Thanks God, it's Friday. Even it is gloomy, we always have to give thanks to Allah, right. Well, guys. I think today is a good time to study rather than you just lay in your beloved bed, don't you? Now, I wanna tell you about 'Introduction', how to introduce someone or how to introduce yourself, especially in American culture. I got this material from some books.
1. Definition
Introduction
is a formal presentation of one person to another, in which each is told the
others name. (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
2. Introducing Others
You
can introduce people by saying :
It’s
my pleasure to introduce Frank Brown.* formal
Mrs.
Johnson, I’d to introduce Mr. Brown.
Mrs.
Johnson, I’d like you to meet Mr. Brown.
Patty,
this is Frank.
Patty,
have you meet Frank ?
Patty,
do you know Frank ? informal
|
*This
expression is generally used to introduce a person to a group of people.
Some
replies :
How
do you do ?
formal
(It’s a) pleasure to
meet you.
(I’m) glad to meet
you.
(I’m) happy to meet
you.
Hello.
Hi.
Informal
|
In
general, subordinate are presented to superiors, men to women, younger to
older.
3. Introducing yourself
You can introduce yourself by saying:
I’d like to introduce myself.
I don’t think we’ve been introduced.
I don’t think we’ve met.
Have we met before?
I don’t think you know me.
Hello.
Hi.
|
formal
My name’s Liz Smith*
Informal
|
*You can
also say: I’m Liz Smith.
Some replies:
How do you do? formal
(it;s a) pleasure to meet you.
(it’s) nice to meet you.
(I’m) glad to meet you.
(I’m) happy to meet you.
Hello.
Hi.
informal
|
4. Form of Address
Here
are some of the common titles used in English.
Mr.
Professor Reverend
Mrs. Dr.
Judge
Miss Father Officer
Ms. Rabbi
|
When
making a formal introduction in English, the introducer often uses the people’s
When making an informal introduction in English, the introducer generally uses
the people first names. Sometimes first and last names are used. Titles and
family names.
Most Americans have
three names:
1)
A first name (sometimes called a given)
2)
A middle name (or an initial)
3)
And the last name (called the family
name , or surname.)
In some very informal
situation, the introduce may use only the people’s names.
5. Nonverbal Introduction
In additions to verbal expressions,
people also use nonverbal body language when making introductions. When we make
nonverbal introductions, we use our bodies instead of words to make the introductions.
Everyone uses nonverbal body language when speaking. However, the specific
manner in which it is used varies from culture to culture.
Here
are some important features nonverbal introductions for North Americans:
• Eye Contact
• Relative Distance Between Speakers
• Facial Expressions
• Handshaking
• Use of Hands and Head Two Introduce
People
|
6.
Making
Small Talk after Introduction
In English there are certain “safe”
topics which people frequently bring up when they first meet. These topics are
often called small talk. Four common areas of small talk are:
1. A person’s personal background
2. A
person’s work/educational background
3. A
person’s special interest (such as sports, music, politics)
4. The
weather
Following is a chart of small-talk topics. It includes
one polite and one impolite question in each category. Questions considered
impolite to ask right away are usually quite personal or put people on the
defensive. These same questions may be perfectly acceptable to ask once you
become better acquainted with the person; however, if asked too soon, such
question may make the other person angry or embarrassed.
small talk topics polite to
ask impolite
to ask
A person’s personal background
|
Where do you live?
|
How much your rent?
|
A person’s work or educational
background
|
What kind of work do you do?
|
How much money do you earn?
|
A person’s special interest
|
Are you interested in classical music?
|
What religion are you?
|
The weather
|
Are you enjoying all this snow we’re
having?
|
Why is the weather in your city so
terrible
|
7. Differences culture between
Indonesia and America in Introduction
There
are a lot of cultural differences among Indonesian and American. The Americans
use eye contact and handshaking in their introduction with all people. They
assume that eye contact is the polite side if talking to someone. Besides that
when shaking hands, they shake firmly and briefly. They do not like making the
prolonged handshaking.
Different from Indonesians, in
introductions, they have some styles of handshaking and eye contact. It depends
of the age and the genre. If someone meet another one who same genre and age,
make handshaking and eye contact is common and polite. Different way if a man
wants to know a girl, he has to careful, because there is a girl who doesn’t do
handshaking. It based on the religion. Eye contact doesn’t need if they are
talking to elder people whom they have to kiss the elders’ hands. It is
impolite in Indonesia.
Talking about using of titles in
introductions, in America using the title in the name is based on the status or
age. The people of lower status and age have to call Mr, Prof, Dr, or Mdm with
the second, last or the family name. In out of the office or classroom, they
prefer to call their professor with the nick name or the first name. It is
commonly in informal situations. It is very different from Indonesia.
Either formal or informal situations the students must call their teacher with
the title. It is so impolite if they call their teacher’s name without title Mr
or Mdm.
Small talk in Americans’
introduction are about the general information. It is like asking “What do you do?”, “Are you a student in here?”, etc. It is impolite and not customary if
asking about personal identity, such as “Are you single?” or “Do you have a
boyfriend?”. The Indonesians do the opposite of
those. They always give personal questions after introduction. The questions
contain asking about statue, address, until number of mobile phone. It is very
common.
In additional, the Americans always
greet each other (although they do not know each other) at a glance even make
us feel have a fellow human being. Say hello, chat briefly about the weather or
the child is still the custom in the middle of the more individualistic
American society. The Indonesians never do something like that because of
another reasons. The first is because they do not know each other. The second
is because of arrogant attitude. The last is because just that the Indonesian’s
culture.
, If you ask me which one is better between these these culture, i think the better one is American culture because if they be acquainted with someone they really keep their personality. it is very different with Indonesian, usually they ask her/his phone number, address or, social media, you know, that's very common but actually it annoys.
