French Manners and Gestures
The French butt in1 on each other’s conversations. This is not rudeness, but proof that they are listening to what is being said and are sufficiently interested to want to take part. What passes for normal attempts at conversation among other peoples may be perceived as bad manners by the French: the stock opening conversational gambits (“What do you do for a living?”, “How much do you make?”, “Are you married?”, and “Do you have any children?”) are regarded by the French as none of your business. Better instead to talk about art, culture, or best of all, politics. Everyone in France has views on these subjects -- even the plumber2 who comes to mend a burst pipe will be happy to discuss Voltaire with you while eating his lunch.
The French invented body language. To watch a gendarme on traffic control is to witness an elaborate3 modern ballet -- the twirling4 baton5, the palm of the hand thrust forward to bring hundreds of vehicles to a halt, the abrupt6 inclination of the head that allows them to proceed, the raising of the judgemental eyebrow if all is not in order.
In conversation, French hands are never still. They give shape, form and size to ideas. They display the state of the mind, heart and soul of the parties involved. Where others use the inflection7 of the voice to show how they feel, the French use eyes, hands, lips and shoulders to reveal a full range of emotions. They kiss the tips of their fingers when they approve strongly of something or somebody. They pull the hand across the forehead, as though scalping8 themselves, when they are fed up9. They raise their shoulders when confronted by the ridiculous. They stroke their cheeks with the back of the hand as a sign that they are bored. They purse their lips and exhale10 when they are exasperated11.
They have signs for disapproval, incredulity12, superiority13, apology, amazement, surprise, bewilderment14 and frustration, which is why it is considered grossly impolite to talk with one’s hands in one’s pockets.
注释：
1. butt in（俚）插嘴，插手
2. plumber [5plQmE(r)] n.（装修水管的）管子工
3. elaborate [i5lAbErEt] a. 精心计划（或制作）的；精巧的
4. twirl [twE:l] vi. 转动，旋转
5. baton [5bAtEn] n.（乐队、歌唱队指挥用的）指挥棒
6. abrupt [E5brQpt] a. 突然的，意外的
7. inflection [in5flekFEn] n. 变音，转调
8. scalp [skAlp] vt. 剥下……的头皮
9. fed up 极其厌倦（或不满）的
10. exhale [eks5heil] vi. 呼气
11. exasperate [ig5zAspEreit] vt. 激怒，使气恼
12. incredulity [7inkri5dju:lEti] n. 不相信，不轻信，怀疑（态度）
13. superiority [sju:7piEriCrEti] n. 优越（性），优势
14. bewilderment [bi5wildEmEnt] n. 困惑
