2.GREETINGS, PRECLOSINGS, AND CLOSINGS Greetings

Greetings in all languages have the same purpose: to establish contact with another person, recognize his or her existence, ad to show friendliness. The formulas for greeting are very specific and usually do not carry any literal meaning. People say “Good Morning” even if it is a miserable day and may replay to “How are you” with “Fine, thanks,” even if they aren’t feeling well.
The greeting is always returned, often in the same form but with different stress.

A: How are you?
B: Fine, thanks, how are you?
Or
A: How are you?
B: Fine, thanks, and you?
A: Fine (Thanks.)

People who are together everyday greet one another the first time they meet each day. They do not shake hands.
When people have not seen each other for a long time, the greeting is often enthusiastic and is usually accompanied by shaking hands among/men, hugging among both men and women, and sometimes a kiss on the check among women.

Preclosings and closings

Usually people do not suddenly quit talking, say good-bye, and leave each other abruptly; ending a conversation normally takes some time. This involves two kinds of interactions: preclosings and closings. Preclosings are phases that signal the end of a conversation; closings are phrases that explicitly end the conversation.
There are some people with whom it is difficult to end a conversation. The problem is that they usually ignore the signals that end the conversation. With close friends this does not usually cause any severe difficulties; but with people we do not know well or with people in superior positions, it is considered rode to ignore preclosings. If someone ignores your first preclosings, you can use a stronger one (see phrases section).
In formal situation, the superior (in age , status, etc.) usually signals the end of a conversation. On the telephone the caller usually preclosings often include thanking a person for something or making an excuse or apology.
Closings, like greetings, are commonly used exchanges with no literal meaning. People who are together every day say good-bye at the end of the day or week (and wish each other a nice weekend).
When a leaving party, guests always find the host or hostess to say thank you and good-bye. People who are leaving each other permanently or for a long time shake hands or embrace , depending on the relationship. If you are in an unfamiliar situation and wonder what to do, watch other people or ask.





PHRASES

More
Formal
GREETINGS RESPONSES
Good morning Good morning.
Good afternoon Good afternoon.
Good evening Good evening.
How nice to see you! Yes, it’s been quite a while.
What a pleasant surprise!
Hello, Robert Hello Kathryn.
How are you? Fine, thanks. And you?
Hi, Bob Hi, Kathy.
How’ve you been? Pretty good.
What’s happening? Not much.
What’s new? Nothing.
How are you doing? OK
Less formal
How you doing? Not bad.
Long time, no see Yeah!

PRECLOSINGS RESPONSES
More formal
Well, I’m afraid I have to be going. Thank you for coming.
(I’ve got to be early tomorrow)
It’s been a pleasure. Yes, I’ve enjoyed it.
Thank you for the advice.
I really must go now. (Stronger)
It was nice to see you. (Past tenses) It was good to see you.
Well, it’s getting late. Maybe we can talk again.
I know you are busy.
Nice to see you again. Nice to see you.
Thanks for coming. It was fun.
Maybe we could get together Sounds good.
Sometime.
Great seeing you. Same here.
I’ve really got to go. Ok, see you.
Less formal
Got to go now. See you again.


CLOSINGS RESPONSES
More formal until the next time. Good-bye
Good night, Bill. Good night, Jean.
Good-bye, Harry. Good-bye Lisa.
Have a nice (weekend). You, too.
Talk to you later. Bye. Take it easy.
See you later. So long. Take care

1.Opening and closing conversation Opening a conversation and bringing a conversation to an end are essential parts of our everyday language. You alre

SPEAKING


DIALOGUE A.

Mike : Say, Grace, how you doing?
Grace : Mike! Hey, how are you?
Mike : Not bad. Where you doing?
Grace : Over to Jerry’s. How about you?
Mike : Oh, I just got off work. Boy, I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!
Grace : Where are you working now?
Mike : J & L Steel. It’s a real pain. But I guess I shouldn’t complain. Lot’s of guys are out of work these days.
Grace : Yeah, that’s the truth. Well, I better let you go get some supper.
Mike : Yeah. It was great seeing you again. Maybe we could get together sometime.
Grace : Sounds good. I’ll be seeing you.
Mike : Thanks. Bye.
Grace : Bye.

Note:
Get of work : finish working for the day
Out of work : unemployed
*Usage note : How (are) you doing?, Where (are) you going?, I (had) better, (it) sounds good are all examples of informal speech in which words are dropped.


DIALOGUE B.

Jack : Oh, my gosh, that’s Susie Johnson!
Mike : What?
Jack : Over by the bananas. Come on, let’s go say hello. t(They go over o Susie.) Hey, Susie!
Susie : What?....Jack?!
Jack : Hey, how are you? Gee, we haven’t seen each other in…it must be close to three years!
Susie : Well, how have you been?
Jack : OK
Susie : Still working at Lamstons?
Jack : Let’s not go into that. Oh, Susie, this is Mike, one of my buddies at work.
Susie : Hi, Mike.
Mike : Hi, how are you?
Jack : Gee, we ought to go somewhere to talk. How about Peter’s Pub?
Susie : Sounds good. Just give me a minute to pick up a few things for dinner tonight.
Jack : OK. See you at the checkout stand.

Oh my gosh: an expression that shows surprise
Gee: an expression that shows surprise (see unit 6)
Buddy: good friend
Check out stand: cahier, where you pay for what you buy

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