#116

SPEAKING FLUENCY

w w w . d e e p e n g l i s h . c o m

Here are the questions with answers. Pause the recording and speak out loud. You don’t have to be perfect. Just speak quickly and have fun.

Remember, if you want to improve your speaking, you have to speak a lot.

Handshake History

There’s an amazing diversity of greeting customs around the world. What is there an amazing diversity of around the world? There’s an amazing diversity of greeting customs around the world. In Tibet sticking out your tongue can be a way of welcoming people. In New Zealand, Maori greet each other by touching noses. How do Tibetans welcome people? Tibetans stick out their tongue to welcome people. How do Maori greet each other? Maori greet each other by touching noses. Ethiopian men touch shoulders, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, male friends touch foreheads. What do Ethiopian men do when meeting? Ethiopian men touch shoulders. What about in the Democratic Republic of Congo? How do they greet each other? In the Democratic Republic of Congo, male friends touch foreheads. In many Asian countries, people bow to each other when meeting. Where do people bow when meeting? In many Asian countries, people bow to each other when meeting. And in some European countries, as well as Arab countries, hugs or kisses on the cheek are more the norm. What’s more the norm in some European countries and Arab countries? In some European countries and Arab countries, hugs or kisses on the cheek are more the norm. While this wasn’t always true, the most common physical way to greet people around the world is now the handshake. What is the most common way to greet people around the world? The handshake is the most common physical way to greet people around the world. It’s become so ubiquitous that you may never have thought about why people shake hands. Is the handshake ubiquitous? Yes, the handshake is ubiquitous. The history of the handshake dates back to the 5th century B.C. in Greece. How old is the handshake custom? Handshakes date back to the 5th century Greece.

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Handshake History #116

It was a symbol of peace, showing that neither person was carrying a weapon. Was the handshake a symbol of peace? Yes, the handshake was a symbol of peace. What did it demonstrate? It demonstrated that neither person was carrying a weapon. During Roman era, the handshake was actually more of an arm grab. How was the Roman handshake different? The Roman handshake was more of an arm grab. It involved grabbing each other’s forearms to check that neither man had a knife hidden up his sleeve. Why would they grab each other’s forearms? They would grab each other’s forearms to check for hidden weapons. Some say that the shaking gesture of the handshake started in Medieval Europe. Knights would shake the hand of others in an attempt to shake loose any hidden weapons. When did people start shaking hands? People started shaking hands in Medieval Europe. What were knights trying to shake loose? Knights were trying to shake loose any hidden weapons. While handshaking is still the most popular greeting around the world, it may be losing ground in the US. What is losing ground in the US? The handshake is losing ground in the US. The fist bump was, until recently, a gesture mostly used by athletes and young people.

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Handshake History #116

Until recently who mostly used the fist bump greeting? Until recently, mostly athletes and young people used the fist bump. Now it’s becoming more and more common among everyone, including older people. Is the fist bump becoming more and more common? Yes, the fist bump is becoming more and more common among everyone, including older people. Even the President of the United States is a fan of the fist bump. Is the President of the United States a fan? Yes, even the President of the United States is a fan of the fist bump. According to one survey, forty nine percent of Americans sometimes choose a fist bump over a traditional handshake greeting. What percentage of Americans sometimes choose a fist bump over a handshake? Forty nine percent of Americans sometimes choose a fist bump over a traditional handshake. The fist bump, made by making a fist and lightly touching knuckles, may be a more fashionable greeting, but for many it’s a pragmatic choice. Is the fist bump a fashionable greeting? Yes, it’s a fashionable greeting. Is it also a pragmatic choice for some people? Yes, it’s a pragmatic choice for some people. Many survey participants said they preferred the fist bump because they were afraid of catching germs by shaking hands. Why do some people prefer the fist bump? Some people prefer the fist bump because they are afraid of catching germs by shaking hands. How do people greet each other in your country? Is the fist bump catching on where you live? Photos / Credits: Photo #1 (cover)– by Fe Ilya: https://www.flickr.com/photos/renneville/2908748583/ Photo #2 – by DonkeyHotey: https://www.flickr.com/photos/autohistorian/4644307726/ © Deep English, 2011-2014 | www.deepenglish.com 04

Handshake History #116