On Shaking Hands- A. G. Gardiner Objectives: To help you comprehend the importance of shaking hands To make you understand the importance of physical greetings in different cultures To sensitize you to other cultures About the author Alfred George Gardiner was born in Chelmsford, the son of a cabinet-maker and alcoholic. As a boy he worked at the Chelmsford Chronicle and the Bournemouth Directory. He joined the Northern Daily Telegraph in 1887 which had been founded the year before by Thomas Purvis Ritzema. In 1899, he was appointed editor of the Blackburn Weekly Telegraph. Alfred George Gardiner (1865–1946) was a British journalist and author. His essays, written under the pen-name Alpha of the Plough, are highly regarded. He was also Chairman of the National Anti-Sweating League, an advocacy group which campaigned for a minimum wage in industry. Some of his essays are Prophets, Priests and Kings (1908),Pillars of Society, The War Lords, Pebbles on the Shore,Windfalls &Leaves in the Wind,The Anglo-American Future,What I saw in Germany: letters from Germany and Austria and Life of George Cadbury include his later works. Pre-reading Activity Discuss the following in pairs or groups: 1. What do you do to greet these people when you meet them after a long time? a) your friends b) your family members- cousins of your age c) your family membersuncles and aunts, or grannies 2. When someone comes and says what you do customarily at your home is wrong, how do you react? 3. What do you know about shaking hands? Whom do you usually shake hands with? Read the following essay and check if what you know about shaking hands is same as what is described in the essay. If there is one custom that might be assumed to be beyond criticism it is the custom of shaking hands; but it seems that even this innocent and amiable practice is upon its trial. A heavy indictment has been directed against it in the Press on hygienic grounds, and we are urged to adopt some healthier mode of expressing our mutual emotion when we meet or part. I think it would need a pretty stiff Act of Parliament and a heavy code of penalties to break us of soingrained a habit. Of course, there are many people in the world who go through life without ever shaking and whenever I feel such a hand now the vision of a cringingfawning figure damns the possessor of it in my mind beyond reprieve. energetic hands. We should have to chain them up. most people in the world manage to do so. The Japanese bows. The greatest display of kissing I have ever witnessed was at Prince Kropotkin's house— he was then living at Brighton— on his seventieth birthday. and gave him a resounding smack on eachwhiskered cheek. just as our custom of promiscuouskissing seems an unintelligible indecency to the Japanese. by the way. and how. They would not remain in our pockets or behind our backs or toying with a button. We all know hands that we should prefer not to shake. A greeting which we really feel without a grip of the hand to accompany it would seem like a repulse. so instinctive and impetuous is their impulse to leap at a brother hand. No doubt the custom has its disadvantages. A procession of aged and bearded Russian patriarchs came to bring greetings. And there is one connection in which kissing has never been a common form of salutation with us.dank hand that left us haunted with the sense of obscene and creepy things. The horror and loathing with which Uriah Heap filled our youthful mind was conveyed more through the touch of his hand than by any other circumstance. that learned and holy men enjoyed it. He could not write so of us today. It would be a bond without the seal—as cold as a stepmother's breath. and the Arab touches the breast of his friend at parting with the tips of his fingers. and the Chinese make a grave motion of the hand. listless. it is true. but I cannot conceive that they will ever be argued out of shaking hands with each other. and as each one entered the room he rushed at the sage. Masculine kissing is an entirely Continental habit. In the matter of kissing. to whom osculation has an exclusive sexual significance that we do not attach to it. It would be like denying our hands their natural office. and Kropotkin gave resounding smacks in return. I do not think that Englishmen could be bribed to kiss each other. or a sacrilege.hands. It was a cold. and the Indian salaams. bony. I know the touch of that hand as though it had lain in mine. we have become much more restrained than our ancestors. flaccid hands. but the hand-clasp is no bad clue . Everyone has read the famous passage in Erasmus' letters in which he describes how people used to kiss in Tudor England. warm.. By comparison with these modes of salutation it may be that our Western custom of shaking each other by the hand seems coarse and bucolic. It may be unjust. This is carrying heartiness too far for our austere tastes. chiefly cultivated among the Russians. clammy hands. Probably. They would revolt. as official as a typewritten letter with a typewritten signature. flung his arms about his neck. so to speak. the ritual is worth the occasional penalty we have to pay for it. sir. for example. Some personalities seem to resolve themselves into a handshake. You can't shake it. according to the weather. and proves by thumping on your back how he esteems your merit. and you are careful not to trust him with it again at parting. It is the happy mean between the Oriental's formal salaam and the Russian's enormous hug. belief. (Another jerk). : relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. or attitude) firmly fixed or established. the sort of man who hails you 'Tom' or 'Jack'. the publisher. or dishonesty. difficult to change. and no one can shake hands heartily with a jelly-fish. but. It is so eloquent that it leaves nothing more to be discovered about them. (Oh. : (of a habit. who advances with outstretched hand and places it in yours as though it is something he wants to get rid of. . or he would not be so anxious to get rid of it. He takes your hand—if you are foolish enough to lend it to him—and crushes it into a jumble of aching bones and shakes your arm well-nigh out of its socket. So you just hold it as long as civility demands. sir. who goes and tries to get someone else to take it off his hands. for it is as unresponsive as a jelly-fish. It is a cold pudding of a hand.to moral as well as physical health.Jannock right through. That's the sort of man I am. or courage 'in that hand'. but lies in your palm until you feel tempted to throw it out of the window. or it is not at all. he seems to say. and if it has less dignity than it has more warmth and more of the spirit of human comradeship. There is Peaker. What are you to do with it? It obviously doesn't belong to Peaker. or a warm pudding of a hand. torture!) And I'm glad to see you. and there are times when we can say with no less confidence that there is pollution. a mangled pain. Nothing half-hearted about me. cold or warm. But though there are hands that make you shudder and hands that make you writhe.Yorkshire to the backbone. and then gently return it to Peaker. it is equally a pudding. We shall need a lot of medical evidence before we cease to say with the most friendly of all poets: Glossary Amiable : having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner Indictment Ingrained Bucolic : a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime. sir. Hand-shaking must be mutual. And there is the limp and lingering hand that seems so overcharged with affection that it does not know when to go. 'There is death in that hand' was Coleridge's remark after parting from Keats. But he does not thump you on the back. or candour. He restores your hand. And at the other extreme is that hearty fellow Stubbings. hatred. Chinese and the Arabs? 4) Does the author support or oppose the culture of kissing? Give reasons from the text to support your answer. Introduction to the issue 2. : make twisting. and hand shake of British being a mid-way decent greeting when compared to the other two? Explain with examples. especially so as to look or feel unpleasant : a feeling of intense dislike or disgust. : destroy or severely damage by tearing or crushing. frankness : of an impressive size.Promiscuous Osculation Smack Austere Sacrilege Impetuous Flaccid Loathing Cringing Candour Thumping Mangled Writhe : demonstrating or implying an unselective approach. main advantages with examples 3. : bend one's head and body in fear or apprehension or in a servile manner : the quality of being open and honest. conclusion supporting advantages Vocabulary Fill the following blanks with suitable form of phrasal verbs from the box given . 5) How does A. : violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred : acting or done quickly and without thought or care : soft and hanging loosely or limply.G. Indians. extent.Gardinerelude greeting without a handshake? 6) What according to the authorare the disadvantages of shaking hands? 7) When do we hesitate to give hand shake to others? 8) According to the author how should the hand shake be? 9) How does he differentiate shaking hands with different people? 10) Which culture of greeting would you mostly support? Think Critically 1. or amount. indiscriminate or casual : to touch : a sharp slap or blow. If you are supposed to attend an interview. Mark which parts of the essay fall under these categories: 1. Comprehension Questions 1) What is represented by shaking hands? 2) What is the ingrained habit given in the essay? 3) What are the modes of greetings for Japanese. other advantages 4. what seems to be customary to greet the interviewer(s) there? Does difference in gender have anything to do with your greetings? How? 3. Identify the structure of this argumentative essay. typically one given with the palm of the hand : severe or strict in manner or attitude. Do you agree with the author on his comments about Indian and Russian greetings. 2. squirming movements or contortions of the body. disadvantages 5. Nails _________ quickly after you cut them. It was really hard to __________ the tears (Not show emotion) 7. When the enemy attacked. The meeting has been ___________ till Friday (Delay) 9. For example: Yesterday: Met a friend: Yesterday evening I met a friend of mine in the market. “On Shaking Hands” is a well-structured argumentative essay as you must have noticed with the help of the previous exercise (Think critically Q. I have __________ many of the people I grew up with. they ___________ for six weeks.(Grow again) 5. (Resisted) 8. (Enquire about someone's health) 2. Yesterday Today Tomorrow 3. (Ask a number of people for information of help) 3. 2. Today: go to college: Today. For example: shake (action) hands(noun). so I told her you were fine. Everyone __________ me when I raised the issue. blink (action) eyes (noun). Make a list of 50 actions that can be part of your day to day work. Writing: Argumentative essay The essay. Now divide the actions according the time: actions that you did yesterday.below using the hints given in the brackets Asked After Grow back Held over Ask Around Grew to Jumped off Hold back Grown away from Held out Jumped on 1. .3) Make a list of the differences between what you usually consider as the structure of an essay. actions you do today and what you will do tomorrow. I will watch a movie with the members of my family.(Criticize.(Eventually do something) 6. We ___________ like the neighborhood.(Become less friendly with) 4. Tomorrow: watch a movie: Tomorrow. Add a noun to it if necessary to explain the action. The IPO __________ on the first day. attack) Grammar 1. I have no idea.(Start quickly) 10. I am going to college. but I'll ____________ at work and see if anyone can help. Now use at least 10 action from each time in your own sentences. Jenny rang earlier and ___________ you. Dr. thereby coming to understand how to serve them better within their own communities. We are born amidst different languages. James Morrison at her friend's recommendation. it is customary to call people by their last names. she decides to go to Dr. especially when they are older than you. the 32-yearold Dr. customs and rituals that vary from door to door in a group of families that live in a particular area or village. Avery Jones leaves Dr. Morrison is obviously confused about her response. Dr. Upon their first meeting. Morrison's practice upset and decides to find a different doctor. So what did he do wrong? In this example. has not been feeling well. Morrison' and calls her 'Avery'. Morrison called his patient 'Avery' instead of 'Mrs. learning and behavior of an individual. Since she is new in town and has not yet had a chance to establish care with a physician. Tolerance to others’ customs and traditions is part of our lives. The steps to start writing an argumentative essay are: Prepare an outline for the essay with the points that you have to argue for and against the given topic. Morrison then assumes that she is on Medicaid( state program that helps low-income individuals or families pay for the costs associated with long-term medical and custodial care). Dr. Morrison was not being culturally sensitive. Since Dr. Morrison introduces himself as 'Dr. In many cultures. Jones'. a 55-year-old African American woman.3. It also means that cultural differences and similarities exist and have an impact on the values. Cultural Sensitivity is a set of skills that enables you to learn about and get to know people who are different from you. Life Skills: Cultural Sensitivity and Cross cultural Communication. India is a country with wide cultural diversity. Points in support of Science Points in support of arts Based on the number of points and their strength develop an essay in the structure give to you in Q.ESSAY ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY Type of topic structure language Importance of examples Task: Write an argumentative on “Sciences are better than arts to make our living more comfortable and meaningful”. Read the following anecdote to understand cultural sensitivity better: Avery Jones. she took it as a sign of . . So what would the culturally sensitive approach look like? Instead of calling her 'Avery'. and are open to learning things from the point of view of others. as most practices have a billing department that handles insurance matters. Here is an activity that helps you Make a list of activities that you find strange about others. They value and respect diversity. Dr Morrison or Avery Jones? Why? 2. Who do you think is culturally more insensitive. Does addressing by your first or last name matter in your culture? How important is the difference? 3. Dr. He could then make a note in her chart so that all of the staff know to address her as 'Mrs. Dr. Dr. Note down how you responded to it ( physically and verbally) Form into pairs and discuss with your partner if the activities that are strange for you seem to be the same him or her. What must Dr. Morrison would have asked her if she had medical insurance and who her insurance provider was. 1. Instead of assuming that Mrs. This not only upset Mrs. but also prevented her from getting the medical treatment that she needed. Or maybe he would have avoided the subject all together. It influences how we interact with others and with the world around us. To make matters worse. Present the same to the class inviting others comments and understand the tolerance levels of yours and others. People who are culturally sensitive are able to function in other cultures. Are the solutions to the issue with Avery Jones similar in all cultures? Why/Why not? Speak: Cross cultural Communication Our culture influences many aspects of our lives. Jones'.disrespect. Jones was on Medicaid. Morrison would have asked her how she would like to be addressed. Morrison assumed that Avery was on Medicaid based solely upon his initial impression of her. Morrison have done to upset Avery Jones in his treatment as Medicaid? 4. They can be related to the way they celebrate a festive or a family functions. Jones.