10 NOVEMBER 1979, Page 17

Pour mieux sauter

Sir: I did French at school; I guess most of your readers did. I guess most of them have, like me, since forgotten most of it. Why do you let your contributors clutter up their articles with French words and phrases? What are these things they wish to tell us which are so difficult to express in English? I am a full-time student of oriental languages. How would it be if I submitted to you an essay sprinkled with untranslated titbits from Li Po or the 'Three Kingdoms'? Will you please tell these pseuds to write in English, or not at all? John Derbyshire 28 Golden Manor, Hanwell, London W7