It occurs to me that savoir vivre seems rarely used in English, though sometimes we do use savoir faire.
I think the photo conveys the English version of savoir faire- in an inappropriate way, since I’ve always been of the impression you’re not supposed to have your feet up like that where you’re sitting.
Rosemary Kneipp
January 27th, 2017 at 7:23 pm
Yes, I agree – a definite lack of savoir-faire. This is also French savoir-fairee in the planted wall.
Something is always lost in translation. Which points to the value of learning multiple languages. The most interesting points are always around the nuances.
Great post!!!!
Rosemary Kneipp
January 27th, 2017 at 7:24 pm
I quite agree. The nuances between seemingly similar French and English words are always fascinating.
Lesley
January 23rd, 2017 at 10:47 am
A now popular vertical growing system that Jeff Koons did with Puppy at the Bilbao Guggenheim years ago.
I don’t think I have ever used Savoir-Faire as anything but ‘ knowing the right thing to do’, ‘common sense’ or ‘tact’. I am now sure that most French words in English are a minefield to use when in France!
Rosemary Kneipp
January 27th, 2017 at 7:26 pm
Yes, planted walls have become immensely popular. Yes, French words borrowed from English are a minefield to use in France but they rarely have the same meaning.
Not being a student of the French language, I believe I now understand both the French and English versions of “savoir-faire,” “savoir-vivre,” and “savoir-être.” Let’s see if I can explain the picture in the article and base my conclusions only using my observations and descriptions of the photo’s contents.
First, the photo above depicts the lady’s lack of *savoir-vivre* because she is sitting on a public bench in a manner that is taking up more space than she should. No one would want to sit next to her for fear of invading her personal space. She seems unaware that if someone /did/ occupy the space next to her, the other person might be uncomfortable sitting so close to her backside. Therefore, she demonstrates that she lacks *savoir-virve* in the French sense because of her general disregard to common courtesy, good manners, and respect for others.
Second, the lady is looking in the exact direction of an older gentleman who appears to be searching for a place to sit and perhaps use his cell phone. Someone with *savoir-être* would have “the capacity to adapt to different situations and adjust behaviour according to the characteristics of the environment, the issues involved and the type of person concerned” (quoted from the author Kneipp, para 5). Due to the absense of self-awareness and interpersonal skills, the younger lady is unable to recognize that the older man might also need the public bench to rest, especially during warm weather and with limited seating available.
Ultimately, the lady failed to adapt her behavior given the characteristics of the environment and the state of the man’s condition–which is indicative of one lacking *savoir-être*, as explained by the author.
Great examples and you helped resolve my confusion regarding the terms. Thank you, Ms. Kneipp
Rosemary Kneipp
July 18th, 2017 at 9:48 am
Summed up very well! It’s amazing how one language can help to explain another. In fact, quite often, exploring French vocabulary makes me dig deeper into my own language. But then, I’ve always been a dictionary lover. I had my first pocket Oxford when I was about 9 or 10 and it was kept constantly next to me when I was reading. Now that I have a Kindle, I can use the built-in Oxford even more easily!
It occurs to me that savoir vivre seems rarely used in English, though sometimes we do use savoir faire.
I think the photo conveys the English version of savoir faire- in an inappropriate way, since I’ve always been of the impression you’re not supposed to have your feet up like that where you’re sitting.
Yes, I agree – a definite lack of savoir-faire. This is also French savoir-fairee in the planted wall.
Something is always lost in translation. Which points to the value of learning multiple languages. The most interesting points are always around the nuances.
Great post!!!!
I quite agree. The nuances between seemingly similar French and English words are always fascinating.
A now popular vertical growing system that Jeff Koons did with Puppy at the Bilbao Guggenheim years ago.
I don’t think I have ever used Savoir-Faire as anything but ‘ knowing the right thing to do’, ‘common sense’ or ‘tact’. I am now sure that most French words in English are a minefield to use when in France!
Yes, planted walls have become immensely popular. Yes, French words borrowed from English are a minefield to use in France but they rarely have the same meaning.
Not being a student of the French language, I believe I now understand both the French and English versions of “savoir-faire,” “savoir-vivre,” and “savoir-être.” Let’s see if I can explain the picture in the article and base my conclusions only using my observations and descriptions of the photo’s contents.
First, the photo above depicts the lady’s lack of *savoir-vivre* because she is sitting on a public bench in a manner that is taking up more space than she should. No one would want to sit next to her for fear of invading her personal space. She seems unaware that if someone /did/ occupy the space next to her, the other person might be uncomfortable sitting so close to her backside. Therefore, she demonstrates that she lacks *savoir-virve* in the French sense because of her general disregard to common courtesy, good manners, and respect for others.
Second, the lady is looking in the exact direction of an older gentleman who appears to be searching for a place to sit and perhaps use his cell phone. Someone with *savoir-être* would have “the capacity to adapt to different situations and adjust behaviour according to the characteristics of the environment, the issues involved and the type of person concerned” (quoted from the author Kneipp, para 5). Due to the absense of self-awareness and interpersonal skills, the younger lady is unable to recognize that the older man might also need the public bench to rest, especially during warm weather and with limited seating available.
Ultimately, the lady failed to adapt her behavior given the characteristics of the environment and the state of the man’s condition–which is indicative of one lacking *savoir-être*, as explained by the author.
Great examples and you helped resolve my confusion regarding the terms. Thank you, Ms. Kneipp
Summed up very well! It’s amazing how one language can help to explain another. In fact, quite often, exploring French vocabulary makes me dig deeper into my own language. But then, I’ve always been a dictionary lover. I had my first pocket Oxford when I was about 9 or 10 and it was kept constantly next to me when I was reading. Now that I have a Kindle, I can use the built-in Oxford even more easily!
I like this! Merci bien.