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This is slightly off-topic, but is it "jail" or "prison"? I see this switch all the time, and French does not make a difference. But, in English, and many other
by Demiurge 1y ago
This is slightly off-topic, but is it "jail" or "prison"? I see this switch all the time, and French does not make a difference. But, in English, and many other languages, jail is more specific than prison, and is usually for short term or pre-sentencing holding. If someone is sentenced, it's usually a different facility called "prison". Is BBC making a mistake, or are they actually saying Sarkozy will be held in in an actual jail?
- xen0 1y agoAt least in British English usage, there is no distinction between Jail, Gaol, and Prison other than at least one of these is a dated word. I believe only the US has a strong distinction between Prison and Jail.
- NelsonMinar 1y agoThe relevant word here is "Prison", the French noun. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Sant%C3%A9_Prison https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Sant%C3%A9_Prison The BBC article is using the two terms interchangably. Very few readers are concerned about the distinction you are making.
- shepherdjerred 1y agothis is how I remember it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq2ICyCSSpM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq2ICyCSSpM for those who don't watch videos: you go to jail if a cop doesn't like you. you can only go to prison if you're poor.