When you are introducted to someone, you do a lot of English that has nothing to do with grammar or vocabulary. This is a type of English that English people use all the time without noticing it, and you do the same thing in your language. In English we call this "reading between the lines". In advanced English it is not enough to understand what people say. You must understand what they mean. If you are still not sure about what I want to say, read on ...
In a perfect world everyone would be equal, own a non-polluting super sports car, and speak beautiful English. Well, there are no non-polluting super sports cars, and everyone is not equal. (But maybe we can get you to speak beautiful English!) Because people are not equal, we speak to them in different ways. If you speak to your headmaster or your boss in the same way that you speak to your family or friends, you may find yourself looking for another job or another school. This is because we speak to people using different registers.
Look at these examples
"Hello Pete! How are you today?" "I'm very well, thank you, Mr Crisholm. And yourself?" (Pete is subordinate to Mr Crisholm)
"Excuse me, have you got the time?" "There is a clock, sir, on the wall behind you." (The second speaker deals with the public for his job.)
"Hey, What's the time?" "Look at that clock there, you idiot." (The two speakers know eachother very well.)
Did you notice that the replies in the last two examples mean exactly the same thing? The man who uses "sir" is calling the person asking the question an idiot, but using a higher register.
There are three registers in English: the Formal, the General/Neutral and the informal. These registers are used in making introductions, and there is another type of introduction as well, the impersonal. Introductions do more than tell you the name of the person you are meeting. The use of register can also tell you the status of the person you are meeting, and their relationship with the person making the introduction. Let's look at some examples.
The first speaker is in blue, the person replying is in red.
Doctor Jones, may I present Professor Smith? Professor Smith. It is an honour to meet you. This is a very formal occasion, and the language is very polite. Doctor Jones' tone of voice will tell Professor Smith exactly how honoured Dr Jones says she feels.
Jane, have you met Professor Smith? Professor Smith, this is Doctor Jones. I'm very pleased to meet you Professor Smith. The person doing the introduction knows Jane Jones well, but shows that the introduction is not a social one.
Do you know Professor Smith? We haven't met. How do you do, Professor? I'm Jane. Jane uses the honorific "Professor", and gives only her first name. This signifies that the relationship is not equal. Jane is considerably more or less important than Professor Smith. You can tell which because in this situation the more important person usually puts out their hand first.
Excuse me, Doctor, but may I present Professor Smith? Professor Smith? I've heard a lot about you. I'm Jane Jones. Jane is the most important person of the three.
Notice that when the introducer does not give your name, you should do so. The form of name you use tells the person you are being introduced to if you think you are more important, less important, friendly, or meeting for business. Notice also that if the introducer does not give your name, it may be because they do not want to make that choice for you.
These are usually given for information, and the reason for the introduction usually follows at once. It is not necessary to respond with your own name. If your name is needed, the other person will ask your for it. For example: "My name is Detective Constable Plod, and I am arresting you for..." "I am Bill Smith, I have an appointment at ten o'clock." "My name is Nurse Morgan, and I am here to take your temperature." "This is Eric Richeigh, and I am your captain on this flight." "Hi, I'm Sally, your tour guide."
We use these introductions when meeting people we feel are on the same level as ourselves. For example if you have started a new job, and you are meeting the people you will work with Some examples:
Bob, this is Jane Jones. Jane Jones, Bob Thompson. Hello Jane, It's nice to meet you. Notice that the introducer shows the two are on the same level by introducing each one to the other, Jane to Bob, and Bob to Jane.
This is Jane Jones. She works in the Accounts Department. Hi Jane. I'm Bob Thompson, from Sales. The introduction is for business. Bob uses an informal register to be friendly, but gives his second name to show that their relationship is a business one.
This is Rachel Roberts. She lives next door. Oh, hello Rachel. I'm Jane. Jane Jones. How do you do? Here the person replying gives her first name to be friendly, and the complete name in case the other person needs it. Or the last name to show the relationship is business, and the first name to be complete. This last form includes the famous introduction. "The name's Bond. James Bond."
These are casual introductions normally used when you meet people in an informal setting. However, some people want to show how friendly and relaxed they are, so they use this where you might expect a more formal register. Some examples:
Jane, do you know Bob? He's a friend of mine. Hi Bob. How are you? People generally give their relationship to the person they are introducing. This can avoid a lot of problems later ... Jane, this is my brother Peter Jane, this is Peter, my boyfriend.
Everyone, this is Jane. Jane - Terri, Paul, Harry, Sal, and Kath. Jane:Hi there! Hi, pleased to meet you. After the general introduction, Jane will usually present herself to the group. She is not expected to know all the names immediately!
Bill, this is Janeska. She's from Poland. Oh, really? Pleased to meet you Janeska. Here the introducer is presenting the two with a topic of conversation, perhaps because he now wants to leave the two to talk together.
Except with impersonal introductions (see above) English people prefer to be introduced by someone they know. This gives the other person some idea of who they are meeting. You are happier with an introduction from someone you know and trust than with an introduction from someone you do not really like. However, at some occasions, like parties, it is possible to introduce yourself. Some examples:
Excuse me, may I introduce myself? I'm Jane Jones. Formal I don't think we've met. My name is Jane Jones. Neutral/General Hi, I'm Jane, from next door. Informal
When introducing yourself, it is important to say why you want to speak to the other person, and to give extra information about yourself, so the other person knows who they are dealing with. For example: Hello. I am Dr Jane Jones. Yes. So?
Hello. I am Dr Jane Jones, your new boss. Oh, yes. Good afternoon doctor. I am Peter, from Sales. How do you do?
The responses to self-introductions are the same as the things you would say to a person being introduced to you.
This is a special sub-set of self-introductions. They are used by males who want to get to know women, and the other way around. This is sometimes done at parties, bars, and discos. Only the brave and adventurous should use them, and at their own risk. Some classic examples:
What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? Are you a Scorpio? You look like a Scorpio, moody and mysterious. Hello. Haven't I met you somewhere before? And that old favourite - Hello. can I buy you a drink?
There is an old rule that one should never discuss religion, sex, money or politics with strangers. Among English men you may also want to exclude football, since many Englishmen have strong and irrational feelings on that subject too. This leaves what is called "small talk". Safe topics include the weather (yes, the weather. If you live in a country that can have three seasons in one morning, the weather is quite exciting.) You can talk about your job, transport and the traffic, or your own country. If the person who introduced you is not still around, you can talk about that person!
Remember, the purpose of small talk is not to discover the state of the traffic on the M5 motorway, or to find the precise state of the weather in Tuscany last summer. The point is that you and your new acquaintance are sniffing eachother, like dogs when they first meet. The result of your conversation can lead to that person being stored in your head as 1. Forget him/her. 2. How can Jane know such an idiot! 3. A pleasant/useful person to know. 4. I hope I meet him/her again sometime. 5. What's their telephone number? Quick!
An example conversation:
Hello. Aren't you Jane Jones? I think I have seen you with Bob Thompson some times. er..Hello, yes, I'm Jane Jones. I'm Mike Wilson. I'm also in Sales, but at Widget Appliances. Oh, I see, have you known Bob long? Oh, yes. About five years. We play tennis together. Do you play tennis? I do too. But I didn't know Bob played. Where do you play? Ashford Club. Maybe you would like to join us for a game one day. Are you a friend of Bob's? And off you go .....
Ok, now it's time to go on. Student, these are your exercises. Exercises, meet student. I think you will like eachother...
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Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Nouns
Countries and nationalities
