I'm doing a presentation for my french class on la bise, and I've got a pretty good understanding of it. However, there is one thing I'm not sure of; do social rankings come into play when it comes to la bise? As in lower, middle, and upper class people.
If so, how? Are there any variations in la bise specifically between the economic classes, and variations when the classes interact with each other?

Thanks in advance ^^


P.S. Sorry for not typing it in French, bur I was in a hurry :c

La bise,

Yes, it's a complex issue It's not codified or written. Normally, you do this only with friends. Not with strangers, otherwise they'd feel uncomfortable. Most of the time, you shake hands, whether it be with your colleagues, your boss or anyone with whom you have no acquaintance or developped relations.

Then even with friends, it's hard:

- Women do kiss each other ( Kissing is a bit different from ' la bise' I know). A woman and a man will kiss each other. Two males might do it if they know each other very well ( virility is much in danger for some ).

- how many ' bises' ? it depends from the region you come from ...and there's no established custom Some say in Paris, you do 3 ' bises', in the South of France, it's normally 2 and in the North, 4 is a good average ... That's always a funny moment, when you think the pomp is over and suddenly the person in front of you is getting ready for one more round

It's not a matter of class or social rank. But I guess that ' la bise' in the upper classes is much more for ' private persons'....

It might be a friendly custom but for some, it looks like an intrusive way of saying ' hello'

Shaking hands is safer til you get to know the persons

Merci ^^

Maintenant, ma présentation sera la meilleure dans mon classe

La bise n'est pas un phénomène français. Elle se pratique ailleurs en Europe aussi ...
Puis pour bien la présenter, il ne suffit de se demander si elle a des caractéristiques sociales !

les esquimaux se frottent le nez
d'autres se serrent les mains etc etc
et bien je crois qu'à l'origine, comme tous les gestes d'accueil et de salutation, elle est aussi faite pour connaître l'état de santé de l'autre.

Dans des anciens temps, après avoir salué l'autre, on savait rapidement s'il est malade ou pas.

J'espère avoir été utile !

There is also a problem about with which side you have to kiss at first
I can't even tell which one I do, but I got a friend from Lyon who always starts the other side and it's disturbing at first.

juste une petite réctification, Paris c'est deux bises.

( sa n'a pas de grande d'importance, c'est au cas où)

Bon à savoir, je vais à Paris l'an prochain " border="0" />
Merci

Quote:

There is also a problem about with which side you have to kiss at first Razz

I just thought that it was a question of being left-handed or right handed But it seems even more complex

We should have a small sign that says ' je fais 4 bises en commençant par la gauche'

We French people are so weird

Alb83 wrote:

Quote: There is also a problem about with which side you have to kiss at first Razz I just thought that it was a question of being left-handed or right handed But it seems even more complex We should have a small sign that says ' je fais 4 bises en commençant par la gauche' We French people are so weird

haha
absolument made my day