On “do’s and don’ts” in greeting and addressing people in great britain

Not less important is the knowledge of good manners in greeting and addressing people as well as small talks and topics for conversation in Great Britain. So here are some useful rules to be remembered and followed.

When visiting Great Britain for the first time it is necessary to know most of the “do’s and don’ts”.

The very formal “How do you do?” is not a question, that’s why it doesn’t require any other answer than “How do you do?” This form of greeting is used when you are introduced to someone or if you meet someone for the first time.

If you often meet someone you usually say “How are you?” The answer to such a greeting must be short, for example: “Very well, thank you, and how are you?”

But that’s not all. You can, of course, say “Good morning” on entering or leaving, for example, a shop or an office in the morning. You can say it till noon (till about 12 o’clock in the afternoon). Till about 6 o’clock in the evening you say “Good afternoon”, and from that time on “Good evening”. But all these are rather formal greetings. If you meet a friend of yours you may just say “Hello, Bob” or “Hello, Mary”.

The manner of addressing people in Britain is quite different from ours. First of all never use the words “sir” or “madam” while speaking with equals. A usual form of addressing people is “Mr. Smith”, “Mrs. Smith”. But you must remember that “Mrs.” is the form of addressing a married woman, while “Miss” is used for not married woman.

The next rule to be remembered is about shaking hands. British people shake hands with you when they meet you for the first time or when they leave you for long. And remember that it is always the visitor who offers his hand first, even if the person visited is a woman.

Along with a handshake, nod of the head, hug, or hand gesture, we are engaged in small talks.

Small talk can take place between people who know each other, or at first-time meetings. When meeting someone for the first time, you are limited in what you may say and what you may not say. You do not want to be rude by asking personal questions or saying anything negative.

In the business world, after long and tiring business hours, businessmen are often engaged in small talks. When socializing with colleagues or associates, the most common acceptable topics of conversation are: weather, sports, good news, travel, positive comments about the host country, movies, entertainment, food, or the challenges of learning a foreign language. If asked, you may discuss work, where you live, or where you are staying. After work hours, when people want to relax, discussions about work or anything too serious are usually not welcomed.

Subjects to avoid are: money, prices, personal health, bad news, religion, politics, and details about your family or children (unless specifically asked). These are very sensitive and disputive topics which often cause disagreements and misunderstandings.

Finally, be careful about jokes! Humor varies from culture to culture, and you may offend someone even without realizing it.

Small talk may last from a few minutes to over an hour, depending upon circumstances. At its best, it results in a nice impression being made, a common interest being explored, or a rapport created that could be the basis of a future meeting or more serious relationship.

Answer the following questions:

1. Under what circumstances is the form of greeting “How do you do?” used?

2. Give the examples of formal and informal greetings in English and their equivalents in Ukrainian.

3. Compare the usual forms of addressing people in England with those in Ukraine.

4. In what situations do Ukrainians shake hands?

5. Have you ever been engaged in a formal small talk? Was it difficult for you to choose the topic of conversation?

TASK 23. Translate into English.

1. Я працював у транснаціональній корпорації у Нідерландах. Голландці – чудові співробітники, легкі у спілкуванні, гарно виховані та толерантні. 2. У кожній країні існують свої традиції і звичаї ділового спілкування. 3. Перш ніж їхати за кордон, слід ознайомитися зі звичаями та традиціями країни, яку ви збираєтеся відвідати. 4. Жести та міміка часто стають у нагоді тим, хто не знає іноземної мови. 5. Деякі норми поведінки та манера спілкування, що є прийнятними у вашій країні, можуть бути образливими за кордоном. Не беручи це до уваги, ви можете справити негативне враження. 6. Спілкування партнерів у неформальному середовищі – звичайна річ. Це нагода поговорити про родину і хобі. Краще уникати розмов про політику і релігію.

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TASK 24. Read and render the following text. Say which points you agree or disagree with.