🇧  survival of the fittest

Un chaos = 🇬🇧  a chaos

Un bordel = 🇬🇧  a mess

Enfreindre une loi = 🇬🇧  to break a law

 

I'll see you soon for new adventures, in French of course! 🇫🇷