I was being a bit facetious, but the English word "sinister" is from the same root as sinistre and the French word "gauche" means clumsy, uncouth, or unsophisticated as well as literally "left". The language reflects a traditional prejudice against left-handed people.
Reards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Jerry wrote:
>
> "S for Sinistre, of course, Italian for "left". Left-handed people are so
> persecuted - in Italy they are "sinister". At least in France they are
> merely "gauche"."
>
> The true translation of left in Italian is 'sinistra'. Left-handed people
are also not called 'sinister' or any related word. They are actually called
'mancino(i)(a)(e)'. In French they are 'gaucher', not gauche.
>
>
> --
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ