Hello.
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
- 3.5K All Categories
- 60 New Members
- 461 Let's Practise and Learn
- 13 English Lessons
- 8 Conditionals
- 30 The Tenses
- 5 Modal Verbs
- 23 Phrasal Verbs
- 18 Pronunciation
- 14 Your English Challenge
- 151 A Question of English
- 102 Your Writing
- 1.1K Words Words Words
- 21 Quotes
- 550 Fun with words
- 121 Riddles and Quizzes
- 365 Word Games
- 1.8K Chit Chat
- 30 Art
- 148 Books and Poetry
- 141 Countries and Travel
- 146 Culture, Customs, Traditions and Celebrations
- 119 Films, TV and Theatre
- 120 Food and Drink
- 123 Health and Beauty
- 66 Hobbies and Sport
- 98 Home Life
- 128 Music
- 23 Myths and Legends
- 43 People and Feelings
- 182 Science and nature
- 56 Technology and Games
- 34 The weather
- 118 Work and Money
- 133 Humour
"The April rain, the April rain,
Comes slanting down in fitful showers,
Then from the furrow shoots the grain,
And banks are fledged with nestling flowers;
And in grey shawl and woodland bowers
The cuckoo through the April rain
Calls once again."
Mathilde Blind, April Rain
Comes slanting down in fitful showers,
Then from the furrow shoots the grain,
And banks are fledged with nestling flowers;
And in grey shawl and woodland bowers
The cuckoo through the April rain
Calls once again."
Mathilde Blind, April Rain
When you first apply to join the forum, you will have to wait a while to be approved. Just be patient.
Once you are a member, don't forget to check the calendar(s) for session times. Sessions are held on different platforms, so be sure to find out where the session will take place:-
Speaking Practice
LEN English sessions:-
http://www.learnenglish.de/calendar/learnenglishcalendar.html
Listening Practice 24/7
English radio playlists:-
http://www.englishradio.be/musicevents/calendar.html
Once you are a member, don't forget to check the calendar(s) for session times. Sessions are held on different platforms, so be sure to find out where the session will take place:-
Speaking Practice
LEN English sessions:-
http://www.learnenglish.de/calendar/learnenglishcalendar.html
Listening Practice 24/7
English radio playlists:-
http://www.englishradio.be/musicevents/calendar.html
The way we shake hands
Frank
ModeratorPosts: 6,442 mod
Recently, three girls have interviewed me about the impression a handshake makes. After the interview, they asked me to write a preface for their school assignment. I'd like to share this preface with you here, so that we can take the opportunity to talk a little bit about the topic of handshakes.
People normally take how they shake hands for granted. What’s so special about a greeting that involves grabbing someone’s hand and pumping it up and down? Why do we do it anyway? And does it really matter how we do it, or do we have to take a specific kind of etiquette into account to do it right? If you look into it, the handshake is special, it’s not a meaningless gesture. It really matters why we do it, when we do it, how we do it and who takes the initiative. We do not shake hands for no reason, and timing is also very important. We shake hands when we come and go, to congratulate someone, or give them our condolences, or maybe to seal a business deal. We certainly don’t shake hands in the middle of a conversation.
So the handshake can convey all kinds of important information. Let me give you an example. When in 2013 the famous Dutch ocean liner and cruise ship, the SS Rotterdam was for sale, two parties held a meeting to negotiate the price. After the meeting, hands were shaken, and after that the stakeholders hung out for a while to have a drink together. A few days later the selling party stated that actually no deal had been made. The buying party said they had shaken hands on it. What was the truth? Well, if you take the meaning of a handshake into account you can conclude that the deal was made. Why? Because they had shaken hands, even though they didn’t intend to leave yet. This handshake wasn’t a handshake to say goodbye. It was indeed a handshake of agreement and congratulation. This example exemplifies what something as simple as a handshake can accomplish!
There are many other aspects of this simple gesture that’s worthwhile to consider. Who takes the initiative in a handshake? At job interviews, many job applicants ask themselves if it is a good form to take the initiative themselves or should they wait for the recruiter to begin? The answer can be found again in the conveyed meaning of the handshake. Normally the host takes the initiative to welcome someone when they arrive. When they leave, it’s rather the guest that should take the initiative to show gratefulness for the hospitality.
Then there is the question about the amount of pressure you should exert when shaking hands. In the West, a firm handshake is considered appropriate. In Eastern countries, a rather limp handshake is the norm, at least if those people shake hands in the first place. Strangely enough, people are not that conscious about their own handshake. In my own research, I found that almost everyone has experienced receiving an limp handshake, but no one recalls ever giving a limp handshake themselves.
Last but not least, in what position should you keep your hand when you shake hands? Should you keep your hand upright in vertical position when you shake hands or is it better to offer your hand with the palm facing downwards or rather upwards? Apparently there is a connotation of being a more or less powerful position, depending on the position of your hand. Shaking hands with the palm facing downwards is seen as conveying dominance whilst shaking hands with an upward palm is rather submissive. The upright hand is seen as the most equal way of greeting. However, what makes you decide to give a dominant or a submissive handshake in the first place? What is it that makes us believe the other person has a more or less dominant role in comparison to ourselves? Does it have to do with their appearance and if so, what would people do if they had to shake hands with someone they couldn’t see? That’s a question that hasn’t been empirically researched as far as I know.
When Sara Carlos Campos, Loes Huibers and Noa Vlaming came to my place for an interview, I was pleasantly surprised by the way they had set up their research and had worked it out. It would be a good subject for further empirical investigation in the field of psychology.
Post edited by Frank on
Tagged:
1
Comments
People normally take how they shake hands for granted. What’s so special about a greeting that involves grabbing someone’s hand and pumping it up and down? Why do we do it anyway? And does it really matter how we do it, or do we have to take etiquette into account?
If you look into it, the handshake is special, it’s not a meaningless gesture. It really matters why we do it, when we do it, how we do it and who takes the initiative. We do not shake hands for no reason, and timing is also very important. We shake hands when we come and go, to congratulate someone, or give them our condolences, or maybe to seal a business deal. We certainly don’t shake hands in the middle of a conversation.
So the handshake can convey all kinds of important information. Let me give you an example.
When, in 2013, the famous Dutch ocean liner and cruise ship, the SS Rotterdam was ready to sail, two parties held a meeting to negotiate the price. After the meeting, hands were shaken, and after that the stakeholders hung out for a while to have a drink together. A few days later the selling party stated that actually no deal had been made. The buying party said they had shaken hands on it. What was the truth? Well, if you take the meaning of a handshake into account you can conclude that the deal was made. Why? Because they had shaken hands, even though they didn’t intend to leave yet. This handshake wasn’t a handshake to say goodbye. It was indeed a handshake of agreement and congratulation. This example exemplifies what something as simple as a handshake can accomplish!
To be continued...
Who takes the initiative in a handshake?
At job interviews, many job applicants ask themselves if it is good form to take the initiative themselves or should they wait for the recruiter to begin? The answer can be found again in the conveyed meaning of the handshake. Normally the host takes the initiative to welcome someone when they arrive. When they leave, it’s the guest that should take the initiative to show gratitude for their hospitality.
How much pressure should be applied?
In the West, a firm handshake is considered appropriate. In Eastern countries, a rather limp handshake is the norm (but only if those people shake hands in the first place). Strangely enough, people are not that conscious of their own handshake. In my research, I found that almost everyone has been on the receiving end of a limp handshake, but no one ever recalls giving a limp handshake themselves.
What position should your hand be in when you shake hands?
Should you keep your hand upright in a vertical position when you shake hands? Is it better to offer your hand with the palm facing downwards, or rather upwards? Apparently there is a connotation of being in a more or less powerful position, depending on the position of your hand. Shaking hands with the palm facing downwards is seen as conveying dominance whilst shaking hands with an upward palm is rather submissive. The upright hand is seen as the most equal way of greeting. But, what makes you decide to give a dominant or a submissive handshake in the first place? What is it that makes us believe the other person has a more or less dominant role in comparison to ourselves? Does it have to do with their appearance, and if so, what would people do if they had to shake hands with someone they couldn’t see? As far as I am aware, this is a question that hasn’t been empirically researched to date.
When Sara Carlos Campos, Loes Huibers and Noa Vlaming came round for an interview, I was pleasantly surprised by the way they had set up their research and had worked it out. It would be a good subject for further empirical investigation in the field of psychology.
this article is also amazing on handshaking!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/07/19/why-your-handshake-matters-and-how-to-get-it-right/#413b96d678e6
This is the same handshake from another angle and looks even weirder:
Gorsuch seems very reluctant. They look like a bully and a bullied in school!
I can't afford this kind of handshake for sure. It could break the bone of my right hand. Very dangerous.
I can't afford this kind of handshake for sure. It could break the bone of my right hand. Very dangerous.
what happened when Mrs May met Trump.
@Frank - I would love to get your thoughts on this bit of hand holding (and the patting).
@Larry_the_Zebra - LOL Frank did tell me you had sent him your corrections, but I was already half way through, so I finished. (I'm not sure what that says about me, but I just couldn't leave it half done.)
@mheredge
I was thinking about the Trump way of handshake. Do we have a name for this way of handshaking?
People shake hands a lot in Nepal. But they usually get it right: firm but not too strong.
http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/588b8953dd089549248b4a15/may-and-trump-reaffirm-the-great-bond-between-britain-and-america.jpg
Some of the text we read came from:
http://www.study-body-language.com/Holding-hands.html
I also agree with these three feelings involved when it comes to hand-holding: affection, comfort and protection.
See Trump's awkward 19-second handshake
http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/02/10/trump-abe-handshake-vo.cnn
The way we are discussing every move of Donald Trump . I am afraid that in no longer time he is going to be the most popular president of America.