Paralanguage - 2a4

• Palm and Power

Paralanguage

• handshakes

Paralanguage

dominant

submissive

Roman handshake

• handshakes

Political handshake

Paralanguage

• Posture and Control

Paralanguage

• Posture and Attitude

Paralanguage

resigned – submissive – lazy – stiff - arrogant

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Traditional greeting between MEN = grasp right hand, place left hand on other’s right shoulder, exchange kisses on each cheek

• The Japanese Bow

Paralanguage - Japan

• Greetings– Hello! / How are you?

• TIRED OF: G’day mate!

• Handshake– Firm– Beginning and end of the meeting– Women may shake hands or kiss each other on the

cheek• Eye contact– Strong eye contact = honesty, clarity

Australia

• Rude gestures– Raising one or two fingers in

the air– Winking at someone– Man putting his arm around

another man’s shoulders– Standing too close while

holding a conversation• PROPER: two feet

– Sounding like a resume

Paralanguage - Australia

• Greetings– Good morning/day/afternoon = “Buongiorno “– Good evening = “Buonasera”– Goodnight = “Buonanotte” – See you later = “Ci vediamo” – Bye = “Ciao!”

• Eye contact– Must be maintained at all times

Italy

• Handshakes– Shake hands with everyone when arriving and leaving – WOMEN MUST extend their hands first to men

• Physical Distance– Comfortable with less than 2 feet

• Business Entertaining– Paying is power– Never give a gift with your company’s logo on it

Paralanguage - Italy


• Rude gestures– Using someone’s first name– Rock on gesture = “You’ve been

fooled by your girlfriend/wife”– Reverse V – knuckles out = like the

middle finger– Scraping thumb under front teeth =

“Go to hell”– Back of the hand scraping under chin

= “I don’t care what you think”

• Useful hand gestures


“I swear it!”

“How annoying…”“Perfect!”

• Useful hand gestures


“I can’t stand this situation!” “Now I remember!”

“They understand each other.”

France

• Greetings– Hello = “Salut” (sah-loo)– Glad to meet you = “Enchanté” (on-shohn-tay)– How are you? = “Comment allez-vous?”

(kom-mohn tah-lay voo)– Fine, thanks, and you? = “Bien, merci, et vous?”

(bee-ehn mer-see ay voo?– Very well, thanks = “Très bien, merci”

(treh bee-ehn, mer-see)

Paralanguage - France

• Greetings– Good day (til 6pm) = “Bon jour” (bon-zhoor)– Good evening (after 6pm) = “Bon soir” (bon-swar)– Good bye = “Au revoir” (oh ruh-vwar)

• Useful Phrases– Yes / No = “Oui / Non” (wee / nohn)– Please = “S'il vous plaît” (seel voo play)– Sorry = “Pardon” (pahr-dohn)


• Useful Phrases– Thank you very much = “Merci beaucoup”

(mer-see bo – kuh)– You’re welcome = “De rien” (dah ree-ehn)– Do you speak English? = “Parlez-vous anglais?”

(par-lay voo zon-glay)– I do not understand = “Je ne comprends pas”

(jhuhn kom-prohn pah)


• Handshakes– NOT strong grip– WOMEN must offer her hand FIRST– ALWAYS shake hands upon first

meeting and when leaving

• Eye contact– Frequent and intense


• Business Practices– Always make appointments– Be punctual– Business Card : printed in French, include

academic credentials and your school IF it is a PRESTIGIOUS one

– Do not give a business gift at your first meeting– Do not give a gift with your company’s logo on it


• Business Entertaining– Always make appointments– Do not start a conversation with personal

questions– Whoever invites for a meal or drink is expected to

pay– When eating, keep both hands on the table at all

times– When finished eating, put fork and knife parallel

across your plate


• Gestures

– Thumbs up = “Okay”– Japanese sign for ‘money’ = “Zero”– Slapping open palm over closed fist =

vulgar– AVOID chewing gum– Japanese sign for ‘money’ over nose

= “Someone is drunk”

People’s Republic of China

• Greetings– Hello – “Ni Hao”– How are you – “Ni Hao Ma”– Good morning – “Zao Shang Hao”– Good evening – “Wan Shang Hao”– Nice to meet you – “Ren Shi Nin Hen Gao Xing”– My last name is – “Wo Xing _____”– Thank you - “Xie Xie”– You’re welcome – “Bu Yong Xie”


• Handshake and Bow and Applause– Slight nod– Slight bow– Wait for the Chinese to extend a hand first– Handshakes last 10 seconds– Gentle

– Applause = means to welcome someone• PROPER RESPONSE: applaud back


• Business Practices– Be punctual and DO NOT cancel– Be patient with negotiations and DO NOT

talk about deadlines– Show little emotion– When entering a business meeting, the

highest ranking member of the group should lead the way

– Subordinates may speak when asked to, otherwise they do not interrupt

– The Chinese appreciate an interest in their culture


• Business Card– Reverse side : Mandarin, GOLD INK– Never put someone’s card in pocket or wallet

• Business Entertaining– Never begin to eat or drink before your host– Never take the last bit of food from the

serving dish– Leave some tea/water in your cup if you

don’t want refilss– Never compliment an object


Gestures Avoid exaggerated gestures and dramatic facial

expressions The Chinese do not like to be touched by people they

do not know Never use a finger to point at someone or beckon to

someone▪ PROPER POINTING: open hand▪ PROPER BECKONING: palm down, WAVE fingers towards

body DO NOT put fingers in your mouth = disgusting


• Gift giving– Make sure it isn’t made in China– Give and receive with both hands– Do not open gifts immediately– Do not bring food as a gift at a party– Always give company gift to the head of the Chinese

party– Traditionally DECLINE a gift THREE TIMES before

accepting


• Gift giving– FUNERAL colors / symbols• Clocks• Straw sandals• Stork / crane• Black, white and blue

– Acceptable colors: red, pink, yellow, gold– Hong Bao• New bills• Even numbers and even amounts

Taboos: Japan

Documents

Paralanguage - 2a4