Savoir vivre 2105-RP-L-D2SV
Students will participate in discussing the following topics:
1. Definition and history of savoir vivre. Politeness as a game – strategies of Polish politeness. Politeness vs. honesty.
2. Ways of addressing a partner in an interaction. Referring to someone as ”you”, ”Sir./ Mr.”, ”Madam”; attempts at creating intermediary forms (ex.: ”Mr. Wojtek”, ”Mr. Senator”). Comparison with forms established in other cultures.
3. Title use – in higher education institutions, regional and state administration, church, military, legal and medical professions. Forms used in speech and writing, and also in ceremonial, official as well as unofficial situations.
4. Social savoir-vivre vs. business etiquette. Introducing oneself and introducing somebody to another person. Proper ways of shaking hands. Eye contact. Body language.
5. Business outfits of men and women. Dress code.
6. Official documents, traditional letters, holiday cards – external features, linguistic forms typical of official and colloquial style.
7. E-mail savoir-vivre. Business and private e-mails.
8. Use of a business phone (two phones) and business cards. Desk arrangement. Professional blunders.
9. The so called ritual brackets – greeting and farewell formulas, speech acts comprising these formulas.
10. Apologies. Types of apology in official and informal occasions. Other functions of the expression „I apologize”.
11. Past and present functions of toasts. Official, wedding and social toasts. Types of alcohol and glasses. Table culture.
12. Role of politeness in European and American manners of politeness. Extraordinary forms of politeness as perceived by Poles on the basis of examples from Middle and Far East countries.
13. Non verbal manners of politeness in public places. Examples of extremely flagrant behavior.
14. Politeness of a generation of young Poles. Searching for consensus with middle and older generations.
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Students are familiar with the concept of savoir-vivre, know Polish norms of politeness and can compare them with those of other cultures. In addition, students can identify improper behavior and know politeness functions of Polish linguistic expressions.
Students can develop frameworks of polite communication in speech and writing. They can create positive images of themselves for professional and private purposes.
In general – students have communicative (cultural) competence.
Assessment criteria
Students are expected to read assigned materials. During the class they provide a summary of the readings and participate in discussions on the subject matter.
The assessment is determined by the above requirements as well as by attendance and active participation in discussions about polite manners of contemporary Poles (students improve their observation skills).
Students take exams set in advance in order to evaluate their skills with respect to writing letters and e-mails as well as addressing properly a communication partner etc. .
On the last class students take a test covering the knowledge and skills acquired during the course and checking their acquaintance with the reading material.
Bibliography
Obligatory bibliography
1. M. Marcjanik, "Grzeczność w komunikacji językowej", Warszawa 2007
2. E. Sawicka, "Savoir-vivre. Podręcznik dobrych manier", Bielsko-Biała 2011
3. I. Kamińska-Radomska, "Etykieta biznesu, czyli międzynarodowy język kurtuazji", Warszawa 2003, chapter I.
Recommended bibliography
1. "Grzeczność nasza i obca", ed. by M. Marcjanik, Warszawa 2005
2. "Grzeczność na krańcach świata", ed. by M. Marcjanik, Warszawa 2007
3. M. Marcjanik, "Mówimy uprzejmie. Poradnik językowego savoir-vivre'u", Warszawa 2012
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: