The Importance of Hello
Greetings are a socialization behavior that most people
take for granted because greetings are so pervasive in society. 1. Style
But from a young age, people are taught the appropriate
greetings for different circumstances. Sociologist Erving
Goffman points out that greetings are part of our face-to-face 2. WF
contacts, phone conversations, and letters.
One area that greetings illuminate is status. For
example, which person says “hello” first and how someone is 3. Synt
greeted can be part of the stratification system in a society. In
the past, a man removed his hat and bowed to greet a prince or
king; this behavior showed his lower rank in the society. This
greeting became truncated over time. Later, people began to 4. FF
greet equals by just lifting the hat and then by touching the 5. Gr
hat. 6. Style
Greetings also show cultural differences. In fact,
activities that are acceptable in one country may seem odd or
even be taboo in another country. Learning what is acceptable
and what is prohibited is important for travelers, especially for 7. FF
those conducting international business. In the United Sates,
most business introductions begin with a firm, short (three- to
four-second) handshake. In Europe, business associates also
shake hands, but the handshake is usually more formal.
Business greetings in Europe rarely display the friendly
backslaps that are sometimes seen in the United States. In
Japan, people customarily bow as a greeting, and many 8. WF
business people have learned to look carefully at how the bow
is done. The depth of a bow reflects the status between the two
people. In Arab countries, men often greet each other with a 9. Synt
hand on the right shoulder and a kiss on each cheek. Though a [Link]
handshake is usually used when meeting people from other
regions, it may be done with two hands and be more of a
handhold. In Latin American countries, male friends hug each
other when they meet, and women kiss each other on the
cheeks. Visitors are generally allowed some flexibility in
greeting ceremonies, but because greetings are so ingrained, a
native of a country may be ostracized if he or she fails to
follow proper behavior.
Linguist C. A. Ferguson, as an informal experiment,
decided to deviate from conventional greeting behavior at
work. For two days in a row, he didn’t respond to his
secretary’s “good morning.” He reported that the atmosphere
was unpleasant on the first day and tense on the second day. By
the third day, to alleviate the stress and save their working
relationship, he discontinued the experiment. What people say
and do in what may seem like simple greetings can have more
importance than people imagine.
Tips for Any Occasion
Speeches come in various forms. You may need to
inform, persuade, or entertain your audience. You may have 1. Gr
had weeks or months to prepare, or you may have to give an 2. FF
impromptu speech with little or no time to gather your
thoughts. You could give a speech to ten good friends or before
thousands of strangers. You might be asked to speak at a
wedding or a board meeting. The following are some tips you
can use for any kind of speaking engagement.
If it is appropriate to your topic and audience, using 3. Gr
levity to begin a speech can help you and your audience to
relax. By telling a joke or an amusing anecdote, you may find
that you win your audience over in the first few minutes.
People enjoy hearing stories, and when the stories are about
the speaker, they can be particularly effective. 4. FF
As you plan your speech, make sure your examples are
relevant to your topic. You should use examples that deal with 5. Synt
the subject you are talking about. For example, if your speech
is on pollution, you will want to give examples of how bad the
water supply is or how poor the air quality has become, not tell
how you burned a casserole last night. Also, make sure that 6. WF
you check the verity of any statements you make. You want to
be accurate in what you say.
Another way to support your statements is by using
expert testimony. Find people who are authorities on your
topic, and quote them to back up your views. Before you use
those people as sources, find out what their credentials are and
whether other people in the profession respect them.
Think about the ramifications of your statements. What
impact will your comments have on your listeners? Also
beware of making derogatory statements. You shouldn’t
belittle your listeners or make negative statements about 7. Style
gender, race, or other characteristics.
A technique that can make your speech vivid is
visualization. Use words that will help listeners see what you
are talking about. Describe the people and places that are 8. Synt
important to your speech by using sensory details. Tell how
something sounded, smelled, or tasted.
Lastly, don’t forget a summation that covers your main
points. Remember that your closing is your last chance to reach 9. Style
your audience. If there is something you want them to
remember, tell them once again. Give your speech a sense of
conclusion. Don’t leave your audience feeling that something is
missing.
Using these simple techniques can help you feel more
confident any time you are asked to step up to the podium. [Link]