COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH 1: TOPIC 1 ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS : GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS

GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS

This topic is basically about what to say when you want to introduce yourself to other people, what to say when you want to introduce your colleague and friends to other people and conversation in greetings. So let's start the session!

A. Introducing Yourself

There might be occasions where you will have to introduce yourself. For example, if you are meeting a new colleague, you might start off by extending your hand and saying "Hello! I am .....". If you have been introduced earlier to someone, do not assume that the person would remember you and be prepared to reintroduce yourself should it be necessary.

Examples:

Formal manner

Hadif :	How do you do?
Arissa:	How do you do
Hadif :	Let me introduce myself, my name is Hadif. I'm studying/working at ...
Arissa:	My name is Arissa. I'm studying/working at ...

Informal manner

Hello. My name is Seth. What's your name?

Elena.

Notes:

When shaking hands, people may give you their name without saying "Hello" or anything else. It can come across as a bit unfriendly, but it's not considered to be rude.

For example:-

I hold out my hand to you and say, "Arissa."

If you wish to be on first-name terms with someone you can indicate this by stressing your first name:-

For example:-

"Hello, my name is Arissa. Dhia Arissa."

Check out the video for examples of introducing yourself!

B. Introducing others

There are a number of phrases that are commonly used to introduce yourself and your friends to a third person. Let's look at the main phrases below:

(name), I don't think you've met (name).

I don't think you know (name)

May I introduce you to (name)

(name), do you know (name)?

(name), I'd like you to meet (name)

Here is a short introductory conversation in the formal manner:

Hadif :	Seth, I'd like you to meet Elena.
Seth:	How do you do?
Elena :	How do you do.

Sometimes the phrases such as "It's a pleasure to meet you." or "Pleased to meet you." is used in a conversation.

Example 1:

Hadif :	Seth, I'd like you to meet Elena.
Seth :	It's a pleasure to meet you.
Elena :	How do you do.

Example 2:

Hadif :	Seth, I'd like you to meet Elena.
Seth :	How do you do?
Elena :	Pleased to meet you.

It is quite common to shake hands when you are introduced. And in informal situations, the introductions are also made simply saying: "This is (name)." It is also common to just say "Hi" or "Hello" as a response in this informal setting.

Hadif :	Seth, this is Elena.
Seth :	How do you do?
Elena :	Pleased to meet you.

Notes:

In business, a person of lower rank tends to be introduced to a person of higher rank. In other situations you may find that a younger person would be introduced to an older person and a man introduced to a woman.

Check out the video for examples of introducing others!

C. Greetings

Once you have been introduced to someone, the next time you see that person it is important to greet them. Normally we familiar with "Hello", "How are you?", "How are you doing?", "How have you been?". These sentences are informal manner to greet when you meet your friends. As we greet when we arrive, we also greet people as we leave people. This section will present you the ways to greet people in formal and informal situations.

Formal to Informal Greetings and Introductions

First meetings

Formal

Introducing yourself

Introducing others

Responding to an introduction

On Leaving

How do you do? My name is Mrs John.

Mrs John, may I introduce my boss, Mr Smith.

Pleased to meet you Mrs John.

Goodbye. It's a pleasure to have met you.

Hello, Lyana. I'm the owner of this web site.

Lyana, I'd like you to meet John Smith, our salesman. John, this is Lyana.

Pleased to meet you Lyana.

Goodbye. Nice to have met you.

Informal

Lyana.

Lyana, meet John, my husband. John, this is my friend Lyana.

Hi, Lyana. How are you?

Bye. It was nice to meet you.

Subsequent
meetings

		Possible Greetings	Possible responses
		Hello, Mrs John. It's nice to *see you* again.	What a pleasant surprise! How are you? It's been a while.

		Good morning Mrs John. How are you today?	I'm very well thank you. And you?

		Good afternoon, Mrs John. It's good to see you.	Thank you. It's nice to see you too. How are you?

		Hello Lyanna. How are you doing?	Fine thanks. What's new with you?

		Hi, Lyana! How's it going?	Not too bad, busy as ever.
		Hi, Lyana. How are things?	Oh fine. You know how it is.

More examples!

Greetings : Arriving

Formal	Casual
Good morning / afternoon / evening.	Hi / Hello
Hello (name), how are you?	How are you?
How do you do?	What's up? (very informal)
Good day Sir / Madam (very formal, traditional)	How are you doing? (very informal)

It's important to note that the question "How are you?" or "What's up?" doesn't necessary need a response. If you do respond, these phrases are generally expected:

Very well, thank you.
And you? (formal)
How do you do? (formal)
Fine / Great / Good, thanks (informal)

Greetings : Departing

Formal	Casual
Good morning / afternoon / evening / Good night (after 8.pm).	Goodbye / Bye.
It was a pleasure seeing you.	See you (later).
Goodbye.	Later (very informal )

Notes;

When meeting someone formally for the first time, we shake their hand and say "How do you do?" or "Pleased to meet you."

"How do you do?" isn't really a question, it just means "Hello".

Generally we do not shake hands with people we know well.

D. Farewells

Just as there are several standard expressions for greetings, there are also expressions of farewell. The farewell itself is generally very short- one or two words. However, many times people add something to the expressions, depending on what they want to happen in the future or the situation. Look at the examples below!

Expressions

Goodbye Bye

So long Catch you later

I have to run I have to be going now

So long Later dude

Good day

Extensions to farewells

See you again I hope to see you again

See you later (soon) Call me

References;

http://www.yadayadaenglish.com/greet&intro.htm

http://www.learnenglish.de/culture/introductions_and_greetings.htm