The Bonjour effect
Subtitle: the secret codes of French conversation revealed
By: Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoît Nadeau
Contributors: Nadeau, Jean-Benoît, author
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: ST MARTINS; St. Martin's Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 310
ISBN-13: 9781250051851
Subjects: Social life and customs; French National characteristics; Social aspects; French language; Oral communication; Language and culture
Description: "Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow spent a decade traveling back and forth to Paris as well as living there. Yet one important lesson never seemed to sink in: how to communicate comfortably with the French, even when you speak their language. In The Bonjour Effect Jean-Benoit and Julie chronicle the lessons they learned after they returned to France to live, for a year, with their twin daughters. They offer up all the lessons they learned and explain, in a book as fizzy as a bottle of the finest French champagne, the most important aspect of all: the French don't communicate, they converse. To understand and speak French well, one must understand that French conversation runs on a set of rules that go to the heart of French culture. Why do the French like talking about "the decline of France"? Why does broaching a subject like money end all discussion? Why do the French become so aroused debating the merits and qualities of their own language? Through encounters with school principals, city hall civil servants, gas company employees, old friends and business acquaintances, Julie and Jean-Benoit explain why, culturally and historically, conversation with the French is not about communicating or being nice. It's about being interesting. After reading The Bonjour Effect, even readers with a modicum of French language ability will be able to hold their own the next time they step into a bistro on the Left Bank"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 295-297) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: pt. one: Form. 1. I greet, therefore I am ; 2. Privacy rules ; 3. Finding the yes in non ; 4. Schools: the speech factory ; 5. The family factor ; 6. The art of conversation ; 7. Très talk; title: pt. two: Content. 8. Food for talk ; 9. Know-it-alls ; 10. Down by nature ; 11. Fixation on French ; 12. English envy ; 13. Looking out for France ; 14. Economy of speech ; 15. Silent labor ; 16. Boys and girls ; 17. The poetry of politics ; 18. Proof of identity; title: Epilogue.