4

Choisissez la méthode qui vous parle le plus et essayez de la mettre en pratique le plus régulièrement possible afin que des taches trop coriaces ne se forment pas.

I wonder how it differs in meaning from saying:

Choisissez la méthode qui vous réussit / convient le mieux.

5
  • À comparer avec « Ça te parle de prendre un verre ? »
    – Luke Sawczak
    Commented Aug 1, 2017 at 2:12
  • 1
    @LukeSawczak Hi. This is the first time I've heard this turn of phrase. Do you mean "Ça te dirait / dit de prendre un verre ?", or does "parle" work just as well? Commented Aug 1, 2017 at 2:18
  • 2
    Whoops, that's clearly what I had in mind with the second half of that sentence! Merci. I should have said something more like « Ça te parle, le changement climatique ? » Does that mean anything to you; have you heard of it?
    – Luke Sawczak
    Commented Aug 1, 2017 at 3:52
  • @LukeSawczak The funny thing is that even with the meaning of "Does that mean anything to you", I would still use "dire" like "Ça te dit quelque chose ?". I've never heard of "Ça te parle quelque chose ?" from French speakers around me, at least. So « Ça te parle, + noun » might well be a less common version, I suppose? Commented Aug 1, 2017 at 19:58
  • It's not informal at all, I shouldn't think. It's not: Ça te parle quelque chose. It's just: Ça me parle, Ça te parle? No quelque chose.
    – Lambie
    Commented Aug 1, 2017 at 21:59

3 Answers 3

4

Parler is similar to speak to (in the sense of appeal to) in that case.

to be interesting or attractive : APPEAL

  • great music … speaks directly to the emotions — A. N. Whitehead

(Merriam Webster - speak 3.c)

In contrast,

Choisissez la méthode qui vous réussit le mieux

implies that you've tested the method before and have had some success with it. Parler implies the opposite. Ce qui vous parle is what appeals to you at first sight, on a first impression as opposed to a tested and proven option.

Choisissez la méthode qui vous convient le mieux

(that suits you best) could be interpreted both ways but is more likely to express effective suitability than a simple feeling.

5

Parler is colloquial for inspirer here:

Choisissez la méthode qui vous inspire le plus…

0

When you use parler it's like a metaphor, because you don't mean to speak really. It's to ask unformally an opinion.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.