Н.Э. Шарабарина, Л.В. Кулик - English for Junior Students of the Humanities - Unit 2, страница 9

The Japanese business card almost needs a rule book of its own. Youmust exchange business cards immediately on meeting because it is essential to establisheveryone's status and position.When it is handed to a person in an superior position, it must be given and received withboth hands, and you must take time to read it carefully, and not just put it in your pocket!Also the bow is a very important part of greeting someone. You should not expect theJapanese to shake hands.

Bowing the head is a mark of respect and the first bow of the dayshould be lower than when you meet thereafter.The Americans sometimes find it difficult to accept the more formal Japanese manners.They prefer to be casual and more informal, as illustrated by the universal 'Have anice day!' American waiters have a one-word imperative 'Enjoy!' The British, of course, arecool and reserved.

The great topic of conversation between strangers in Britain is theweather unemotional and impersonal. In America, the main topic between strangers is thesearch to find a geographical link. 'Oh, really? You live in Ohio? I had an uncle who onceworked there.'Here are some final tips for travellers.•••••••In France you shouldn't sit down in a cafe until you've shaken hands with everyone youknow.In Afghanistan you should spend at least five minutes saying hello.In Pakistan you mustn't wink. It is offensive.In the Middle East you must never use the left hand for greeting, eating, drinking, orsmoking.

Also, you should take care not to admire anything in your hosts' home. Theywill feel that they have to give it to you.In Russia you must match your hosts drink for drink or they will think you are unfriendly.In Thailand you should clasp your hands together and lower your head and your eyeswhen you greet someone.In America you should eat your hamburger with both hands and as quickly as possible.You shouldn't try to have a conversation until it is eaten.EXERCISE 41.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.Discuss the questions in pairs.Which nationalities are the most and least punctual?Why did the British think that everyone understood their customs?Which nationalities do not like to eat and do business at the same time?'They (the French) have to be well fed and watered.' What or who do you normally haveto feed and water?An American friend of yours is going to work in Japan.

Give some advice about howhe/she should and shouldn't behave.Imagine you are at a party in (a) England (b) America. How could you begin aconversation with a stranger? Continue the conversations with your partner.Which nationalities have rules of behaviour about hands? What are the rules?Why is it not a good idea to ...... say that you absolutely love your Egyptian friend's vase....

go to Russia if you don't drink alcohol.... say 'Hi! See you later!' when you're introduced to someone in Afghanistan. ...discuss politics with your American friend in a McDonald's.Do you agree with the saying 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'? Do you have asimilar saying in your language?What are the 'rules' about greeting people in your country? When do you shake hands?When do you kiss? What about when you say goodbye?Think of one or two examples of bad manners. For example, in Britain it is considered34impolite to ask people how much they earn. 12.

What advice would you givesomebody coming to live and work in your country?EIGHT WAYS OF TELLING WHETHER MR SMITHIS ENGLISH OR AMERICAN(BEFORE HE OPENS HIS MOUTH)People are dressing and looking more and more alike and national stereotypes are fastvanishing. Very few Americans parade around the world in stetson hats, cowboy boots, hugeHavana cigars and Hawaiian shirts with string ties. Englishmen are equally unlikely to travelabroad in tropical topis and knee-length shorts, bowler hats, monocles, thick hairy tweedsuits, or any of the other 'milord kit that once announced their island home at a thousandpaces Nonetheless, there are still subtle ways of distinguishing on a which side or theAtlantic Mr Smith resides, by careful observation.

1. Names.If he signs his name 'James M. Smith', he's very likely to be American. Few Americanscan comfortably live without a middle initial, whether it means anything or not. (The 'F' inJohn F. Kennedy stood for Fitzgerald: the 'S' in Harry S Truman stood for nothing, except thesecurity that a middle initial gives to an American name.)'J. Smith' will undoubtedly be an Englishman who doesn't feel that it's entirely decent toexpose his first name in front of strangers.

He may give away as much as J.M. Smith butseldom more, and if he's called James, you know immediately that he's English for allJameses are instantly reduced to Jim or Jimmy by their fellow countrymen even if theyhappen to be, as Mr Cartel was, President of the United States.3. TiesStriped ties, are common and popular on both sides of the Atlantic, but spot the subtledifference: the American's stripes go down from left to right (as you look at him), andthe Englishman's stripes go down from right to left.

There is no significance in this, politicalor otherwise -just one of those funny little things.4. ShirtsIf you can detect the line of tee-shirt sleeves under Mr Smith's long-sleeved white shirt, or ifhe's wearing a short-sleeved shirt with a tie, he's American. (The tee-shirt undershirt is forextra warmth during the summer months when Americans set their air-conditioning at slightlyabove freezing, and the short sleeves are to keep cool in the winter when their homes andoffices turn into centrally-heated sauna baths. Americans never do anything by halves!) If onthe other hand Mr Smith is wearing a striped shirt with pure white collar and cuffs, he'scertain to be English, posh or pretentious.5.

CigarettesNot by brand, as the English are just as likely to smoke Marlboros as the Americans are tosmoke Benson & Hedges, but if Mr Smith offers you a cigarette, he's English. MostAmericans don't smoke anymore, but even if they do, it's not a custom to offer cigarettes,partly because in the USA they are too cheap to make the gesture appear generous (abouthalf the UK price), but also because brand loyalty amongst American smokers has alwaysbeen so fierce that a Benson & Hedges smoker would turn up his nose at Mr Smith'sMarlboros, or the other way around.6.

IceIf the fellow has a glass filled with so much ice that there is hardly any room for any kind ofliquid in it. He's an American beyond any doubt.Having enough ice is as much an obsession for Americans as getting a good cup of teais for an Englishman. If on the other hand, the glass contains only one or two meagremelting ice cubes, or perhaps no ice at all he is, of course. English, and comes from a climatewhere chilling drinks artificially is not normally necessary.357. WaterIf he's drinking ice water with his meal, he's surely American.

Americans crave waterseemingly round the clock. The USA is filled with drinking fountains for constantreplenishment and the first thing you get at an American restaurant is not the menu or thewine list, but a glass of water. The drinking of ordinary water is not as disdained inEngland as it is in other European countries, but, it is neither common nor customary, and ifMr Smith the Englishman is quite happy with beer or wine with his fish and chips.8. DatesIf it's the third of November and Mr Smith writes the date as 11/3, you know he'sAmerican, but if he writes 3/11, he's English. Consider the English businessman who has animportant sales contract to sign with Mr Smith on 1/4, and arrives on the first of April only todiscover that this Mr Smith is American and that the appointment was on the fourth ofJanuary, three months before. The contract, alas, went to a competitor who arrived on thecorrect date.

Happy April fools, and have a nice day!The benefit of all this advance information is that when you are finally introduced to MrSmith you'll know whether to say "How do you do you?" or " Hi, Jimmy. How are you?"(from In Advance by Richard Side)EXERCISE 5 1. Draw parallels with Russians along the same lines.2.

Think of most specific characteristic features of Russians.THE WAY WE DO THINGSROUND HERE1.2.3.4.5.6.Language is not just the words people speak. It is body language, dress, manners,etiquette, ideas, the things people do - their behaviour.

And like language, behaviour hasa grammar, an internal logic that is possible to understand and master.Some of the differences may seem superficial - dress, etiquette, food, hours of work.Often it is simply 3 questions of getting used to them, like the climate or the plumbing,while one goes on with the business.Some of the differences, it is grudgingly admitted, may be an improvement. People aremore courteous, service is better, you ask for something to be done and it happenswithout having to follow it up. Others can be irritating, like the conventions ofpunctuality. If you invite people to a parry at 7 o'clock your guests will consider it politeto turn up on the dot in Germany, five minutes early in the American Midwest, in hourearly in Japan, 15 minutes afterwards in the UK, up to an hour afterwards in Italy andsome time in the evening in Greece.

I deliberately avoided the more emotive word 'late'because there is nothing wrong in it. It is the accepted convention.The problems begin when differences interfere with getting the job done. Deliverypromises are not kept or suppliers are not flexible. There are no procedures or there aretoo many procedures. People never get together and thrash things out or meetings dragon all day. Decisions are postponed or they are taken without proper study. And so on.An investigation into what lies at the heart of cultural differences leads into history,sociology, philosophy, theology, mythology, in fact every branch of the humanities.