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Three pragmatics puzzle
Each group of words below can be arranged to form two utterances. One utterance is more formal that the other. Fill in each blank with one of the words in the group. Use each word only once.
Here is an example of a request that is more formal, followed by one that is less formal.
More formal: I'm sorry to trouble you, but would you be able to give me a ride into town?
Less formal: Could you give me a lift?
Now see if you can complete the following greetings (saying hello), apologies (saying sorry) and partings (saying good-bye).
Greetings: today, what’s, up, are, hello, hi, hello, you, how.
More formal:
Less formal:
Apologies: happen, fault, about, won’t, my, apologize, sorry, about, I, again
More formal:
Less formal:
Partings: talking, nice, later, goodbye, was, it, you, ya, see, too.
More formal:
Less formal:
International greeting customs
Questions:
What do we do first when meeting someone?
How important is this greeting?
How important is showing that you know about the different customs of other cultures?
Who will you shake hands with when you are at a business meeting that is not being held in the United States?
How will you shake hands when you are at a business meeting that is being held in the United States.
Task V. Divide students into 4 groups. Teacher is distributed handouts to students. Each group read and present countries greetings to other groups.
WASHINGTON - In business, the first thing we do when we meet someone is shake hands. While it seems simple enough, this "first impression" greeting sends a powerful message about you and your respect for others. For the most part, the western-style handshake is the accepted form of greeting in the international business world. However, the manner in which it is performed varies from country to country. Your understanding of the subtle, and not-so-subtle, differences, as well as the traditional greetings of a country, conveys a great deal. It sends a message about how you view and value a culture and whether you respect your colleagues and potential partners.
When doing business outside the United States, make sure you shake hands with everyone you greet and greet everyone in the room. Failure to do so is considered a rejection of those you omitted, and will be noticed. Also, be sure to shake hands upon arrival and departure. When meeting associates in the U.S. a firm handshake is preferred but when traveling abroad it's a different story. Here are a few ways you might be greeted by others when doing business abroad.
CHINA - While the western handshake is accepted, it is performed with a lighter grip and a pumping motion. Chinese also lower their eyes slightly as a sign of respect when meeting someone. Staring into their eyes can be perceived as a sign of disrespect.
JAPAN - Both handshaking and bowing are accepted forms of greeting in international business circles so take your lead from the person you are meeting. If shaking hands, do so lightly. If you are greeted with a bow, respond by bowing in kind. In Japan, people bow when they meet. As with the wai, the way people bow shows the relationship and the situation. For example in formal situations, when greeting a respected person, people bend almost 45 degrees at the waist with their eyes looking downward at the floor. They longer they hold this position and the more times they bow the greeter the respect. In semi-formal situations, when meeting someone for the first time, people bow at the waist at about a 15-degree angle. And in casual situations, when greeting friends, people just do a quick lowering of the head or head and shoulders and look at each other.
RUSSIA - Russians usually use a firm (sometimes very firm) handshake when meeting a guest. If you've met the person before don't be surprised if the greeting includes a hug. Russian men customarily kiss their guest's cheeks (men and women alike) while women reserve such intimacies for other Russians and simply shake hands with foreigners.
FRANCE - Shake hands with one brisk stroke upon arrival and departure and make sure to shake hands with everyone. In France, people often ‘air kiss’ when they meet people they know. They lean forward, put their cheeks together, and make a kissing sound. Then they change cheeks and do it all over again. In Paris, people usually kiss two or three times, but in other parts of France, they usually kiss two or three times. Men only kiss other men if they are very, very close friends or family members. Women kiss both men and other women they know. When meeting someone of the opposite sex for the first time, though, both men and women usually just wave or shake hands.
THAILAND – In Thailand, people wai, when they meet. They put their palms together with fingers pointing upward. Then they position their palms in a way that shows their relationship to the people they are greeting. For example, when greeting friends, people position their joined palms in front of their chests because the friends are equal. When greeting respected people – teachers, parents, or elders – they position their joined palms at their foreheads. And, when greeting a much respected person, people kneel on the ground, bow, and wai with their joined palms at their foreheads.
NEW ZEALAND – The native Maori people in New Zealand do the hongi when they first meet someone. They put their left hand on the other person’s shoulder and shake hands as they lean forward and touch their noses and foreheads together for a couple of seconds. The gesture means that their minds are together and that they are breathing the same air. In some parts of New Zealand, Maori touch noses once, and in other parts they touch noses twice.
Task VI. In your notebook answer to the questions.
How are the wai and the Japanese bow similar?
How do a man and woman greet each other in France when they are meeting each other for the first time?
How do the native Maori people of New Zealand do the hongi?
Which way of greeting seems the most unusual to you? Why? Which seems the most familiar?
How do you greet people in different situations? For example, how would you greet:
A classmate for the first time?
Your school principal for the first time?
Your grandparents?
A close friend?
A boyfriend or a girlfriend?
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