Jones - Parisienne french : chic phrases, slang and style

PARISIENNE FRENCH Chic Phrases,
Slang & Style Rhianna Jones Ulysses Press Text Copyright 2013 Rhianna Jones. Illustrations copyright 2013 Tatiana Minina. Design and concept copyright 2013 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic devices, digital versions, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Published by Ulysses Press P.O.

Box 3440 Berkeley, CA 94703 www.ulyssespress.com ISBN: 978-1-61243-256-4 Library of Congress Catalog Number 2013938625 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Acquisitions editor: Keith Riegert Project editor: Alice Riegert French editor: Vincent VichitVadakan English editor: Lauren Harrison Proofreader: Elyce Berrigan-Dunlop Cover design: Jenna Stempel Interior design: Rebecca Lown Illustrator: Tatiana Minina Distributed by Publishers Group West IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: This book is independently authored and published and no sponsorship or endorsement of this book by, and no affiliation with, any trademarked brands or other products mentioned or pictured within is claimed or suggested. All trademarks that appear in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The author and publishers encourage readers to patronize the quality brands and products mentioned in this book. Anik, I dedicate this book to you, chrie, the best friend a girl could ever wish for. With your beauty, strength, and overall lan, you are the quintessential Parisienne. Mille tendresse, Rhianna Table of Contents

Paris is the city in which one loves to live. Mille tendresse, Rhianna Table of Contents Paris is the city in which one loves to live.

MARGARET ANDERSON Youre the girl whos got it all: personality, ambition, intelligence, and killer style. And guess what? Youre about to take your fabulous self to Paris. Perhaps youve been dreaming about it your whole life, or maybe its simply one of the many escapades on your radar. The point is: the standard travel guide isnt gonna cut it for you; you need something to match your level of je ne sais quoi. That something, my dear, is Parisienne French. In essence, this book introduces you to the current slang, culture, and lifestyle youll encounter during your Parisian exploits.

As this is not an in-depth grammar guide, it is best for someone who has a basic understanding of the French language. The vocabulary here is mainly stuff youll wanna say around your cool new friends or some hot Parisian piece at a bar; its not professionally minded. Picture this: if you find yourself about to blow your weekly allowance on a vital pair of heels and wanna tell your Parisian BFF en franais, now you can. Or, when your new crush asks you to pick a place to meet up, which arrondisement should you choose? Weve got you covered. That being said, even if French is completely foreign to you, youre a smart cookie, and with the included pronunciation tools and explanatory notes here, youll figure it out. Promise.

Also note that this is not a travel guide. Rather than telling you what to see or do, the chapters paint a portrait of the citys vibes so that you can discover it yourself. The more personal your experience is, the fonder your memories will be. Parks, benches, and cafs are scattered all over the city, so take a seat and watch the day go by. Think of Paris as an incredibly stylish circus and study the spectacle in front of you. This book notes the cultural differences in dress, speech, etiquette, etc.; look around and see them play out.

Incorporate all that loveliness into your natural way of being andvoil! youve become a more parisienne you. Parisienne French will keep you cultured, chic, and most importantly, communicating. Cue the literary love affair. Trust me, Paris is all its cracked up to be, and then some. With an open mind, a charming smile, and this book, youll have the city in the palm of your hand pronto. La vie parisienne is just a few chapters away

If you want to establish an international presence, you cant do so from New York.

You need the consecration of Paris. OSCAR DE LA RENTA Something about the French language and culture has an internationally recognized aura of chic. A tongue whose words roll off melodically, yet seem so difficult to grasp to the foreign ear, le franais makes the heart sing. It is often deemed the most beautiful language in the world, and perhaps its cachet lies in its gorgeous complexity. In fact, there are rules that exist in French simply based on aesthetics and the euphony of words. The countless vowels, gender/number agreements, and formality conventions are just a small part of what makes the language so particulier.

This is not, however, meant to be discouraging in the least. It will take a bit of time and a lot of patience, but the more you challenge yourself to speak the language, the faster youll pick it up. Even if you think you sound silly, finishing your convo with a smile will make your efforts all the more appreciated. Practice makes perfect, darling, and mastering le franais will be the cherry on top of your cosmopolitan sundae. Pronunciation LA PRONONCIATION One of the many charms French people have is their pride. Call it arrogance, call it pretension, but theyve got a fine culture and theyre damn proud of it.

Considering how theyve essentially seduced the entire world with their mother tongue, its only natural they love their language. Like, a lot. Parisians hold their accent in higher esteem than that of the rest of the country, and a bit of a rivalry exists between urban Paris and rural France. That being said, Parisians dont particularly appreciate hearing their language butchered, so dont be surprised if in some of your attempts to parler (to talk), you are responded to in English. Youre trying to embrace the culture, theyre trying to make your struggle easier, cest la vie. Its not simply about getting the words out and in the right order, but more the fluidity and melody of what youre saying.

They speak softer and as such their mouths are much tighter in speech than ours. Listen to those around you and pay close attention to how they sound. The more you remember that, the more likely youll catch yourself mispronouncing something. Regardless, heres a lil guide to get your parleying up to parisienne standards.

Next page