Apostrophe
“An outstanding display of wit was witnessed there, marked by brilliant apostrophes and swift repartee”(A. France, L’Ile des pingouins, 1908, p. 328).
Apostrophe, because we cannot defend and persuade without questioning!
“O strength of the apostrophe ! It is, as you know, a figure providing the secret to speaking to people who are not there, to connect conversation with all of nature, to question from afar the living and the dead”. (Courier, Pamphlets pol., letters to the editor of “ Censeur “, 1819-1820).
Apostrophe, as it is also a link between two words. “A graphic sign, slightly curved (’) marking the elision between the final vowel and another vowel or silent h” (Excerpt from “Trésor de la langue françaiseinformatisé” TFLI). Where an amicable arrangement may be reached, it must be carried out with finesse to facilitate the reconciliation of initially contradictory positions.
