Fiona Retzer FREN 150 Best Cultural Activity Les principes de la conversation (Chapter 8) A characteristic of French conversation that

is different from American conversation are that French conversations can often sound aggressive/confrontational compared to the usually subdued conversations Americans have. This is because the French are raised to be lively conversation partners and to express and avidly defend their opinions. Another characteristic is that the French do not leave pauses between speakers; each person speaks immediately after the previous speaker is done speaking. The differences in French and American conversation could cause misunderstandings because Americans could view the tone of French speakers to be too aggressive and intimidating, even rude, and if Americans feel as if they can't get a word in edgewise in a French conversation, they may feel the French are purposely not allowing them time to speak. The stereotype Americans have of the French being rude could stem from the tone in which the French speak or the way they are critical and open about such things as food and others' physical appearances. The French could also see the fact that Americans speak more loudly in public as proof of the stereotype that they are impolite, loud, and indiscreet. A disadvantage I see in the habits of French conversation is that they rarely speak to strangers. If this is the case, they may miss out on opportunities to meet new people! I consider their blunt manner of speaking an advantage though because they are generally more truthful with each other when asked for their opinions. The only way I could see Americans and French "adjusting" to each others' conversational practices is to be more exposed to the cultures; then they would just have to accept that everyone has different ways of doing things.