We were talking about codes of behavior, and how different they are from country to country and class to class. People who aren't aware that these codes exist are at a disadvantage.
A woman I know who is a university professor here in Paris said that a couple of years ago the professors went on strike against a government plan to evaluate them by certain quantitative criteria. "They invited everyone to a grand auditorium style Louis XVI to intimidate us. Then they started haranguing us. But they didn't know there were certain things that would make the profs tense up [se crisper], that they shouldn't say. One government official made mistake of saying, 'Nous avons un deal.' At once, all the professors got up and marched out!"
Why? you may ask, if you are not aware of the profound disdain of French intellectuals, few of whom over thirty speak good English, for the English of the market, that "sabir transatlantique." "Deal" was one word too far.
"Can English still be saved?" No English-speakers featured or, presumably, wanted
I love today's LE PETIT APERÇU D'AILLEURS.
Posted by: chrissoup | 08 March 2011 at 04:54