The Etiquette Of Speaking French In Paris
In the past, a foreigner speaking imperfect French was frowned upon in Parisian society, and some would even treat foreigners with disdain if their accent was un-Parisian, let alone if they had imperfect grammar. Although that has changed somewhat, the social propriety of a foreigner speaking French is still a subject of debate.
Why it Wasn't Welcome
In most countries, native speakers welcome foreigners who attempt to speak the language. This holds true even in other parts of France. Why is Paris different?
Some linguists connect it to the Parisian pride in their culture. They have every reason to celebrate their own city, and a natural pride of language stems from that. Foreigners who speak it incorrectly diminish the language and in turn disrespect the culture.
Why This Has Changed in the Last Decade
As the world has become more global, the new generation of Parisian business leaders and common citizens have become more tolerant of others who are trying to learn French. As they have learned other languages for business travel purposes, they understand how difficult it truly is to master a foreign tongue, and become more tolerant of others mispronouncing their own words as a consequence.
To Speak or Not To Speak?
The bottom line is that travelers should use simple, small words as they can, and work hard to pronounce those words as correctly as possible. There are some key words which one must use in order to communicate with people in Paris, and those are always acceptable to use.
The city as a whole retains a focus on the French language, which makes it hard for those who travel there to get around without asking for directions or speaking some French.
Therefore, it is best to learn the bare essentials of French for purposes of being polite to people on the streets and smoothing over interactions with wait staff and other services.
However, business travel to Paris is not the time to be honing your French. You should find someone who is willing to work with you on that as a specific task if you desire to work on it.
