A question about Korea.

[Ragnar]

Any one know if the Koreans follow the same practice of bowing to each other as the Japanese?

I Have a few new Korean friends, and do not want to "insult" them.

Thanks people.

[Hytegia]

I think its to shake hands and bow the head. Not the tipical full-waist bend you'd expect from the Japanese.

Or, you could play the "Moron American/Europian/etc" card and just shake hands.

[Dark Waters]

It has been a long time since I was in Korea, but a short nodding bow and firm handshake sounds about right. Korea is more like China than like Japan anyway.

The best way is to observe how they greet each other or other people and copy to suit. It also depends how Europianized they have become and if they have adapted more to your customs.

The one custom I've noted with them that tends to carry on for a long time is that when they hand you something like a card, or change, is that they put their off-hand near the wrist of the hand they are handing you something with. It is a formalized guesture dating back to when their outfits had long sleeves. The guesture would pull the sleeve out of the way.

[Ragnar]

Great. Thanks.

Since I could walk I was taught to shake hands with a short, sharp bow of the head and to bring the heels together in a click.

So I presume if I just keep doing that then it should be about right.

[Willow]

Yeah, I think unless you are greeting dignitaries on their turf, your usual greeting is probably fine.

[Ragnar]

I think the "HEIL!" from my Great Uncle MAY be a mistake though.

Must admit. Never met him, but my Grandfathers Brother was hung at Dachau as part of the "Nürnberg process" against the "Einzatzgruppe in Russia. (Kiew).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einsatzgruppen

NOT a nice fellow.

[Willow]

You know, I was going to add a disclaimer but then I thought...no, no one will read into it.

Heil is probably a bad choice, unless you can pull a side show Bob "No one who speaks German can be evil."

[davisherm]

"Niemand war hier. Alle sie waren auf Ferien!"

That's my bad excuse for German. Does that make me only partially not evil?

[Willow]

I have no idea, as far as I know, you just ordered French fries.


I like those though so no...you are not evil.

[davisherm]

Kellner, möchte ich einige gebratene Kartoffeln gefalle.

Now, I've asked for french fries. Before I was telling you that nobody was there - they were all on vacation!

[Ragnar]

Kellner, möchte ich einige gebratene Kartoffeln gefalle.

Now, I've asked for french fries. Before I was telling you that nobody was there - they were all on vacation!

Hmm.

"Kellner, ein Paar gebratenen Kartoffel würden mir gern gefallen." In Berlin the answer would PROBABLY be "Na..GUT für dich". ("Good for YOU". It is called "Berlin Schnauze", A bit like you may expect from a New York bar owner on a St Patrick's day evening when the bar is even beyond "standing room only". Only here it comes NATRALY. )

But why not just say "Ich möchte Bratkartoffeln haben, bitte". ?

Hmm WHAT has this all with Korea to do?



Moment, now lets try this using ENGLISH grammar shall we?

WHAT has it to do with Korea?

Strange how easy it is to forget your "Mother tongue".

[Willow]

Raganr, are you asking how we got off topic? I have no idea.

Language is slippery, if you dont' use it, you generally lose it.

[davisherm]

Kellner, möchte ich einige gebratene Kartoffeln gefalle.

Now, I've asked for french fries. Before I was telling you that nobody was there - they were all on vacation!

Hmm.

"Kellner, ein Paar gebratenen Kartoffel würden mir gern gefallen." In Berlin the answer would PROBABLY be "Na..GUT für dich". ("Good for YOU". It is called "Berlin Schnauze", A bit like you may expect from a New York bar owner on a St Patrick's day evening when the bar is even beyond "standing room only". Only here it comes NATRALY. )

But why not just say "Ich möchte Bratkartoffeln haben, bitte". ?

Hmm WHAT has this all with Korea to do?



Moment, now lets try this using ENGLISH grammar shall we?

WHAT has it to do with Korea?

Strange how easy it is to forget your "Mother tongue".

It has everything to do with Korea - if the Koreans are looking to order French Fries while in Germany, that is.

[Ragnar]

There is actualy a larger Korean "ex pat" community in Berlin than British! AND much more law abiding too.

[davisherm]

There is actually a larger Korean "ex pat" community in Berlin than British! AND much more law abiding too.

Something tells me that's because they're not shooting off cannons and then loudly discussing how things went bang over a few dozen tankards. Which means somebody needs to teach them.