Topic: Can you tell me something about Joan of Arc?

Date originally posted: March 8, 2002

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Ruffo

Question:  I am very interested in Joan of Arc.  As I look into this I see that her name is often spelled, Jehanne.  How is that pronounced?  I was thinking that it would be pronounced Jane not Joan?

Answer:

Dear Laura, 

I took French in both high school and college, but am no expert on French pronunciation.  Perhaps you should pose this question to a French language teacher, or someone who actually speaks European French, not Canadian or Quebecois French, that’s different.

 I would have pronounced it “G-anne”, which is probably the incorrect pronuciation.  “Jehanne” is medieval French.  In Joan’s own words: “Jay nom Jehanne la Pucelle” and “In my home village they call me Jhenette (“little Joan”) but since I came to France I have been called Jehanne.”  “Jehanne” or “Jhenne” is translated as “Joan” or “Joanne” in English.

Did you know that there’s an entire web site devoted to St. Joan of Arc?  It’s www.joan-of-arc.org.  It has scads of information on her!  Including a lengthy discussion of her name/s.   

Well, Laura, I hope my high school French teacher won’t read this.  He’d be sorry that he gave me a passing grade! 

Father John