Слайд 2

Introduction Since elimination of a universal introduction How do you do?

Introduction

Since elimination of a universal introduction How do you do? the

beginning of a conversation is very awkward.
People don’t
know what to
say.
Слайд 3

Awkwardness rules Upper-middle and middle class took a French custom of

Awkwardness rules

Upper-middle and middle class took a French custom of kissing

both cheeks.

Air-kissing (“Mwah-mwahs”) – only women.

Others are still not sure about
the right greeting.

Слайд 4

Handshake Business introduction of people meeting for the first time. If it’s not the first time…

Handshake

Business introduction of people meeting for the first time.
If it’s not

the first time…
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No-name rule At a very informal meeting (like a party) introducing

No-name rule

At a very informal
meeting (like a party)
introducing yourself

by
giving your name is for
the English very inappropriate.
They don’t give their name.
Weather comments – a good conversation starter.

Hello, I’m John Smith!

Слайд 6

They try hard to start and have a conversation in a

They try hard to start and have a conversation in a

very casual way. A chance to introduce may occur naturally:

No-name rule

Goodbye, nice to meet you, er, oh – I didn’t catch your name?

I’m Bill, by the way.

Слайд 7

Pleased to meet you A “common” solution to the problem of

Pleased to meet you

A “common” solution to the problem of greeting.

Pleased

to meet you

It’s wrong, because it’s a lie. I don’t know if I am really pleased.

Plstmye…

It’s alright

Слайд 8

So, greeting English Stiff Awkwardly Embarrassed Non-English Smoothly Confidently

So, greeting

English

Stiff
Awkwardly
Embarrassed

Non-English

Smoothly
Confidently

Слайд 9

Gossip The most common form of grooming-talk among friends. 2/3 of

Gossip

The most common form of grooming-talk among friends.
2/3 of conversation time

is devoted to it:
(-Who is doing what with whom
-who is ‘in’, who is ‘out’ and why
-how to deal with difficult social situations
-behaviour and relationships of friends
-family and celebrities
-friends, lovers, neighbours)
It is “the process of informally communicating value-laden information about members of a social setting”.
Has an evaluating nature.
Слайд 10

Privacy rules Privacy for the English is the most important. Personal

Privacy rules

Privacy for the English is the most important.
Personal information (name,

occupation, family) is hard to get.
But learning about others’ private life is very interesting.
So, gossiping is a kind of ‘risk’.
Слайд 11

The guessing-game rule The traffic is very hard here. Oh, yes,

The guessing-game rule

The traffic is very hard here.
Oh, yes, it’s

a nightmare – and the rush hour is even worse: do you drive to work?
Yes, but I work at the hospital, so at least I don’t have to drive into the town centre.
Oh, the hospital – you’re a nurse, then?
Not really.
So you must be the doctor.
Yes, I’m a doctor.
Oh, really?!
Слайд 12

Distance rule Closest people Nearly everybody

Distance rule

Closest people

Nearly
everybody

Слайд 13

Sex Differences Male Gossip is 65% of speech; Talk about themselves

Sex Differences

Male

Gossip is 65% of speech;
Talk about themselves 1/3 of time;
Admit

that they gossip;
Gossip sound interesting.

Female

Gossip is 55% (football);
“important” topics (politics, culture, work) only in company of women (rise to 15-20%);
Talk about themselves 2/3 of time;
They don’t gossip, they ‘exchange information’;
It sounds like something else

Слайд 14

“Ooooh – Guess what?”; “Hey, listen, you know what I heard?”;

“Ooooh – Guess what?”; “Hey, listen, you know what I heard?”;

“Well, don’t tell anyone but…”
Stress on details, history of the situation, causes.
Need good listeners:
“NO! Really?”, “Oh my GOD!”

Women: ‘You can’t even tell it’s gossip!’
Find details boring, irrelevant, un-manly.
Strong reaction is inacceptable.

Sex Differences

Male

Female

Tone rule

Detail rule

Feedback rule

Слайд 15

Female talk: The counter-compliment rule Oh, I like your new haircut!

Female talk: The counter-compliment rule

Oh, I like your new haircut! Your

hair looks great; I wish I had gorgeous hair like you – mine’s so boring.
Oh, no. My hair’s terrible. I wish I could have it short like you, but I just don’t have the bone structure; you’ve got such good cheekbones.
Etc. etc.