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Task I. Match the information in column A with the corresponding information in column B.
A B
1) Physical contact between people of the a) is considered rude.
same sex
2) When presenting a higher-ranking b) use the entire right hand.
person
3) If you want to indicate something or c) is interpreted strictly as gestures of
someone friendship.
4) To point at anyone with the forefinger d) nervousness, shyness or disapproval.
5) Outbursts of laughter are more often e) against littering.
indicative of
6) Kuala Lumpur, the capital city, has f) the senior person’s name is said first.
harsh penalties
Task II. Read the text, find the following words and expressions and translate them, check their pronunciation with the vocabulary.
To extend, a respectful gesture, higher-ranking person, to indicate, a scooping motion, rude, amusement, to mask “loss of face”, to tip, luggage.
Germany.
If you don’t speak German, be careful of automatically addressing a person in English. While Germans generally speak very good English, some may feel offended at the presumption. There is some noticeable resentment, especially among the 45 to 60 age group, which generally doesn’t feel as secure in the language as the younger generations, which have grown up with a prevalence of English introduced into many aspects of German commercial life.
Germans do not expect to be greeted by strangers, even when eye contact has been made in the office environment.
The German culture is considered to be a “middle hierarchical” culture. That is to say, institutional hierarchy is well defined and strictly observed, and is quite obvious in the individual’s communicative behaviour. Corporate rank demands a degree of privilege and respect from subordinates which can result in much less open channels of communication than founded in cultures with flatter hierarchies, as in Scandinavia, and/or a very strong individualist orientation as in North America/Australia. Therefore, keep in mind that to whom, when and the way you are introduced will indicate how you are perceived and how Germans fit you into their corporate hierarchy.
Firm, brief handshakes at the time of arrival and departure are standard in both business and social relationships. Hugging and kissing on both cheeks are common only among good friends and family members. When arriving and leaving take the time to shake hands with everyone individually in a group.
Eye contact during introductions is serious, direct and should be maintained as long as the person is addressing you. Even in public, eye contact between strangers or out staring can be direct and not necessarily smiling.
Before crossing the street pedestrians are expected to wait patiently on the curb until the light turns green. Moreover, on streets where there are no traffic lights be very careful when crossing since German drivers will not always stop for you.
Several factors (e.g. population density, excessive rules and regulations that govern many aspects of daily life, the fact rather than relationship orientation of the German character) converge into a typically aggressive “driving culture” on the famed German autobahn. Germans can be extremely impatient and aggressive drivers. Be prepared for much more “chasing” and manoeuvring, which can make autobahn driving much more stressful.
Although this is usually a very formal, law-obeying society, pushing, shoving, and other displays of impatience in queues are not uncommon.
You can expect the distance of comfort between strangers in public to be much smaller than is considered normal in Russia but more than in African or Arab countries. While people in conversation typically maintain a comfortable distance of at least 2 ft between them, the person directly behind you in the supermarket line can be literally breathing down your neck.