Cultural Misunderstandings, The French- American experience

Résumé du document

The French-American Experience was originally published as Evidences invisibles in French in 1987. Since 1988, It has been published by The University of Chicago Press in english. This book was written by Raymonde Carroll and translated by Carol Volk. Its aim is to show us the differences between French and American behaviours which can cause misunderstandings. The title resumes to perfection the purpose of the book. Indeed, Raymonde Carroll provides us, her analysis coming from different testimonies of people she interviewed. Thus, this is the explanation for 'The French-American Experience'. Through this book we can notice that cultural misunderstandings are numerous and firmly rooted in our minds. I chose to read this book because, it is very well structured, but most of all because I am interested in the French-American relationship. This summer, I will spend three entire months in California and I think that it is essential for me to be aware about the American culture and about the potential misunderstandings.

Extraits

[...] A couple who always agrees could be considered like suspicious or boring, “harmony can dangerously resemble to indifference, boredom, weariness”, meanwhile some bickers are symbol of passion. For Americans, space, critics, reproaches, disagreements are destructives and a symbol of disunion. The ideal American couple always agrees. They mustn't have public bickers if they want to be accepted in the group, the companion is attacked, I must immediately defend him or her, take his or her side”. They must show that they mutual aid. [...]

[...] To have more than a peaceful coexistence: a unity, we need to understand the truth of the foreigner. If we emigrate in another country, we do not have to forget our own culture but to understand the differences and explain them to avoid misunderstandings and to adapt our culture to the other “invisible verities”. Not to forget their culture, some emigrants retain unconsciously certain signs like an accent or a way of dressing. It is a sort of “self-defense” but they could become a stereotype of their culture. [...]

[...] I think that it is a very positive and objective book. I expect that Raymonde Carroll will update her book with new essays. I think interesting topics could be communications by cellular phones, emails and also professional misunderstandings. Cultural Misunderstandings, THE FRENCH-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Raymonde CARROLL - Page 12 V. [...]

[...] Money is also a dream and the symbol of success; it is possible to upward mobility, to attain to any class with money. For Frenchs, Money is taboo, but they speak about sex like Americans speak about money. In France, seduction is learned in the tenderest infancy, it is therefore normal to proud the success to something acquired through a long apprentice. For Americans, it is inconceivable to speak about sex or their success with men or women in public, it is taboo. [...]

[...] On the contrary, Americans have few friends and a lot of acquaintance. Americans are very thoughtful with the few friends who are on the top of the pyramid, with the others he just has small superficial talks. For French, a friendship is constituted by solid bound and we can forgive a lot of things, Americans can easily forget a friend if they think that they no longer deserve their friendship. We also should notice that Americans don't present their friends to each other to preserve their secrets. [...]