Flag of Iran. From wikipedia.
Problem
How do you greet people politely, with respect? What is polite in other cultures? When do you address somebody by their surname?
Answers
It's always good to check formal greetings to letters.
England
Gone are the days of English letters ending: I remain your humble and obedient servant.
Strangers are still addressed in letters as as Dear Sir or Madam. Letters still end formal, Your Faithfully. People whose names you know are addressed as Dear Mrs Brown, and end Your sincerely.
In spoken English, we are increasingly less formal. We are increasingly adopting Americanisms and first names.
When writing, we also use, Hi. This is especially so when texting, because it is faster.
Royalty
However, you would not say Hi, Your Majesty. It sounds absurd to mix the formal and informal.
God
When I think about it, I do not understand why God in hymns and prayers is addressed in the second person: "Nearer My God to Thee ..." "Thou art ..."
In spoken English, we are increasingly less formal. We are increasingly adopting Americanisms and first names.
When writing, we also use, Hi. This is especially so when texting, because it is faster.
Royalty
However, you would not say Hi, Your Majesty. It sounds absurd to mix the formal and informal.
God
When I think about it, I do not understand why God in hymns and prayers is addressed in the second person: "Nearer My God to Thee ..." "Thou art ..."
As a child, I never questioned it. One just repeats old, traditional phrases by rote.
France
English text books at one time instructed English tourists to call the waiter, Garçon, meaning boy. Adult waiters in France would take exception to this.
In France you have to be careful about using Vous and Tu.
Story
At a Toastmasters International meeting in London, England, I was the table topics master and asked people to volunteer to speak for two minutes about what people should know when learning their mother tongue, or learning English.
Persian
A Persian speaker told us that when you greet somebody in Persia, you frequently speak as if you are their servant and respect them, even if you hate them. He placed his hand on his heart, which is a symbol of sincerity, a frequent formality, like bowing in Asia.
Persian Polite Greetings
Persian has many polite forms. One is 'nokaretam', meaning I am your servant.
Chinese and Asian bowing
The deeper you bow, the greater respect. When a customer enters or leaves a business establishment, as a customer you do not match the level of bowing, but expect the staff to bow slightly lower. Similarly the office boy would bow lower to the boss.
The Chinese language is more direct and simpler and easier. Less of the please and would you like. A standard question is, "Do you want to do (x) or not?" In English we would ask, Would you like to go to the cinema? Would you like some more chips? Would you like to dance?
France
English text books at one time instructed English tourists to call the waiter, Garçon, meaning boy. Adult waiters in France would take exception to this.
In France you have to be careful about using Vous and Tu.
Story
At a Toastmasters International meeting in London, England, I was the table topics master and asked people to volunteer to speak for two minutes about what people should know when learning their mother tongue, or learning English.
Persian
A Persian speaker told us that when you greet somebody in Persia, you frequently speak as if you are their servant and respect them, even if you hate them. He placed his hand on his heart, which is a symbol of sincerity, a frequent formality, like bowing in Asia.
Persian Polite Greetings
Persian has many polite forms. One is 'nokaretam', meaning I am your servant.
Chinese and Asian bowing
The deeper you bow, the greater respect. When a customer enters or leaves a business establishment, as a customer you do not match the level of bowing, but expect the staff to bow slightly lower. Similarly the office boy would bow lower to the boss.
The Chinese language is more direct and simpler and easier. Less of the please and would you like. A standard question is, "Do you want to do (x) or not?" In English we would ask, Would you like to go to the cinema? Would you like some more chips? Would you like to dance?
If somebody could not make up their mind, and you were in a hurry, or you were annoyed, you might demand, "Make up your mind. Would you want to or not? Yes or no?" This sounds extremely rude.
Similarly a British shop assistant will ask, "May I help you?"
A Chinese or Asian shop assistant might walk up to you, so close that you think they are trying to pick your pocket, and ask, "Yes?"
The Chinese will address an older taxi driver as 'Uncle'. This is a sign of respect, if you don't know somebody's name, implying they are older and more senior.
In English to call somebody unrelated to you as 'Grandad' is slightly insulting. It is often used in the context of, as if to say, "Hey you old bumbling idiot with the stick, get out of my way!"
SOV Sentence construction
English sentences start with the Subject, followed by the Verb, ending with the Object. This is known in short as SVO sentence construction. Other languages such as German, Japanese and Korean will be constructed SOV, with the verb at the end.
You have to wait until the end of the sentence to find out what is happening. So the Japanese, out of habit, wait politely for you to finish your sensing.
The English are more inclined to interrupt you mid-sentence. This is rude, but it is done. The person being interrupted may protest, "May I finish!"
Tips
http://www.mypersiancorner.com/2014/04/the-humble-iranian-or-art-of-taarof.html
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer,
Similarly a British shop assistant will ask, "May I help you?"
A Chinese or Asian shop assistant might walk up to you, so close that you think they are trying to pick your pocket, and ask, "Yes?"
The Chinese will address an older taxi driver as 'Uncle'. This is a sign of respect, if you don't know somebody's name, implying they are older and more senior.
In English to call somebody unrelated to you as 'Grandad' is slightly insulting. It is often used in the context of, as if to say, "Hey you old bumbling idiot with the stick, get out of my way!"
SOV Sentence construction
English sentences start with the Subject, followed by the Verb, ending with the Object. This is known in short as SVO sentence construction. Other languages such as German, Japanese and Korean will be constructed SOV, with the verb at the end.
You have to wait until the end of the sentence to find out what is happening. So the Japanese, out of habit, wait politely for you to finish your sensing.
The English are more inclined to interrupt you mid-sentence. This is rude, but it is done. The person being interrupted may protest, "May I finish!"
Tips
http://www.mypersiancorner.com/2014/04/the-humble-iranian-or-art-of-taarof.html
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer,
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