BUSINESS LANGUAGE AND ÉTIQUÉTTE
(etiquette /ˈetɪkət/ 礼节、礼仪)
SVETLANA PIÏUCKA
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO BEHAVE
Introduction
Manners are very important in every country but different countries have different ideas about what good behaviour and good manners are. Nowadays, many people travel abroad, so it is important to learn a little about what to do (and what not to do) in a foreign country.
Here are a few rules of introduction which are useful to remember:
1) men are introduced to women;
3) old friends to newcomers;
2) young people to older ones;
4) a young girl to a married woman.
Socially women are never presented to a man unless he is the Head of state or a member of the Royal family.
The simplest form of introduction is the pronouncing of the two names:
Man to man
- “Mr Walters. Mr Jordan.”
一 “Mr Walters, this is Mr Jordan.”
Man to woman
一 “Miss Blake. Mr Jordan.”
(give her name first) 一 “Miss Blake, this is Jack Jordan.”
The more formal forms of introduction are:
Man to man
一 “Mr Walters, may I introduce Mr Jordan?”
一 “Mr Walters, I'd like you to meet Mr Jordan.”
Man to woman
一 “Miss Blake, may I introduce my assistant
Jack Jordan?”
一 “Miss Blake, I'd like you to meet my assistant Jack Jordan.”
The most formal way of introduction is:
一 “Mr Walters, may I present Mr Jordan?” (“…allow me to present …”)
一 “Miss Blake, may I present Mr Jordan?”
There are also a number of conversational introductions such as:
一 “Mr Walters, have you met Mr Jordan?” 一 “Mrs Blake, do you know Mr Jordan?”
As a rule, when introducing one says something like: “Mrs Jones, may I introduce Mr Hogarth?” and then turning to Mr Hogarth simply say: “Mrs Jones”. That is all that is necessary, but one may add: “Mr Hogarth has just returned from a visit to France”, or some other bit of information which will give the introduced people a chance to start a conversation.
The usual response to an introduction is “How do you do”, which is a sort of greeting and not a question (about your health) and the best answer to it is “How do you do”.
Sometimes one may say less formally: “I am glad to meet you”, “Happy to meet you” or just “Hello”.
It is very good to add the name of the person introduced: “I'm very glad to meet you, Mr Jordan.” If you did not remember the name it is perfectly all right simply to ask: “What was your name, please?” or “Could you kindly repeat (give) your name?”
Always stand when introduced, ladies may remain seated as a rule.
Handshaking is rather rare in Britain, but it is the correct thing to do on the Continent. When an Englishman passes a friend in the street he only touches his hat. He does not shake hands when he stops to talk. British people occasionally shake hands especially when formally introduced, but they do not shake hands with people they see often. Instead they smile and say: “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, “Good evening”, etc.
When two businessmen meet, however, they usually shake hands.