mardi 7 octobre 2008

Close encounters of the Finnish kind

Un petit article issu du magazine anglophone finlandais "Six Degrees" qui corroborent nos premières impressions sur le Finlandais. En prime, un petit exercice de pratique de l'Anglais :)

"Finns are space-loving creatures. On a bus or in a waiting-room, a finn will never take a seat next to another person if it can be avoided. In a lecture room, Finns will first take places at the edges and on the back row, then scatter in the middle. In a half-empty room, there will always be a semicircular void between the speaker and the audience.

This need of wide personal space could be explained by evolution. In their natural habitat, the forest, Finns could roam free without meeting anyone for weeks. If they happened on another Finn, they would stop and observe each other for signs of danger. Stepping into touching distance had basically two explanations: the intention to a) make love, or b) make war. This interpratation of proximity has not changed essentially.

Well after the 1950s the majority of Finns still lived in the countryside. Even in small rural villages their territorial instincts were under some stress, but the urban environment is an overwhelming challenge for a Finn. To cover the panic ans confusion caused by crowds, his instinct is to pretend that other people do not exist, causing puzzled looks if they happen to bump into someone who should not be there at all.

On a full bus or train, this Finnish skill is at its peak. Speaking or even looking at someone is a rank insult of personal space. Thus getting off the window seat requires elaborate mime signals - fidling with ones bag or gloves, moving closer to the edge of the seat - to alert the "non-existing" person on the adjoining seat to let one by.

At social occasions, you can approach a Finn and even shake hands with him. The correct distance to do this is when both parties have to lean forward a bit to grasp each others hand. Remember to with draw to the original distance! Do not get to clos or make sudden movements to touch them, or they will rear, perhaps even bolt. Remember, Finns are a gental species at heart, just give them space."

2 commentaires:

Anonyme a dit…

Quels êtres étranges :p Vous arrivez quand même à vous faire des potes finnois malgré tout ça ?

Anonyme a dit…

J'aime bien la petite phrase: "Vous pourrez toutefois approcher le finlandais au cours de quelques occasions..."

Ça me fait penser un petit peu à un documentaire made in Arte. "Le Finlandais est assez craintif dans son habitat naturel: la forêt. Cependant, à de rares occasions, vous pourrez l'approcher...."

Bon stop à la blague. Ça me rassure, je suis pas le seul être craintif dans ce monde de bruteeees. :D