COMMUNICATION, LACK OF

The story is told of two businessmen, an American and a Frenchman, who met on a transatlantic voyage. As the American was seated for lunch with the Frenchman, the latter raised his wine glass and said, “Bon appetit.” To which the smiling American replied, “Johnson.” Since neither spoke the other’s language, no other words were exchanged during the meal. After the same thing happened at dinner, an observant waiter later explained to the American that the Frenchman was saying, “Hope you enjoy your meal.”

The next day the American sought out the Frenchman to correct his error. After finding him at lunch, at the first opportunity the American raised his glass and said, “Bon Appetit”—to which the Frenchman replied, “Johnson.”227

A department-store clerk was demonstrating the efficiency of a window-cleaning device by smearing margarine on glass and cleaning it off again. Quite impressed, one potential customer asked, “How much margarine do I have to use?”228