le mari de ma tante

[Fuficius Fango]

In England the husband of my aunt is my uncle, but in A L'Ombre des Jeunes Filles en Fleurs (Proust, vol 2 of the recherche), St Loup refers to "le mari de ma tante". Is that normal? Also he refers to "une tante de ma tante". I haven't put pen to paper to work that one out, but how can she be the aunt of his aunt without being either the aunt of his mother or the aunt of his father?

 

[Yendred]

St Loup refers to "le mari de ma tante". Is that normal?

Yes it's a way to be more specific about the relation.
The uncle can both be the husband of the aunt (a "by marriage" relation), or the brother of the father/mother.

how can she be the aunt of his aunt without being either the aunt of his mother or the aunt of his father?

It could be by marriage, as in the previous example.

 

[mehoul]

Also he refers to "une tante de ma tante". I haven't put pen to paper to work that one out, but how can she be the aunt of his aunt without being either the aunt of his mother or the aunt of his father?

His aunt could be his mother's half sister.

 

[rrose17]

I'd say it's the same in English. For example, an aunt of mine got married for the first time at the age of 65. I never really thought of him as my uncle but rather the husband of my aunt. I suppose in infers a certain distance. And my mother's sister's husband's aunt would be my aunt's aunt but not related to me.