Verbal Greetings
Verbal greetings range from very formal business greetings among people of different strata to very informal gestures used to greet close friends. Knowing when to use each greeting takes some practice and skill. Often an encounter with a professional business colleague in an informal situation presents the dilemma of whether to be formal or … Keep Reading → informal in extending a greeting. Verbal greeting protocol become more complex when there is an element of intercultural communication occurring. In some societies, informal greetings are only appropriate for immediate family and not used at all in public places. Verbal greetings cross the boundaries of age can get misinterpreted. Elders might cringe at the sound of being called by their first name by a seemingly wet-behind-the-ears teen or young adult. For many being called by their first name only is a sign of disrespect, while most non-boomer generation people consider being called by their first name a sign of friendship and closeness. Find out more about using verbal greetings here.
