Back to the Basics
Somewhere over the course of time, society has lost the basics of simple greetings and good manners. Gone are the days when hello, please and thank you are common in every day conversation with individuals that are both familiar and unfamiliar to us. Do you know that these three words can turn a stranger into a colleague and possibly a friend under certain circumstances? Let’s explore these three polite words in more detail.
Hello
Say “hello” the next time you walk by someone. Make sure to smile. Even if the other person does not respond, you will feel better knowing that you tried to make someone’s day with a simple greeting and a smile.
Please
When making a request for something from someone, it’s okay to say “please.” What is really special about please is you can say it prior to or after making a request, and still come across as polite. Thus, you really can’t go wrong if you say, “Please pass the salt,” or “Pass the salt please.”
Thank you
With the attitudes of entitlement manifested by people in all ages and stage of life these days, “thank you” seems to have dropped from the English language. It is courteous to express your appreciation for something received to let the giver know that you are grateful for his or her kind gesture – no matter how small it is.
On the other hand, when you give someone something and they do not express gratitude, just say, “You’re welcome.” They will still be rude, but you won’t.
If you do not feel like saying hello, please and thank you in English, here are the terms in other languages to enhance your level of manners and language skills.
| Hello | Please | Thank You | |||||
| Country/Language | Term | Country/Language | Term | Country/Language | Term | ||
| Greece | Geia Sou | Philippines | Paki | Panama | Dot nuet | ||
| Hawaiian | Aloha | Thailand | Garunch | China | Gui lah hui te ha | ||
| Japanese | Konnichi wa | Polish | Prosze | Australian | Eso | ||
| Argentina | Buen dia | Fiji | Bula vi naka | Peru | Juspajaraña | ||
| Quebec Canada | Kwei | Turkey | Selam | Bulgaria | Merci | ||
Source: http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/thankyou.htm
Word of the Week: Yegg
Definition: one that breaks open safes to steal; robber
Sentence: The yegg broke into the bank and made off with billions of dollars in cash and jewelry.
Live Blogging Test – Saturday, March 6, 2010
Grammar Don’ts: Like…Ya Know
Have you ever listened to people speak in every day conversation?
Have you ever paid attention to the number of times people said “like” and “ya know” in a given statement?
Have you ever bothered to count the number of times people said “like” and “ya know”?
Like, these two words have got to be two of the most overused words in the English language next tow “uh” and “um.” Ya know?
I’ll admit that I do listen and sometimes count the number of “likes” and “ya knows” in conversations, and have determined that people say either of the words at least three times in a sentence.
What is the point of this article?
My point is to be mindful of your “likes” and “ya knows” in conversation, and PLEASE don’t let them flow into your writings.
Do Not Underestimate the Power of YouTube
I was having a conversation with a colleague about sharing videos. He suggested iTunes and other video alternatives. When I mentioned YouTube as a source, he pretty much said that it was not a good source for videos.
Are you kidding? YouTube is the largest video community in the WORLD, why wouldn’t you put videos on the site even if you don’t think people would view them? YouTube is not only attractive to the people who upload videos, it is a primary source of entertainment and distraction for millions of people in countries all over the globe. Therefore, you never know who’s on YouTube at any given time.
The site has also become a major source for research. Although I do not know for certain, I am willing to bet that YouTube ranks first in video research and probably second or third in traditional research right after Wikipedia and Twitter. Yes, Twitter has become popular for topic searches.
My advice to anyone considering NOT adding video to YouTube: Do not underestimate the power of YouTube. It is a FREE, worldwide opportunity you don’t want to miss.