title: Cultural Misunderstandings: The French-American Experience
author:  Raymonde Carroll 
description: Raymonde Carroll presents an intriguing and thoughtful analysis of the many ways French and Americans--and indeed any members of different cultures--can misinterpret each other, even when ostensibly speaking the same language. Cultural misunderstandings, Carroll points out, can arise even where we least expect them--in our closest relationships. The revealing vignettes that Carroll relates, and her perceptive comments, bring to light some fundamental differences in French and American presuppositions about love, friendship, and raising children, as well as such everyday activities as using the telephone or asking for information.
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  ![Image](../images/cover.png)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Originally published as _Evidences invisibles_ ,
  
  
  © Editions du Seuil, 1987.
  
  
  The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637
  
  
  The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London
  
  
  © 1988 by The University of Chicago
  
  
  All rights reserved. Published 1988
  
  
  Paperback edition 1990
  
  
  Printed in the United States of America
  
  
  09 08 07 06 05 9 10 11
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
  
  
  Carroll, Raymonde.
  
  
  Cultural misunderstandings : the French-American experience / Raymonde Carroll
  ; translated by Carol Volk.
  
  
  p. cm.
  
  
  ISBN 0-226-09498-7 (paper)
  
  
  ISBN 978-0-226-11189-6 (e-book)
  
  
  1\. United States—Relations—France. 2. France—Relations—United States. 3.
  Americans—Communication. 4. French—Communication. 5. International
  communication. I. Title.
  
  
  E183.8.FSC26 1988
  
  
  303.4'8273'044—dcl9
  
  
  88-12098  
  CIP
  
  
  This book is printed on acid-free paper.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **RAYMONDE CARROLL**
  
  
  Cultural  
  Misunderstandings
  
  
  **THE FRENCH-AMER