Faux pas
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A faux pas (IPA /ˌfoʊˈpɑː/, plural: faux pas /ˌfoʊˈpɑː(z)/) (French for false step) is a violation of accepted, although unwritten, social rules. Faux pas vary widely from culture to culture and what is considered good manners in one culture can be considered a faux pas in another. For example, in English-speaking Western countries it is usually considered a nice gesture to bring a bottle of wine when going to someone's house for dinner. In France, however, this is considered insulting as it suggests the hosts are unable to provide their own good wine. However, bringing flowers to the hostess is rarely a faux pas, although one sometimes needs to be careful what kind of flowers to bring.
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[edit] Origin of term
The term comes from French and literally means "false step". However, it is a formal rather than everyday expression in French and does not generally have the figurative meaning used in English. It is occasionally employed to describe a physical loss of balance or general mistakes (for instance: mes faux pas dans la vie, the mistakes I made in my life). If one uses faux pas with the English meaning in France, people might think it was a slight grammatical mistake with faut pas, the colloquial pronunciation of il ne faut pas, meaning must not in English. For faux pas with the English meaning, the French would usually say gaffe or erreur.
[edit] Examples
For a broader list, see List of faux pas.
- African regions: A left-handed handshake. Offering and accepting things with the left hand.
- Arab countries; Indian Subcontinent; Middle East; East Africa: South-East Asia: Displaying the soles of the feet or touching somebody with shoes. A left-handed handshake or passing food at the table with the left hand.
- Brazil: Giving an inverted American OK sign (referring to the anus).
- Canada; Scandinavia; Central and Eastern Europe; Japan; Hawaii: While, in the United States and Western Europe, it is considered acceptable to enter someone's household and leave your shoes on your feet, this behaviour is not acceptable in Canada, nor in Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe, East Asia, and most households in Hawaii.
- China: Giving someone a timepiece as a gift. See List of faux pas for further explanation. The phrase "giving a timepiece" is a homonym for burying the dead.
- Central and Eastern Europe: Shaking hands while wearing gloves (this does not apply to women).
- France: Asking for cheese after taking dessert. Asking an individual their job or name directly. Offering someone a gift of chrysanthemums on an occasion other than a funeral (as chrysanthemums are generally associated with death in France).
- Greece: Showing the number five by displaying a hand with fingers spread and palm facing the recipient of the gesture is offensive. The same gesture with the palm facing the gesturer is not.
- India; Pakistan; Bangladesh;Burma: Eating or shaking hands with the left hand, not greeting family elders at a gathering, addressing elders without salutations.
- Japan: When greeting or thanking another person, not bowing lower than the other person when the other person is older or has a higher social status.
- Middle East: Addressing an elder or person higher in social status with his/her bare name. Words like uncle/aunt, (elder) brother/sister or formally Mr./Mrs. are expected to be used.
- Pakistan: Using the pronoun "TUM" or "TOO" (you), instead of "AAP" (formal you) when talking to an elder or a stranger. Walking with shoes on the carpet inside a house. Calling an "elder" or a "stranger member of opposite sex" with just his name.
- Romania; Russia; Slovakia; Czech Republic; Croatia; Hungary; Serbia; Poland; Bulgaria; Ukraine; Estonia; Lithuania; Latvia: Giving somebody an even number of flowers. This should only be done in funerals.
- South America, Spain, and other Spanish speaking countries: Neglecting to greet someone at a social / family gathering. Any kind of large gathering of friends or family should be started by greeting every person present (oldest first if possible), and making sure to say goodbye upon leaving. This rule is more relaxed in a group of young people. Generally these formalities are far more relaxed in Spain than in Latin America.
- Thailand: Stepping over or standing on bills or coins—they all have the face of the King, who is highly revered. Also, touching a Thai person on their head, as the head is considered a sacred part of the body. Food must be kept above the ground level.
- United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa: The "V sign", made by holding the middle and index fingers up so as to form a V-shape (such as when indicating "two" of something), is considered an offensive gesture when made with the back of the hand pointed towards the listener, particularly when done so with an upward thrust. It is seen as having similar meaning to "the finger". With the hand held the other way, so the palm points towards the listener, the otherwise identical gesture is perfectly acceptable.
- Various Places: In countries with a language that contains a T-V distinction, it is a faux pas to use the informal second person pronoun instead of the formal second person pronoun when talking to an elder or a stranger.
[edit] References
- Answers.com Faux-pas. Retrieved December 31, 2005.
