Know Your Language

Starting a conversation

 When you meet someone for the first time, it is always so difficult to start a conversation. You feel ill at ease until you have exchanged a few pleasantries with the person. Remember that you have to take into account the place you are in and the person you are talking with before you get going. 

Here are a few things that you could say to a person in the college canteen. 

A: Hi! I'm Arjun.

B: Hi! I'm Niyanth.  Nice to meet you.

A: Same here. I've never seen you around. 

B: Actually, neither have I. That's also because I don't frequent the canteen too often.

A: Me neither. Which course are you doing?

B: I am doing my post graduation in psychology.

A: Sounds good. I"m doing my major in English.

B: Are you from this city?

A: Yes, I was born and brought up here. And you?

B: I am actually from a very small town in the south. Delhi is a wild experience for me.

A: I hope you like it.

B: Oh yes, I do! I love the food here. And the college campus is awesome!

A: Where are you staying here?

B: I am staying in the college hostel. 

A: So, shall we have a pani puri now?

B: I'm game for that anytime!

See how easy it is to make the acquaintance of someone? You just have to be friendly, but not too prying! Your body language should be casual, not too stiff and you should of course be all smiles! Both of you must be ready to put each other at ease!

A good motto is: use friendliness but do not use your friends. 

Useful German phrases

Guten Tag! (Good day!) This can be said till 4:00 p.m.

Guten Morgen! (Good morning!) This can be said till 12:00 in the afternoon.

Guten Abend! (Good evening!) This can be said till late in the night.

Gute Nacht! (Good night!) Said before you go to bed or when you are parting from someone late at night.

Remember to say Guten Morgen and not just Morgen. Morgen means morning. But what we want to do is to hope that the person has a good morning.

Similarly, in English, never say just "Morning!" Instead, we have to say Good Morning!

Wie geht es Ihnen? (How are you?)

Danke, gut. Und Ihnen? (Fine, thank you. And you?)

When someone asks you how are you are, it is imperative for you to ask them how they are. This is a formality that must be maintained. This is a question that is popped so that you can start a friendly conversation.

Auf Weidersehen! (Good bye!)

Auf Wiedersehen! (Good bye!)

On the phone, one says: Auf Wiederhören!

Other ways of saying goodbye in German are:

Tschüss,  Tschö, Tschau, Ciao(These are more informal)

Tips:

1. It is important to say these phrases in a friendly manner and with a smile on your face. 

2. Study your face in the mirror. Ask yourself whether it is a friendly face. People could get irritated with a handsome or beautiful face when there is no warmth and smile on the face. So remember, your smile is your greatest asset. Make sure it is always there! A smile always comes back to you!

Nice

Are we not overusing the word NICE?

Nice dress.

Nice movie.

Nice dinner.

Nice talk.

Nice has really lost its meaning. It has become a lukewarm word. Why can't we say something more interesting and more meaningful?

Great Dress!

Lovely movie!

Delicious dinner!

Informative/motivating talk!

Nice is an adjective but there are other adjectives that are more appealing and more descriptive. Next time you are tempted to use the word nice or even hear the word, ask yourself if you can replace it!

Tips:

1. Language is used to communicate what you want and feel. 

2. But your choice of words indicates the kind of person you are - are you energetic or do you only keep trying all the time?

For example, when someone asks you:

Will you be there? You answer: I'll try to be there.

Will you complete the work? I'll try to.

A person who only tries all the time, is not one who is in control of his language or himself.

“Change your language and you change your thoughts.”  Karl Albrecht.

common errrors: Prepositions

As far as prepositions are concerned, one only has to get them by heart. (Not: by heart them!)

1. Shyam was disappointed by his performance. (x)
    Shyam was disappointed with his performance. (✓)

You are disappointed with something and not by something.

The teacher was disappointed with the student's performance.
The Principal was disappointed with the teacher's teaching!
I am disappointed with the entire class. No one seems to have studied for the test.

2. Is this rule applicable on this case?  (x) 
    Is this rule applicable to this case? (✓)

Something is applicable to and not on something.

The instructions are applicable to all the questions.
Is this solution applicable to all the problems?

Correct these sentences. The answers will be in the next blog.

1. Are you disappointed about your performance?
2. Are these instructions applicable on this exam too?
3. My father was very disappointed at the team's performance.
4. Grandmother was disappointed on her behaviour.
5. Is this applicable on our parents also?

Telephone etiquette:
1. When the call is not for you, and you have to call out to the person concerned, make sure you put the phone on mute and call out. You would sound very rustic otherwise.
2. If the person concerned is not available, please say the following:

I am sorry X is not at home. May I know who is calling? Could I take a message?
Once the message is taken, also find out: Could I have your phone number? If the caller says the person has the number, take it anyway.
Be polite.

contraction: they're

They're is a contraction of they are.
Examples:

1. They are coming tomorrow. They're coming tomorrow.
2. I am not sure if they are there. I am not sure if they're there.
3. They are going to be late. They're going to be late.
4. They are coming from Germany. They're coming from Germany.
5. They are both coming to our house. They're both coming to our house.
6. They are on the same side. They're on the same side.

Do not confuse they're with:

there (which is the opposite of here)
their (possessive plural form)

Example:

I don't want to go there.
Don't stay here; go there.

I have their telephone number. Do you want it?
Their mother came and picked them up.

Tips:

1. When you ask for help in your office, do it the right way: Would you have the time to help me?
2. Find out if your colleague has the time to help you out.
3. Don't load them with your work. It is just not fair.
4. In case they do oblige, make sure you thank them sufficiently. Also help them out when they need help!
5. When they come to you for help, don't shoo them away!
6. Help must be given mutually and taken mutually.

"The biggest mistake you can make in life is to be continually afraid of making one."

Expressing Appreciation

All of us love receiving surprises and gifts, but we never respond to the gesture appropriately because we are either overwhelmed or because we are embarrassed. What does one say on these occasions? And what does one say when someone has thanked you?

Thanks. (rather informal and can be said to friends and those who are younger than you)

That's ok. Any time. Nothing really. You're welcome.

Thank you. (more informal and should be used with strangers and seniors)

My pleasure. You are welcome.

I appreciate it. (when you are thanking someone for their help or tip)

Glad I could be of help.

Thank you for the lovely gift. (after you have opened the gift)

I am really glad you like it.

I appreciate your lending me the money. (after someone has loaned you money)

You are welcome.

Practise saying thanks and responding because it shows that you have the right manners and really appreciate it when people help you out.

Tips:

1. By expressing your appreciation, you have brightened someone's day and they in turn will do it for another person.
2. When you say thank you, you also have a brighter attitude.
3. When someone compliments your shirt, don't shrug it off with, "Oh, it's rather old." The person is paying you a compliment because they want to interact with you. Your reaction should not be a snub. 
4. When someone opens the door for you, learn to thank them for it.
5. When someone in the office tells you that they have a message for you from a client, remember to thank them for it. It is their job, but then it is a job well carried out.
6. Thank your family members too as often as you can. They deserve it!

" What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. "
Ralph Marston

Position of adjectives in English

An adjective is a describing word. It generally comes before the word it describes.

Example:
1. Tom is a handsome boy.
2. There are beautiful flowers in the garden.

Sometimes however, the position of the adjective changes.

The practice has been in vogue since immemorial times. (x)
The practice has been in vogue since times immemorial. (✓)

The teacher asked us to look at seven page of the textbook. (x)
The teacher asked us to look at page seven of the textbook. (✓)

My daughter is studying in four class. (x)
My daughter is studying in class four. (✓)
My daughter is studying in the fourth class. (✓)

Tips:
1. If you have done something wrong, or hurt someone, say sorry immediately.
2. The best way of saying it is when you see the person.
3. You could send a follow up mail.
4. As you are saying sorry, make sure that you sound sorry and that your words are not hollow.
5. Wait for the other person's reaction. Let them give their version of the incident.
6. Let the person express his hurt or anger.
7. Only then give your explanation. Make a genuine effort.
8. Do not let your ego come in the way.

"Doomed are the hotheads! Unhappy are they who lose their cool and are too proud to say, ”I’m sorry.”

Sit on my head

Pran: Heh, why are you troubling me so much?
Anita: You trouble others all the time!
Pran: I know I do! But I don't sit on your head like you are doing now.
Anita: I am by no means sitting on your head!

Isn't sitting on someone's head a translation from the Indian languages? We use it to mean 'put pressure on someone and dump on them a lot of responsibilities.'
Remember that there is no such expression in English. It is Indian English!


Instead you could use expressions like:

1. I am overburdened.
2. I am under too much pressure.
3. I have too many responsibilities to take care of.

Tips:

1. Are you in the habit of biting your nails? Make sure you stop doing it.
2. If a perceptive interviewer interviews you, then she would notice it and jump to the conclusion that you are perhaps a tense person and therefore bite your nails.
3. No one wants a tense person around so it could cost you your job too!
4. The sight of watching someone bite their nails is also unseemly!
5. Watch yourself biting nails in the mirror and you will see how unseemly you may appear.
6. People will be wary of shaking their hands with you too!


"Anger kills, whether you let it all hang out or whether you keep it to yourself."

Give you my word

.

Julie: You said that you would give me the money yesterday itself.

Ralph: I am sorry. I wasn't able to. I'll give it to you tomorrow.

Julie: Do you give me your words for it?

Ralph: Yes, I give you my words.

When you promise someone something, you give them your word. You do not give them your words.

Do you give me your word that you will look after her well?

Yes, I give you my word. I won't go back on my word. (This means that you won't break your promise)

However, when you want to apologise for something that you shouldn't have said, you say: 

Sorry! I take back my words.

Tips:

When you are setting up a meeting with a client, make sure you communicate the following:

• time and date
• venue
• agenda for the meeting
• who will be coming
  
• perhaps a hint of how long the meeting will last
  
• whether lunch fits into the programme

People like to know how long they will be held up in a business meeting. So if you are specific, your client will appreciate it.

Introducing Oneself

Why is it that people find it so difficult to introduce themselves or introduce another person? Is it because they are all too casual about it or because they get nervous? Here are few samples of sentences uttered by students as they do a two minute presentation about themselves.

1. I want to introduce an important guy in my life, my professor.
Should be: I would like to talk about a person who has had a lot of influence on my life.

2. I have migrated to Chennai from Delhi after getting job here.
Should be: My job in Chennai has given me the opportunity to experience South India and I must say that I enjoy it.

3. Unfortunately I miss my friends.
Should be: I do miss my family and friends, but it is also giving me the chance of meeting new people and interacting with them.

Tips:
1. Once you have started working, you need to be professional. You cannot wear your heart on your sleeve!
2. Set aside the emotions and talk to people as a mature individual who is operating without being emotional.
3. Make a distinction between formal and informal language. Do not mix the two or you may introduce your client to someone as just another fellow or guy.
4. You may think there is nothing wrong. But when it comes to the working world, you have to start thinking about how others view things. Your opinion is not the only thing to be considered here.
5. Look around at the way other people are talking, walking, eating and even sitting.
6. You can pick up tips from people even without asking them if you are observant enough.

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."   --Robert Frost