dialogue, an artwork particular to every nation | EUROtoday

On Jul 14, 2025

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Discut is rarely trivial. A phrase of approach, a badly chosen topic, and the dialog can shortly flip to discomfort. To keep away from missteps and higher perceive your interlocutors, right here is an summary of the principles of politeness to know throughout exchanges overseas.

Obviously, watch out for stereotypes: we are saying, for instance, that in France, throughout a meal, it’s frowned upon to talk of cash … Now we all know that this “rule” just isn’t all the time revered. Manners are sometimes extra versatile than it appears.

Taboo topics: which is healthier to keep away from

In France, traditionally and in keeping with aristocratic morality, we typically keep away from speaking about cash or faith on the desk. “At the table, we are talking about the table,” defined not too long ago at Point Patrick Rambourg, historian of culinary and meals practices. It is a continuing famous by international writers passing by way of France initially of the XX^e A century: the primary topic of discussions at lunchtime is … dinner.

In the United States, politics can shortly divide, particularly between colleagues. Some American corporations have even made a radical alternative: these discussions are prohibited. This is the case, for instance, of the Basecamp firm, a undertaking administration software program writer, Slack competitor, who joined this rule in its regulation in 2021.

In Japan, it’s frowned upon to deal with privateness or to ask too direct questions concerning the household or the wage. An expatriate tells on the Tofogu weblog, bringing collectively thousands and thousands of followers of Japanese tradition, having put his boss very uncomfortable asking him innocently what number of kids he had.

In China, it’s higher to keep away from brazenly criticizing the federal government or tackling the questions of “face” (honor): a easy badly formulated praise can embarrass your interlocutor as a result of he is not going to know how one can obtain it with out “losing face”, says the China Highlights website.

In Brazil, faith and politics are sometimes overlooked throughout the first conferences. In case of inspiration, an excellent dialogue round soccer will certainly break ice. It just isn’t unusual to speak concerning the spherical ball with ardour, even with a stranger on the road.

Address formulation: tutoring, vouvloyment, titles …

In France, Vouvoyer or not is usually a headache. In Anglo-Saxon international locations, no headache: it is “you” for everybody, from CEO to trainee. In Germany, using the title (“Herr”, “Frau”, adopted by the household identify) is essential, particularly on the planet of labor.

In Japan, we use the suffix “San” after the identify, a model of important respect. To overlook this suffix is to danger passing for a boor, and even humiliating your interlocutor.
Read too The Japanese, insensitive or modest individuals? In the United States, the primary identify is shortly so as, even with a hierarchical superior. But beware: it isn’t about beginning to scratch her head as an previous pal! We should stay well mannered in type.

In Korea, age and standing decide how one can tackle somebody, and it’s frowned upon to name an older individual by their first identify with out including a title.

Take the ground: who speaks, who listens?

In Anglo-Saxon international locations, the change is usually dynamic, every talking in flip, however with out reducing the opposite. In Japan, it is not uncommon to mark lengthy silences, an indication of reflection and respect. To interrupt somebody could be very frowned upon.

In Italy, as in France, as we all know, discussions may be extra full of life, frequent interruptions, however you continue to must keep away from monopolizing the phrase (opinions to sure colleagues …) in India, it’s customary to let the older or most graded individual converse first.

Thank, apologize, conclude

To uncover

The kangaroo of the day

Answer

To say thanks or apologize doesn’t have the identical vary in every single place. In the United Kingdom, politeness formulation (“sorry”, “please”, “Thank you”) punctuate every sentence, a lot so {that a} medium British referred to as “sorry” as much as eight instances a day, even when he did nothing, quips the BBC.

In Japan, apologizing is an artwork, and there are a number of ranges of formulation relying on the severity of the state of affairs. A Japanese can apologize for the climate, and even for having been too punctual to an appointment. In Russia, alternatively, thanking too typically may be perceived as irony, even mockery.

https://www.lepoint.fr/eureka/regles-de-politesse-la-discussion-un-art-propre-a-chaque-pays-14-07-2025-2594375_4706.php