Work vs. A Three-Pronged Instrument of Torture

Before I leave the country, I have to spend quite a lot of time at my day job, so that I have plenty of money to blow in Paris. Doing so leads to a discussion of the english "to work" vs. the French word, "Travailler." For example, in english: "I work at an advertising agency." In French, "Je travaille pour le diable."

An etymological inquiry yields fascinating, and telling, results. In english, the word "work" derives from Ye Olde Englishe "wyrcan," from the merging of the P. Germanic "wurkijanan" and Ye Olde Englishe "wircan." (If you think I'm kidding, visit http://www.etymonline.com.) The roots all mean, "to work, operate, function." A mild enough description. The term "worker bee" was coined c. 1747. One gets the sense that, like bees, we must work as part of our function, and that there's a certain sort of harmonious consistence to the process.

Not so in French. The word "travailler" reminds us of the english word "travail," which means "to labor, or toil" and comes straight from the French word. Of course, the French comes from the same verb in Ye Olde Frenche, meaning "suffering or painful effort, trouble." The earliest form of "travailler" meant "to trouble, torture." Now, we're onto something.

"Travailler" is derived from the word "tripaliare," which means "to torture." This word comes from "tripalium," a Latin word meaning "instrument of torture." Illuminating, don't you think? "Tripalium" traces its roots to "tripalis," meaning "having three stakes."

Thank you for bearing with me during that tedious, but remarkably telling, exploration. You see, the French, unlike the Americans, are clearly onto something here. They are not afraid to call a spade a spade; or in this case, to call work an instrument of torture. Good for them.

In America, we act as though work is simply part of our function. Something we must to "to operate." Further than that, it becomes our identity - the way we define ourselves, our success, our intelligence. And we are expected not only to work, but to work all day, every day, sometimes for way more than 40 hours a week. (The French work week is 30 hours; in Spain they take a Siesta...) Those of us who choose to take it easy, or avoid a full-time job, are considered lazy, rather than sane. Americans are overworked and overstressed, but they act like this is simply one's function. After all, you don't hear bees complaining. (Unless "bzzzzz" in bee means "G.Damnit. I have to go make more stupid honey for that self-righteous, bossy, idiot queen.")

Historically, a German phrase has portrayed an eerily euphamistic attitude towards work. Let's not forget "Arbeit macht frei," or, "Work brings freedom." A more telling translation would be, "Work shall set you free," and the phrase was posted at the entrance of concentration camps.

Not that I should not complain too much. In this instant, "to work," for me, means "to blog and dream of iminent trip to Paris." And in Paris, "to work" will mean to spend time with Adam and Meyer, who are definitely not instruments of torture. And certainly, one must work to a certain extent, and that's fine, if one enjoys said work. But there are limits, and as a society we have long crossed them.

I suggest we reexamine our linguistics and, in turn, our lifestyle. Let's all start calling "work" what it is. For example:

WIFE: "So long, honey. I'm off to my three-pronged instrument of torture."

HUSBAND: "Alright dear. When you get home, we can have three steaks."

And so forth.