§3. Protocol ceremonies

Diplomatic protocol ceremonies are complicated and sophisticated.²⁸⁷Protocol ceremonies in business are simple, but they are worth knowing.²⁸⁸

Negotiations and signing a contract. When preparing for the event on this occasion, it is necessary to:

• write a scenario of signing a contract, with a full list of the invitees (VIPs, colleagues, city administration, mass media, etc.);

• inform the invitees about the date and time in advance, and the day before signing to phone the most important people again;

• prepare a room for signing and all the accessories (table, chairs, folders, pens; podium for short speeches, etc.). Think of the number of invitees the room is able to accommodate;

• design a menu with light refreshments;

• prepare a press-release in English and Russian beforehand;

• invite a photographer.

It is desirable to get the business cards of all participants of the negotiations: they help the interpreter to translate correctly their names, positions, and companies.

Reception and presentation. All the receptions are either sit-down or stand-up. The most honorable gala receptions are luncheons (lunch) and dinners, that is, sit-downs. Stand-ups - coup de champagne, vin d’honneur, cocktail party, dinner-buffet (including hot meat and hot fish), cold dishes table – have also become very popular of late.

The preparation of the reception includes:

• choosing the type and place of the reception;

• listing invitees, with their addresses and means of communication (mail, fax, phone);

• writing a scenario of the reception;

• sending timely invitations;

• drawing up a seating plan;

• ordering a menu;

• controlling the guest service;

• preparing preliminary translations of toasts and speeches. In a foreign party, unlike in a Russian one, the only toast is proposed at the end of the ceremony. The following clichés can be handy: Let me propose a toast to the health of… - Позвольте мне произнести тост за здоровье… I’d like to raise a toast to… - Я бы хотел поднять бокал за … Allow me to drink to… - Позвольте мне выпить за…Cheers! – На здоровье! Bottoms up! – До дна! На посошок! – One for the road!

For stand-up receptions, hosts and guests are usually dressed in business attire; for sit-downs, women can be dressed up and men can wear a classical business suit, unless invited to a black tie event, which means very formal dress, i.e. tuxedo.

During the reception the interpreter’s job is to translate – he will have his meals only during pauses, if any, between speeches.

The next day after the reception the invitees thank the hosts in writing or by phone.

Notes to part V appendix 1. Russian-English Transliteration Chart

Russian letter	BSI*	ISO**	LC***	PCGN****
А	a	a	a	a
Б	b	b	b	b
В	v	v	v	v
Г	g	g	g	g
Д	d	d	d	d
Е	e	e	e	e, ye (initially and after vowelsъandь)
Ё	ё	ё	ё	ё, yё (initially and after vowels ъandь)
Ж	zh	ž	zh	Zh
З	z	z	z	z
И	i	i	i	i
Й	ĭ	j	ĭ	y
К	k	k	k	k
Л	l	l	l	l
М	m	m	m	m
Н	n	n	n	n
О	o	o	o	o
П	p	p	p	p
Р	r	r	r	r
С	s	s	s	s
Т	t	t	t	t
У	u	u	u	u
Ф	f	f	f	f
Х	kh	h, (ch optionally)	kh	kh
Ц	ts	c	tˆs, ts	ts
Ч	ch	č	ch	ch
Ш	sh	š	sh	sh
Щ	shch	šč	shch	shch
Ъ	’’ or omitted when final	‘’	‘’ or omitted when final	‘’ or omitted when final
Ы	y	y	y	y
Ь	’ or omitted when final	‘	‘	‘
Э	é	ė	ė	e
Ю	yu	ju	iˆu, iu	yu
Я	ya	ja	iˆa, ia	ya