Please believe, Madame, in the assurance of my distinguished sentiments

This week I have some important letters to write in French. I have a French-speaker check them over before I send them, but for the basic letters, I use a couple of books. One is called Cinq cents lettres pour tous les jours (Five Hundred Letters for Everyday; by the way, the French capitalize only the first words of a title).  Of course, books like this exist in English too and tend to share the same slightly out-of-date language.

My French is actually pretty good. But I need the book for the "formules de politesse," or formulas to end a letter, which are anything but intuitive to an "anglo-saxonne."

Here are some examples I have today on my desk.

Americans use "Sincerely" for almost all non-personal letters.

The British use "Yours sincerely."

The Germans say, "With friendly greetings." (Mit freundlichen Grüßen)

The French say: "Thanking you for your confidence, I pray you to believe, Monsieur, in the assurance of my best sentiments."

Or, "I pray you to receive, Madame, the expression of my distinguished consideration."

Or, "Receive, Monsieur le Président du tribunal correctionnel, my distinguished salutation."

Or, "Please accept, Madame l'Inspectrice d'Académie, the expression of my high consideration."

Or, "In hoping very strongly for a favorable response, be assured, Monsieur, of my perfect consideration."

Or, "Please accept, Madame, my respectful homage."

A woman must not, however, send her "sentiments"or "homage" to a man (oh-là-là!) but should use "expression of my respect" instead.

These are not a joke. The French really write this way.

Comments

[Custom Essays]

Thanks for your information. Most of the posts in the blog is really valuable. Regards

[Michel]

I must admit that I fail to see the comic side of the French politeness formulas. One needs to go beyond the simple translation and try to fathom the depth of the French language.

As Kim mentioned earlier, these formulas are getting shorter as time passes by. This is a reflection of French society changing maybe not for the better. One might also consider that the French language in general makes far finer distinctions on gender and status then the English does.

If the French, as some earlier comments point out are mad, then in comparison, the English speakers are savages.

[Sedulia]

This is one of those things that proves that a language is also a culture.

To almost every "Anglo-Saxon," French formules de politesse just seem ridiculous, not polite. It's like the way Chinese slogans sound good in Chinese, but just silly in English.

But obviously, this kind of thing goes both ways. I guess that to the French, our own standard "Sincerely" is lacking something important.

It's also interesting that Michel says approvingly that the French language makes fine distinctions on gender and status. To me one of the best things about English is that it doesn't.

But vive la différence!

[Philip]

That's funny and delightful to see how tolerant, respectful and non arrogant english people are.
I imagine there are plenty english expresions that would sound strange in French.

By the way there is e French writer (Courteline) who wrote that " it is so sweet to be called a an idiot by a moron".

Unfortunately, I am not surprised

[Marie]

Funny! yeah, I think in french, we really use too many words to say one simple thing...

[Tom]

As a french people (I'm 24 years old) I'd like to tell you all that I and not only me think that those formulas are definitely absurd and senseless today !! However it seems sooooo important for older people... I guess it will disapear with them. A simple "Thanks for your consideration/ Merci pour votre considération" would be more simple and enough !

[Yvonne Bowe]

I sign off emails with “please accept the assurances of my most distinguished sentiments” in English. I will now begin them with “Dear So&So, I am honoured to humbly solicitate your gracious condescension in a matter of the utmost delicacy and pertinence to the trifling nonsense I am please to call my life” ect etc. Will this work do you think?