3. Introducing

It is an act of mutual identification between people who haven’t been introduced before. The speech patterns are:

• Let me introduce myself.

• My name is … (I’m…)

• I represent…

• I am a representative of…

The reply pattern is:

• Nice to meet you.

The introducing of the third party:

• Let me introduce…

• I’d like to introduce you…

4. Invitation

It should be formulated openly and contain the following components:

• reason;

• place and time of meeting;

• list of invited persons.

5. Compliment

It is an utterance which contains a certain exaggeration of person’s positive qualities. They are the “magic words”. And you may begin any meeting, conference or business communication with the compliment. You know, certainly, the proverb “A kind word is nice to the cat even”. And it concerns everybody.

Firstly, every person likes to hear some nice words to his or her address. Then, these words will arise the feeling of satisfaction and make positive emotions. And at last they will create disposition to the person or to the question discussed.

But the compliment

• should have only the direct meaning;

• should carry only positive assessment and not contain any double meaning;

• shouldn’t be moralizing;

• shouldn’t be added with some words which eliminate it;

• shouldn’t persuade the evident objects.

Don’t

• use hyperbole because otherwise it won’t be a compliment but a mockery;

• make a compliment of quality which is appreciated greatly by the person himself.

Never do the compliment to the quality the person wants to avoid of.

6. Congratulation

It may be on occurrence of any anniversary or event.

Official or business congratulation proves the established relations and it should be correct:

• Let me congratulate you.

• My congratulations.

It may be connected with successful fulfillment of the work. In casual business communication we use the stylistically neutral tone:

• You’ve made a good job of it.

• Thank you for …

Reply forms:

• Thank you for your attention.

• Thanks. I am glad to hear such response.

7. ADVICE

You should give some advice only in the case your interlocutor needs it. And, of course, you should ask:

• Will you let me to give you some advice?

Or you may say:

• Why wouldn’t you…

• Wouldn’t you like…

You shouldn’t thrust your advice on a person.

8. CONSENT (AGREEMENT)

In official language the expression of consent is characterized with restraint:

• You’re right.

• Surely.

• I quite agree with you.

• I don’t object.

• I haven’t any objections.

9. DISSENT (DISAGREEMENT)

It should be said in mild form:

• I doubt it.

• Sorry, you aren’t quite right.

• I am not quite sure that…

• I think you are mistaken.

10. APOLOGIES

It depends on the degree of fault and the type of situation. Insignificant fault:

• Excuse my troubling you.

• Forgive me, please.

When the situation is more official we say:

• I must apologize.

When the faults are serious you should give the detailed explanation:

• I didn’t mean to hurt you.

• Sorry, I’ve kept you waiting.

You mustn’t say:

• Excuse myself (извиняюсь).

Note: If you say “Excuse me” to attract somebody’s attention – with the falling intonation. If you express request to repeat something – with the rising intonation.

11. REPLY ON THE APOLOGY

It is usually the nod by head or approving look. You may say:

• Don’t worry.

• That’s all right.

• You needn’t apologize. It’s my fault.

If you talk on the phone you say:

• I accept your excuses.

12. REQUEST

If you ask somebody to do something you should say:

• Can (could) you do me a favour?

• Would you be so kind…

• Could you spare me a moment?

• If you don’t object…

13.GRATITUDE (THANKS)

In official language we use stylistically coloured patterns:

• This was very kind of you…

• Thank you for the trouble you’ve taken.

• I am very grateful to you.

12. PARTING

It ends any type of speech communication, sums up the conversation and expresses hope on continuation of the contacts in future:

• Good-bye. Hope to…

• Let me say good-bye.

THE CULTURE OF SPEECH

One of the tasks of speech communication is effective self-presentation, the ability to impress the interlocutor. It is impossible without correct, clear and literate speech. That’s why the culture of speech plays the important role in communication. Cultural speech has some criteria. It should be:

1. Correct -

It should correspond to the phonetic, grammatical and stylistic norms of language.

2. Communicatively conditioned -

You should speak differently in various situations. You shouldn’t use “the high style” when you speak to more familiar person and don’t use the colloquial language attending the officials.

3. Accurate -

It should be true and reliable.

4. Logical -

The utterance should contain the relations between facts.

5. Simple and accessible -

Your speech should be clear and easily understandable for the addressee.

6. Pure -

Your speech should be free from dialects, popular speech, barbarisms, jargons, slang, vulgarisms.

7. Expressive -

To support your listener’s attention and interest you should give interesting information and do it emotionally.

8. Various in expressive means -

The active usage of words and their synonyms.

9. Appropriate -

You should choose language means suitable for the context, situation, psychological characteristics of the interlocutor.

10. Aesthetical -

Your speech shouldn’t be offensive for your interlocutor, you should avoid disharmonious and tactless words and expressions. You use euphemisms in these cases. Instead of “he goes bald” – (он лысеет) – you should say “he loses hair” – (он теряет волосы); “beggar” – “нищий“ и “needy”, “indigent” – “нуждающийся“.

PECULIARITIES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE HELP OF THE TRANSLATOR (INTERPRETER)

It concerns you directly. The “good” interpreter is not the specialist in the field of language only but also the expert of the country. The professional interpreter plays the key-role in establishing of cooperation, especially, in the case if the talks are held with representatives of the countries whose culture, life philosophy and business etiquette differ from those in European countries or in Russia.

If you communicate with the help of the interpreter you should observe the following rules. And if you’re the interpreter you should demand:

- to speak slowly formulating the thoughts accurately;

- to tell not more than 1 or 2 sentences because, you know, it’s difficult to keep in memory much information. And besides the syntactical arrangement is different in different languages. For example, in Persian language the predicative is always at the end of the sentence;

- don’t use proverbs, idioms or verses in speech because their translation to other languages requires more time and some proverbs may be offensive for other peoples;

- you should consider your partner’s reaction and in some situations explain the thoughts with more simple words. The interpreter can ask you the same;

- the interpreter should be acquainted with the problems touched beforehand. He should have enough time to look through the material and terminology used. Remember! There is no interpreter who can operate with medical, technical or other terminology quite perfectly without any preparation.