Initially I didn't have any idea about the topic I wanted to talk about, but realizing that I had purchased many beauty products in Ireland and that I used to read its directions, I decided to take more of an interest in it. I just thought it was pretty funny to read these instructions without minding the fact that these directions were in English. So I was just missing the very opportunity to spot subtle or obvious differences which could exist with my mother tongue in that context. Then I started wondering if the mother tongue, in case of reading directions, could really matter, modify our perception or the way we'll use a product in itself…To sum up, will a French person use an identical product exactly in the same way as an Irish person, does the way of expressing in each language have an influence? That's what I'm interested in investigating though it's quite difficult to get a precise answer. This report is about trying to find out these differences between directions on beauty products written in English and those written in French because as said previously, it could eventually subconsciously modify the way we use a beauty product.
[...] The hand care cream is just helpful for maintaining its initial beauty “Quickly absorbed”/ “pénètre rapidement” Finding the passive voice in English is not surprising, but still this is an interesting case and does affect our state of mind: I mean that in the English sentence, the skin is “feeding” with the cream, like if that was a need to get the benefits of the product, the skin is asking for that moisturizing cream! That is in opposition to French, where the skin is the cream is the one. [...]
[...] Way of dealing with the subject: The analysis is of course based on genuine directions, taken from beauty products packing. Most of these are skin care products, but there are also shampoo, hair care and wax strip's directions for a wider diversity. On one side are gathered the products whose society is basically American (Johnson- Johnson, John Frieda), British (Boots, Skin Wisdom by Tesco) and on the other side the French ones (Yves-Rocher, Nivea, L'Oréal Paris, Chanel In fact, my priority was to compare products each other in that way, then branded products such as “Yves-Rocher”, “Johnson-Johnson” always translate their directions which was helpful for completing the analysis. [...]
[...] Yet , there is a slight difference between “épiderme” and ones can clearly feel that the first term is much more scientific , much more specific whereas could be used in a larger context To strengthen that observation, here are few other examples : Hair fiber capillaries, strip/bande lubrifiante (shaver), Non pore clogging/non comédogène and so-on As a general rule, English doesn't use such a complicated vocabulary but words more common, which can be used in a more familiar context. [...]
[...] In itself, gives already a concept of association and could replace other verbs, the meaning is the same, and it's just a question of style inside a language. But could we deliberately tell that this can let us say than it is about a different way of considering the body? As in the example number the French word “courbes” is usually used very much for the body, or a at least in aesthetic way. is more imprecise, not necessarily in a positive way. [...]
[...] The first one underlines again a strong worry about well-being as a priority and expresses it like if the customer had bad experiences before with similar products visibly not adapted to skin sensibility. That clearly means that these brands of shavers are likely to respect this sensibility contrary to many types of shavers. In another way, French enhances the shaver's qualities going forward, “plus doux” is much less negative, it's not only about avoiding irritations but feeling a nice sensation. [...]
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