A Hungarian Proverb says, “The way [a person] greets someone determines how he will welcome [another person].” This Proverb helps convey that the art of introduction is a form of communication between human beings and it helps build relationships between people and cultures. From around the world, different cultures created a way to introduce themselves to others. This idea of introduction varies between cultures, generations, and situations in Vietnam, the United States, and France through the use of gestures, pronouns, and interactions among its inhabitants.
Introductions vary from around the globe. So, how does a person know whether to kiss, bow, or shake hands? In the Vietnamese culture, there is a level of respect when it comes down to
…show more content…
In France, during social settings, two people exchange a kiss––les bises. Les bises occurs when two people touch cheeks and kiss the air (Morrison 124). Depending on the region, up to four kisses are exchanged, all starting on the left, then proceeding to the right. Most of the country uses two kisses, but in the north and northwest region, people greet with four kisses and in the southeast region, people greet with three kisses. However, when two people meet for the first time, they shake hands. This also occurs when they are leaving and generally, the woman will offer her hand first. In comparison to the United States, handshakes in France are not as firm.
Like the culture in Vietnam, finding the right title of the older people in France is vital. Finding the proper title is important as it is a way to properly address a person throughout the course of the conversation. Titles like Madame––for all women, except young girls––should be used for women, whether two people are conversing in English or French. Using first names is not unheard of, but only occurs when a person is given permission to do so. Also, the “vous” form is the safest way to refer to a person until that person tells them to use the “tu” form (Morrison