Metalogue: Why Do Frenchmen? (4) ↑

bavi 09 августа 2014, 15:49 в посте Metapractice (оригинал в ЖЖ)

F: All right-so you mention my fishing—a matter about which I am sensitive—and then there is a gap, a silence in the conversation —and that silence tells you that I don't like cracks about how many fish I didn't catch. It's just like the Frenchman who stops waving his arms about when he is hurt.

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D: I'm sorry, Daddy, but you did say .. .

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F: No—wait a minute—let's not get confused by being sorry—I shall go out fishing again tomorrow and I shall still know that I am unlikely to catch a fish .. .

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D: But, Daddy, you said all conversation is only telling other people that you are not angry with them .. .

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F: Did I? No—not all conversation, but much of it. Some-times if both people are willing to listen carefully, it is possible to do more than exchange greetings and good wishes. Even to do more than exchange information. The two people may even find out something which neither of them knew before.