Where Does That Word Come From?
"Instead of a handshake, I gave Toby a high-five to break the ice; and when we sat down on the front porch and started talking off the cuff, it was as if serendipity brought us together." That sentence contains several words and actions you see and hear every day. But have you ever wondered where some of our most common communication-related terms come from? Handshake
We do it every day ? sometimes 20 times a day. But how many of us actually know where the handshake originated? According to author/speaker Melvin Murphy, "The handshake has origins more anthropological than historical. Men used to carry knives, spears and rocks. And when land was scarce, males would extend their hand to show that they were not attempting to kill their neighbor." "Furthermore, the classical Greeks were under the impression that the right hands were mysteriously connected to the heart. And they may not have been very far off point. The handshake is a symbol equivalent of a promise. It becomes a virtue of the word and value of the person extending it. It is an agreement sealed with honor before the lawyers get involved. The handshake is a very valuable tool and, since in business often the communication is one-to-one, it's flexible and indicates that an agreement has been reached on current dealings. It says that all information and intentions have been disclosed so that the value of the handshake is not diminished. The lesson here is that the handshake historically has carried symbolic importance. It is good to know what your handshake is worth. It's your word and it says you can deliver on your promises." High Five
It was late in the 1977 season. Dusty Baker of the Dodgers was rounding third, heading for home, having just hit his 30th home run. The Dodgers were heading for a National League pennant! The on-deck hitter was Glenn Burke, enjoying his second season in the big leagues. As Baker crossed the plate Burke raised his hand. Baker responded by raising his. The two hands slapped together and a bit of history was made: the very first high-five. Popularized in the 80's, the high-five not only served as a cultural symbol, but was added to the dictionary as well! According to Merriam Webster, a high-five (noun or verb) is "a slapping of upraised right hands by two people, as in celebration." Break the Ice
The origination of the term break the ice dates back to old trade practices that involve, well, breaking the ice. When cargo ships became icebound for weeks at a time due to bitter, frozen winters, smaller ships were sent out to break the ice in order to make a path that would enable future trade. In other words, if you (as a boatman) wanted to get down to business - you had to break the ice. Front Porch
In the book Preserving Porches, Rene Kahn explains that front porches were first made popular by the Greeks. They used them as gathering spots for public discussions, originally called porticos. As history unfolded and the Middle Ages arrived, the porch came to represent a cathedral's vestibule where worshippers could gather to socialize before and after the service. Then, by Victorian times, the word "porch" became interchangeably used with the words "veranda," "piazza," "loggia," and "portico," each of which could connote individual meanings. From this period until the second half of the nineteenth century, the word "porch" itself most often described a small, enclosed vestibule or covered rear entrance. At this time, at the end of the nineteenth century, the word "porch" began to represent its present meaning. This meaning, in its American sense, generally refers to a "roofed, but incompletely walled living area." Honestly, I like what Bill Cosby says about front porches, "The front porch was an invention of the housewife who wanted to keep her husband far enough away to be quiet; but close enough in case she couldn't lift something heavy." Off the Cuff
According to www.idiomsite.com, although this phrase was traditionally thought to be a spontaneous statement or response (isn't amazing how he comes up with those ideas off the cuff like that...?), it actually has origins in one of two places, depending on who you listen to. One example comes from the English Pub keepers' accounting system. Bartenders of the era kept track of patron's tabs by markings made on the starched cuffs of their shirts, so that with a mere glance at their shirt cuffs the bartender could quote a price seemingly 'off the cuff.' It may also come from the alleged practice, in the 1930's, of public speakers making last-minute notes on their shirt cuffs, for use during their speeches. Serendipity
According to www.word-detective.com, the connection you've heard of between "serendipity" and Sri Lanka is true, and it's a very interesting story. Back in 1754, Horace Walpole, fourth Earl of Orford, wrote a letter to his friend, Horace Mann. In this letter, Horace W. undertook to explain to Horace M. the derivation of a new word he had invented, "serendipity": I once read a silly fairy tale, called 'The Three Princes of Serendip'; as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of. By 'serendipity,' Walpole meant 'the gift of making lucky discoveries, of finding valuable things one is not looking for,' and the word entered English in that sense. Curiously, however, 'serendipity' was rarely used in literature until the 20th century, and today is more often employed to mean the lucky find or happenstance itself, as in 'A parking meter with time left on it when one is broke is serendipity.'" So, next time someone mentions one of these words; shakes your hand or gives you a high five; tell him the history behind it! It's a great conversation starter and surefire way to spice up the encounter. © 2005 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Networking for Wallflowers: How to Profit from Getting into the Crowd
The two most common complaints about networking are: 1) I never meet people I can do business with and 2) I am always so uncomfortable going to networking events. These two complaints are related and can be relieved with a three step approach to networking that helps even the most frustrated networking wallflowers.
Network Your Way to Success, and Remember: Its Not About You!
Quote of the week
10 Top Tips for Successful Networking
1. Recognise the importance of networking
How to Make the Most of Those First 30 Seconds
Did you just meet the most important person in your career/business? Tongue tied and not sure what to do about it? With advance planning and creative thinking you can be confident you will know how to handle this situation should the opportunity present itself.
Discover Your Own Source Of Business Leads
Generating new business leads is critical in your success, no matter what business you're in. Being aware of certain principals can help you increase your business leads list and generate an explosion of sales.
The Anatomy of a Brain Cramp; The Retainer and the Lavalava - Communication
In life, you have to successfully work with people to get anywhere. You can't avoid it.
How to Announce a New Product
How can the introduction of new products affect the way I network at meetings?
Youve Got Personality, Use It!
For the self employed professional, nothing is more important than the image you project to your clients and potential clients. Napoleon Hill put it best when he said, "People buy your personality and ideas long before they buy your products and services."
How to Collect Business Cards
Why the business card grab is not why you are there?
So how do you obtain the card and show interest that gains confidence?
Strategic Networking: Take the Shortest Path to Success
Do you use Ryze or LinkedIn to promote your web based business? If so, you may have noticed that everything is linked to everything else. Here's how to take the shortest path to networking success: use keywords and a targeted linking strategy.
Sell For Yourself Or Sell For Your Boss?
First of all I would like to start this article by saying no matter what job you are in now, no matter what product you are selling, you will NEVER NEVER get the just reward that you are were entitled too when you made all those sales for your boss. Fact of Life. Your job is to make your boss wealthy, period.
10 Effective Ways to Remember Names
Sigmund Freud says "a person's name is the single context of human memory most apt to be forgotten." Feelings of embarrassment and social ineptitude are conveyed through this forgetfulness, and unfortunately, the problem persists daily. The ability to remember names is an important skill that gives you an advantage in social and business settings. However, the way you associate and remember names is based on your learning style and personality type.
How to Keep from Sounding LIKE Totally Stupid
June is reality check month. Lots of the resolutions have been made and most are already broken. It's time to take a hard look at where you are going in 05 and beyond. One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to update all your personal credentials including your bio & your resume.
It Pays to be Friendly
Most small business people do not take advantage of human relationship issues. They do not understand that being nice and friendly, out going and enthusiastic pays high dividends. When you are out and about in public you should always wear a smile, wave, honk and have a positive displacement. Such a public image makes people wish to do business with you, it is a good thing.
Unforgettable First Impressions Part 1: Discover the CPI
People like others whom they are like. So if you want to make a flawless first impression, it is your duty to discover what you have in common with every person you talk to.
Are You Sitting With The Right Company?
When I walked into Dallas's famous Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, all I wanted to do was to enjoy my New York Strip steak, relax and quietly review my notes for the following day's speech. Little did I know that a valuable business lesson awaited me at the table.
Test Your Networking Know-How
Let's test your knowledge on networking:
Talk Isnt Cheap
The most successful organizations have good communication skills. Survey after survey bears this out. Poor communication skills are often cited in employee surveys as a reason for poor morale and performance.
Networking Know-how
Successful networking requires the understanding from the get-go that it is
about what we can do for each other. Networking requires time, patience, and
a commitment to helping others. Honest networking is not just meeting as
many people as you can with the intent of citing a "mini-commercial" about
what you need. No room for selfishness here; networking requires showing an
interest in others that will help build credibility and trust -- establishing a real
relationship.
Creating Successful Alliances and Partnerships through Networking
Douglas Wilder, former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the first elected Black Governor in the United States gave me advice that I will never forget. He said, "From this point on, when you walk into a room, walk in that room like you own it, when you talk with people remember to stand on your principles, keep your word, and people will want to associate with you." His advice became synonymous with my career and everyday living.
|
