Health history interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health history interview - Essay Example The patient mentioned that he felt relief when he wears warm clothes and drinks warm water. The coughing was worst when he had to do heavy work or walk for a long distance. Kevin was disturbed by the fact that the drugs he had taken for the last one week had not caused substantial relief to his health. Kevin had a severe case of measles at the age of three. He was hospitalized for three days. He received an immunization for pneumonia six months before coming to hospital. Kevin had been diagnosed with HIV a year before and he has been on a daily dose of ARVs. The patient was in the hospital for a CD4 count on 3 Jan 2012. He was on a high vitamin diet to boot his immunity (Reeders, 2001). The mother suffered from varicose veins at the age of sixty-five. There is no history of diabetes, heart problems or tuberculosis. The skin of Kevin was moist, flexible and pink with some skin rashes near the elbow of the left arm. He bears a scar on the knee of the left leg from a fall he had when he was ten years old. The nails of the two toes on the right foot have clubbing. His hair is black and clean. It does not have scales or lice. The cornea is white and clear with no patches. The ears did not have any discharge or tenderness. The nose and sinuses do not have swellings or tenderness. The lips had cracks and there were small white wounds on the lower lip (Irwin, 2003). The lower and upper parts of the mouth were pink and it was not dry. The neck has tender lymph nodes and the lungs have fluid around them (Jamison, 2006). Kevin had a regular heart rate of 69/min. and his sexual health was normal. Kevin was full of confidence and had high expectations that the tuberculosis would be cured. He stopped his morning jog and has not done it for two weeks because he says that it worsens the cough. He sleeps more often because he is more tired than normal. He also said that he felt better after a good rest. He was

Communication and Its Importance in Creating Conflict Essay Example for Free

Communication and Its Importance in Creating Conflict Essay Conflict is essential in all works of fiction, whether it might a simple disagreement in a marriage or internally trying to deal with guilt. The real life situations of Interpreter of Maladies connect the problems with communication with conflict that will arise. In Interpreter of Maladies, communication problems in the short stories â€Å"A Temporary Matter†, â€Å"This Blessed House†, and â€Å"Interpreter of Maladies† resulted in conflict. In â€Å"A Temporary Matter†, the conflict in was the game that Shoba and Shukamar played, referring to the revealing one truth about oneself when there were not any lights, and the game where they were hiding from each other, hoping to avoid awkward encounters. This was an internal conflict from Shukumar’s perspective because Shukumar was thinking of how to play his next move in order to effectively restore the relationship. †Now he had to struggle to say something that interested he, something that made her look up from her plate, or from proofreading files.† Shukumar thought the purpose of the game where the couple would share previously unknown facts was that it would restore their relationship. Shukumar thought the game was used in order to reconcile and reform the marriage. But he was gravely mistaken. Shoba used this game to tell him that she was moving out. â€Å"It sickened Shukumar, knowing that she had spent these past evening s preparing for a life without him.† (21). The internal conflict in Shukumar was a result of miscommunication on Shoba’s part. She rarely communicated her thoughts and feelings after the stillbirth, and Shukumar took this as a sign to not talk. This resulted in their relationship slowing fading, and finally to the point of avoidance. In â€Å"This Blessed House† Sanjeev and Twinkle had many fights throughout the story because of the Christian artifacts that were laid throughout the house. Sanjeev believed it was impractical, since both he and Twinkle were not Christian. When he kept on insisting on eradicating the religious objects, Twinkle insisted on keeping them. While Sanjeev had a practical and logical reason of why, he never effectively compromised with Twinkle, and kept on believing that he was right. And without the proper compromise and communication, it resulted in Sanjeev not understanding Twinkle’s emotions. He was quite surprised when he saw Twinkle cry in the bath. â€Å"Oh God, please, Twinkle, I didn’t mean it.† But Finally in the end, they reached a compromise and managed to continue on to the party. But the conflict arose because of Sanjeev’s inconsideration and not communicating his thoughts along with listening to Twinkle’s approach. â€Å"In the end they settled on a compromise: the statue would be placed in a recess at the side of the house, so that it wasn’t obvious to passerby, but was still clearly visible to all who came.† Even though they come to a compromise, it was after Sanjeev made Twinkle cry, which is a poor example of effective communication. In â€Å"Interpreter of Maladies†, Mr. Karpasi was under a delusion that Mrs. Das was interested in him. The conflict was Mr. Karpasi’s internal struggle interpreting Mrs. Das’s actions and determining whether she liked him or not. â€Å"As he stole glances in the rear view mirror, wrapping elastic bands around Tina’s hair, he wondered how he might make this tour a little longer.† He stated that he was an interpreter in the story. Mrs. Das inferred that he was some sort of psychologist or therapist that would cure her of her guilt that she had been holding in. However she was mistaken, Mr Karpasi essentially was a translator for a doctor. â€Å"†¦But many people do not speak Gujarati in this area, including the doctor. And so the doctor asked me to work in his office interpreting what the patients say.† He did not process any knowledge in the field of which Mrs. Das was interested in. When Mrs. Das was asked by Mr. Karpasi about why she told him about the illegitimate child, Mrs. Das said, â€Å"Well don’t you have anything to say? I thought that it as your job.† Mr. Karpasi responded with, â€Å"My job is to give tours, Mrs. Das.† Mrs. Das continued with, â€Å"Not that. Your other job. As an interpreter.† Mrs. Karpasi answered with, â€Å"But we do not face a language barrier. What need is there for an interpreter?† Mrs. Das completely misunderstood Mr. Karpasi in what he meant as an interpreter. She was only interested in Mr. Karpasi because she believed that Mr. Karpasi would cure of her guilt. On the contrary, Mr. Karpasi thought that Mrs. Das was interested in him in an attracting fashion. In Interpreter of Maladies, communication problems in the short stories â€Å"A Temporary Matter†, â€Å"This Blessed House†, and â€Å"Interpreter of Maladies† resulted in conflict. In â€Å"A Temporary Matter†, Shoba gave Shukumar the impression that she was trying to reform their marriage when her true purpose was to end it. She also is responsible for their avoidance with each other. In â€Å"This Blessed House†, Sanjeev was oblivious to Twinkle’s connections to the Mary statue, and kept on pressing his belief. This resulted in a fight in which Sanjeev finally realized his misdemeanor. In â€Å"Interpreter of Maladies†, Mr. Karpasi miscommunicated what his job was, which then resulted Mrs. Das giving him a problem that he could not solve. Mrs. Das regarded Mr. Karpasi with interest because she believed that Mr. Karpasi can help her. However this resulted in her humiliation when she told Mr. Karpasi her biggest secret that she believed he could resolve. Communication is essential to the everyday life of humans. A small mistake in communication can destroy a relationship or start an unwanted situation. It is essential that people would communicate in order to create a more stable relationship.

Technological Development In Sport Competition Sport Essay

Technological Development In Sport Competition Sport Essay Technological development is becoming more and more essential in sport competition. Technological development refers to the development of techniques or appliance which can improve the quality and magnificence of the sport competitions. However, there could be some difference between different countries; it may depend on the level of the countries development. There are three main aspects revealing that technological development has revolutionized sport competitions. Firstly, the development of telecommunications promotes the globalization of sport competition. Secondly, the use of electronic appliance helps to reduce controversy and ensure the fairness of the results in the competition, such as auto-timing system. Moreover, the improvement sport equipments and analyzing system has become necessary for enhancing the performance of athletes. One of the most dramatic revolutions in sport completion is caused by the developments in new technologies of mass communication, especially the development of Internet and satellite television, which are allowing the sport competitions to be publicized around the world much more quickly. As an example, mega-events such as the Olympic Games can be regarded as a media-events (D. Rowe, 2004, 166). According to Roche, the 1936 Berlin Olympics was the first Olympic Games to be radio broadcast to the world; and it was also the first major sport event to be televised, although it was only available in the city of Berlin at that time due to the limited local cable system. Nowadays, the universality of the Internet and television are most effective to the globalization of the sports competition, however, turning the sport competition into global event. Referring to the television, Horne and Manzenreiter indicate that the estimation of 3.9 billion television audiences had watched parts of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and 40 billion which are cumulative television audiences, contributing to a increase of 27% over the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Moreover, Horne and Manzenreiter also indicate the   2002 FIFA World Cup staged in Japan and South Korea, 41000 hours of programming were provided in 213 countries and about 28.8 television audiences of this event, even more than that in Olympic Games. From this situation, there is no doubt that the development of telecommunication provides a much larger stage for the sport competitions, and makes the sport competition become a global history. In the sport competitions, the quality of the athletes is the most important factor in determining their performance. Analysing the movements of athletes could be the effective method to increase the possibilities of championship in the sport competitions; for instance, analyzing the movement or posture of an ice-skate athlete could help the athlete to maximize the speed and overcome the shortcomings. However, the details of the movements cannot be easily seen because the unassisted eye functions at the speed of 1/340th of a second exposure time; fortunately, the

Simon Armitages Book of Matches Essay -- Simon Armitage Poems Poetry

Simon Armitage's Book of Matches Explore Armitage`s presentation of his relationship with his parents in the poems: Mother, any distance and My father thought Simon Armitage`s two poems are from a collection called Book of Matches Explore Armitage`s presentation of his relationship with his parents in the poems: â€Å"Mother, any distance† and â€Å"My father thought† Simon Armitage`s two poems are from a collection called â€Å"Book of Matches†, this is based on a party game where you have to talk about your life, in the space of time it takes for the match to burn out (hence the name). You start with facts and then go on to feelings .The moments that Simon Armitage has chosen are defined moments with his parents, he has wrote about his relationship with each of his parents and has used poetic descriptions of times with each of his parents. In the poem: â€Å"Mother, any distance†, Simon Armitage starts by describing how important his mother was to him. The first word he uses is â€Å"Mother† and he is addressing her in second person narrative and as if he was talking directly to her. After, follows â€Å"any distance greater than a single span requires a second pair of hands†, it has 2 meanings and the phrase is a metaphor, one being measuring and needing help doing it but there is a second meaning in it that measuring is going through life and needing help going through life when you can’t do it yourself. â€Å"Requires a second pair of hands† is saying that he has needed his mother lots to help him. â€Å"You† is direct address and in the second person narrative like before, backing up the fact as if he were talking to her directly and personally and the poem is a tribute to his mother. â€Å"You come to help me measure windows, pelmets,... ...e a turning point as he grows out of rebellious, casual teenage rand is turning into his father. The differences between the fathers` relationship with the son and the mothers` relationship with the son is the fathers` relationship is an old fashioned relationship where the father doesn’t show any affection to the son and criticises him and doesn’t really help him but mentally scared as this is a defined moment with his father so there mustn’t be any loving moments with his father. But with his mother, he shares a much more showing affection relationship whether his mother has helped him through his life when he needed help and she brought him into the world and in the end there is an atmosphere where no-one wants to let go without hurting the other but this is not the case with the father as nobody cares about hurting each other in this relationship.

Issues with Social Development in Adults

In my research on issues of social development in adults, I found change and consistency in social participation plays a key role in early adulthood. I felt the need to choose and touch on this topic because I have the tendency to be a social butterfly and I also lost a dear friend that committed suicide from social isolation. I chose this article because after reading it I felt as if the information was solid and backed up with surveys and facts. I also felt as if the topic was thoroughly examined and the article gave a lot of helpful information about this particular issue with social development in adults. Social interactions and activities play a key role in the physical health and well being in adulthood. It is healthy and fun to be around friends, loved ones, and even relationship partners. Making plans, going out, and being social gives one the since of self worth. Further more, the lack of desire and absence of social contact and participation can cause one, such as in the incident of my friend, to become depressed, self-isolated, and have suicidal thoughts and/or even commit suicide. In the event that I would need to write a research paper on this topic, I would use this article. I would use the article because it has a lot of information about the topic and has many different details and survey information. This would all help my research and provide me with information to include in my paper. The authors, Harry Reis and Yi-Cheng Lin, research was to determine if age-related changes in social relationships and to see if interaction patterns would stay the same from college years to adult- hood. They researched a variety of different things like opposite-sex socializing, intimacy and satisfaction in adulthood, and implications for social development during early adulthood.

How to Remember Dates for a Test - Memorization

How to Remember Dates for a Test - Memorization Dates are often difficult to remember because they seem so random and obscure unless we can relate them to something specific. For instance, the  American Civil War  started in 1861, but unless you have a strong interest in the specific timeline of the war, there is nothing special about the starting date that separates that date from any other. What makes 1861 stand apart from 1863 or 1851? Sometimes it can be as simple as leaving off the first two digits. If you are studying a particular time period, you already know what century in which the events take place. Even though it might not seem like it, breaking it down to just two numbers can make memorization much easier. You can associate those numbers with something like the number of a favorite athlete. If that doesn’t work, there are a few other tricks. When trying to memorize a date, students can really benefit from a  mnemonic system  (memory technique) to help them recall the right numbers in the right order. For memorizing dates it might be helpful to borrow a practice from the London Cockneys. A Cockney is an inhabitant of the East End of London, England. Cockneys have an old tradition of using  rhyming slang  as a secret language, of sorts. The tradition originated centuries ago, and it was used by Londons thieves, traders, entertainers, and other members from the lower strata of society. In Cockney slang, Can you believe it?  becomes  Can you Adam and Eve it? More examples: Whistle and flute suitWhite mice iceTom Hanks thanksTrouble and strife wife Remembering Dates We can use the same method to remember dates. Simply think of a term that rhymes with your date. Make sure your rhyme is a little silly and that it paints a strong picture in your head. You can leave off the century, so that 1861, the starting date for the Civil War, becomes 61. Example: 61 Sticky gun Imagine a Civil War soldier struggling with a gun that has been covered with honey. It may sound silly, but it works! More Examples: 1773 was the date of the Boston Tea Party. To remember this, you could think: 73 Heavenly tea You can just picture protesters sipping lovely cups of tea right before tossing them in the water. 1783 marks the end of the Revolutionary War. 83 Ladies bee For this image, think of several women sitting on a quilt and celebrating by stitching a red, white and blue quilt. The most important element of this method is to come up with a great, amusing image. The funnier it is, the more memorable it will be. If possible, come up with a little story to connect all your mental images. If you have trouble coming up with a rhyme or have a lot of connected information to remember, you could set the information to a song. If you are musically inclined, you could make up your own song. More often it is easier to replace the words to a song you already know well.

Business Culture Vietnam, New Zeland, Malaysia[1].Docx Essays

Business Culture Vietnam, New Zeland, Malaysia[1].Docx Essays Business Culture Vietnam, New Zeland, Malaysia[1].Docx Essay Business Culture Vietnam, New Zeland, Malaysia[1].Docx Essay ETIQUE CUSTOM Facts and Statistics Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia Capital: Wellington Population: 3,993,817 (July 2004 est. ) Ethnic Make-up: New Zealand European 74. 5%, Maori 9. 7%, other European 4. 6%, Pacific Islander 3. 8%, Asian and others 7. 4% Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986) Language in New Zealand The three official languages of New Zealand are English, Maori and NZ Sign Language. English is the language of day-to-day business within New Zealand, a remnant of ties to the British Commonwealth. Maori is a Polynesian language similar to the languages of other Pacific Island cultures, such as Hawaiian, Tongan, and Samoan. Over 157,000 people in New Zealand speak Maori (2006 Census). The Maori language has been part of New Zealand and its culture since the first people came to the Islands. However, Maori has only been recognised as an official language of New Zealand since the Maori Language Act of 1987. English-Maori bilingualism and the development and use of the Maori language is encouraged by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori-the Maori Language Commission. Maori and English are used throughout the country in various television and radio programs. As with other regions in the world where two cultures have been mixed, English has influenced Maori and Maori has influenced English. A number of words in each language have crossed in to the vocabulary of the other. English has introduced motuka (car) and Maori has replied with taboo (tapu). Many places in New Zealand have been christened with two names one English, one Maori (the original Maori name and the adopted English one). And, in some cases, these names are used interchangeably Kiwi Society Culture There can be marked differences between Maori and NZ European (Pakeha) societies and culture. This is particularly apparent when moving in tribal (Iwi) circles. Due to colonisation and tribal differences, there can also be subtle but important variations in protocols. The following sections outline aspects most likely to occur when doing business with tribal groups but can also equally apply to any group that includes Maori. Kiwi Demeanour .  New Zealanders are friendly, outgoing, somewhat reserved initially yet polite, and enjoy extending hospitality.   They are quite easy to get to know as they say hello to strangers and will offer assistance without being asked. .  Because they do not stand on ceremony and are egalitarian, they move to a first name basis quickly and shun the use of titles. .  Kiwis dress casually, but neatly. .   Most restaurants do not have dress codes and except in business, dress is decidedly casual. .  Business dress is conservative, although jacke ts may be removed and shirtsleeves rolled up when working. Maori demeanour .  Maori are generally friendly and reserved and place great value on hospitality.   They will generally offer (often to the point of going without) assistance to their guests and will attempt to hide the inconvenience as much as possible. .  Maori will spontaneously launch into speech and song. Even though they may not have met each other, they will know many songs they can sing together and often use these to close or enhance speeches. .  They will often call for visitors to do the same and it would be wise to have 2-3 practised songs from your own country to reply with. Environmentalism .  Kiwis are environmentally concerned and have a strong desire to preserve their countrys beauty.   One of the major local issues is the importing of predators. .  Border controls are very tight and there are huge fines for importing food or other natural products such as wood, cane etc. .  The local attitu de towards the environment is largely influenced by the viewpoint of the indigenous population, the Maori. .  They believe that all things have a mauri a life force. .  Damage to this life force, or human attempts to dominate it, result in the mauri losing its energy and vitality, which affects the lives of people as well as the resilience of ecosystems.   Maintaining the mauri of the environment and ecosystem resilience are equally important for sustainable development. Egalitarianism .  The country has no formal class structure. .  Wealth and social status are not important to Kiwis. .  They take pride in individual achievements and believe that opportunities are available to all. .  As a welfare state unemployment benefits, housing and access to health is all available free of charge to those who cant afford it. .  Maori have a hierarchy especially apparent in formal situations.   For example, the elder (male or female) is seated in a specific area and will be asked to open or close a meeting. Mostly they are men but not always. Etiquette and Customs Meeting and Greeting .  Greetings are casual, often consisting simply of a handshake and a smile. .  Never underestimate the value of the smile as it indicates pleasure at meeting the other person. .  Although New Zealanders move to first names quickly, it is best to address them by their honorific title and surname until they suggest moving to a more familiar level or they call you by your first name. Maori meeting and greeting   Maori stand on ceremony and have distinct protocols regarding how visitors should be welcomed and seen off. .  If the business dealings are with a tribal group (Iwi) the welcoming protocols may be practiced through the process of Powhiri – a formal welcome that takes place on a Marae. .  A Powhiri can take between 30 minutes to 2-3 hours depending on the importance of the event. .  It begins by calling the visitors onto the area infront of the t raditional meeting house. Visitors should walk as a group and in silence expect if they have a responding caller to reply to the home peoples’ caller (usually an older woman).   A Powhiri dictates where people sit, in what position in their group, and who speaks. .  In most cases, but not all, you will notice the men are seated forward and only males speak. There is a tension between the men and women on this matter and in a few places this has been resolved and you will see both genders stand to speak. In the interests of not causing friction in your business dealings, always follow the lead of the home people. .  The welcoming speeches are given by the agreed speakers of the home people and always end with the most revered speaker or elder.   Speeches are given in the Maori language and each one accompanied by traditional song. You may not understand what is being said but you can rest assured it is likely to be from the best orators in the group and often very comp limentary. .  The visitors are expected to have at least one speaker reply on their behalf. .  If possible, the speaker should prepare a learned opening in Maori – it is critical that he/she focus on the pronunciation. Mispronounced words often result in whispers and sniggers and is considered disrespectful. It is better to have a very short opening said well, than a long one said badly.   The speaker’s reply should never be about the detailed purpose of the visit nor should it be to self-promote as this would be considered arrogant. .  The speaker should use the opportunity to briefly show respect to the place that they stand (ie. the location), to the houses (the traditional carved meeting house and dining room are named after ancestors and so are greeted accordingly), to greet the home people, and to explain where his/her group have come from (place is important to Maori). This should be followed by a song from the visitors’ country that the visitorsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ group should sing together.   The Powhiri can be daunting to visitors and can be fraught with traps that may offend. This is why most visitors seek the assistance of a Maori person to ‘guide’ them. .  Once the last elder of the home people has spoken, they will gesture the visitors to come forward in a line to shake hands, kiss (once) on the cheek or hongi (touch noses) with the home people. .  Following this the kitchen is ready to call people in to eat. .  Following the food, the meeting proper can begin. .  While this seems to be a set routine, I have been to many a Powhiri where variations of this occur. It pays to be vigilant and to follow the lead of others, or to discreetly ask questions if unsure. Gift Giving Etiquette .  If invited to a Kiwis house, bring a small gift such as flowers, chocolates, or a book about your home country to the hosts. .  Gifts should not be lavish. .  Gifts are opened when received. Dining Etiquette .  New Zealanders are casual as is reflected in their table manners. .  The more formal the occasion, the more strict the protocol. .  Wait to be told where to sit. .  Meals are often served family-style. .  Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when eating.   Table manners are Continental hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. They will not look askance, however, if you adopt American table manners. .  Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the handles facing to the right. Maori Dining Etiquette .  Following a Powhiri, the vis itors will be asked to the dining room (a separate building to the carved meeting house) to sit to eat at long tressle tables. .  They should not eat until the food has been ‘blessed’ or an acknowledgement said by an elder of the home people even if the food is getting cold.   Visitors should try to enable the home people to sit amongst them to chat and get to know them while eating. .  Often, younger people will be serving and older people will be working in the kitchen. .  It is important to realise that in most cases they are working voluntarily and it is appropriate to formally and publicly thank them near the close of the meal before leaving the dining room to begin the meeting. As a result of this, the visitors may be light-heartedly asked to sing. .  To sing a song from your home country would show respect and thanks. Business Etiquette Protocol Relationships Communication .  New Zealanders can be somewhat reserved, especially with people they do not know. .  Once they develop a personal relationship, they are friendly, outgoing and social. .  Do not appear too forward or overly friendly. .  They respect people who are honest, direct, and demonstrate a sense of humour. .  They trust people until they are given a reason not to. .  If this happens in business the breach will be difficult to repair and business dealings may cease or become more difficult. Business Meeting Etiquette   Appointments are usually necessary and should be made at least one week in advance by telephone, fax or email. .  It is generally easy to schedule meetings with senior level managers if you are coming from another country if the meeting is planned well in advance. .   It can be difficult to schedule meetings in December and January since these are the prime months for summer vacation. .  Arrive at m eetings on time or even a few minutes early. .  If you do not arrive on time, your behaviour may be interpreted as indicating that you are unreliable or that you think your time is more important than the person with whom you are meeting.   Meetings are generally relaxed; however, they are serious events. .  Expect a brief amount of small talk before getting down to the matter at hand. .  If you make a presentation, avoid hype, exaggerated claims, hyperbole, and bells and whistles. New Zealanders are interested in what people can do not what they say they can do. .  Present your business case with facts and figures. Emotions and feelings are not important in the New Zealand business climate. .  Maintain eye contact and a few feet of personal space. Negotiations .  The negotiating process takes time.   Do not attempt high-pressure sales tactics. .  Demonstrate the benefits of your services or products rather than talking about them. .  Start your negotiations with a realistic figure. Since this is not a bargaining culture, New Zealanders do not expect to haggle over price. .  Kiwis look for value for their money. .  Do not make promises you cannot keep or offer unrealistic proposals. Kiwis do not generally trust people who have to oversell! .  They are quite direct and expect the same in return. They appreciate brevity and are not impressed by more detail than is required.   Agreements and proposals must state all points clearly. All terms and conditions should be explained in detail. .  Stick to the point while speaking. .  Kiwis appreciate honesty and directness in business dealings. MALAYSIA Facts and Statistics Location: Southeastern Asia. Shares borders with Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. Capital: Kuala Lumpur Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons Population: 24,821,286 (July 2007 est. ) Ethnic Make-up: Malay 50. 4%, Chinese 23. 7%, indigenous 11%, Ind ian 7. 1%, others 7. % Religions: Muslim 60. 4%, Buddhist 19. 2%, Christian 9. 1%, Hindu 6. 3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2. 6%, other or unknown 1. 5%, none 0. 8% Government: constitutional monarchy Language in Malaysia The Malay language is an Austronesian language spoken not only by Malaysians but all Malay people who reside in the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, central eastern Sumatra, the Riau islands, parts of the coast of Borneo, Cocos and Christmas Islands in Australia. It is also very similar to Indonesian, known locally as Bahasa Indonesia. In Malaysia, the language is officially known as Bahasa Malaysia, which translates as the Malaysian language. The term, which was introduced by the National Language Act 1967, was predominant until the 1990s, when most academics and government officials reverted to Bahasa Melayu, which is used in the Malay version of the Federal Constitution. Malay Culture and Society A Multi-Cultural Society Malaysia is a multi-cultural society. The main ethnic groups are the native Malays as well as large populations of Chinese, and Indians. When visiting the country it is clear that the ethnicities retain their religions, customs and way of life. The most important festivals of each group are public holidays. Although growing up, children are educated in the same schools and will eventually work in the same offices, few marry outside their own ethnicity. Families tend to socialise within their own ethnic group – all part of retaining their individual traditions and lifestyles. Despite the ethnic differences there are commonalities culturally speaking. Group Orientation The family is considered the centre of the social structure. As a result there is a great emphasis on unity, loyalty and respect for the elderly. The family is the place where the individual can be guaranteed both emotional and financial support. When one member of the family suffers a financial setback, the rest of the family will contribute what they can to help out. Families tend to be extended, although in the larger cities this will naturally differ. The Concept of Face Malays, Chinese and Indians all strive to maintain face and avoid shame both in public and private. Face is a personal concept that embraces qualities such as a good name, good character, and being held in esteem by ones peers. Face is considered a commodity that can be given, lost, taken away, or earned. On top of this face also extends to the family, school, company, and even the nation itself. The desire to maintain face makes Malaysians strive for harmonious relationships. Face can be lost by openly criticizing, insulting, or putting someone on the spot; doing something that brings shame to the group; challenging someone in authority, especially if this is done in public; showing anger at another person; refusing a request; not keeping a promise; or disagreeing with someone publicly. Conversely, face can be saved by remaining calm and courteous; discussing errors or transgressions in private; speaking about problems without blaming anyone; using non-verbal communication to say no; and allowing the other person to get out of the situation with their pride intact. Etiquette and Customs in Malaysia Meeting and Greeting Greetings in a social context will depend upon the ethnicity of the person you are meeting. In general, most Malays are aware of Western ways so the handshake is normal. There may be slight differences though and a few things to bear in mind include:   Malay women may not shake hands with men. Women can of course shake hands with women. Men may also not shake hands with women and may bow instead while placing their hand on their heart.   The Chinese handshake is light and may be rather prolonged. Men and women may shake hands, although the woman must extend her hand first. Many older Chinese lower their eyes during the greeting as a sign of respect.   Indians shake hands with members of the same sex. When being introduced to someone of the opposite sex, nodding the head and smiling is usually sufficient. Among all cultures, there is a general tendency to introduce:   the most important person to the lower ranking person.   the older person to the younger person.   women to men. Names The way names are used also varies between ethnicities: Chinese   The Chinese traditionally have 3 names. The surname (family name) is first and is followed by two personal names.   Many Chinese adopt more Western names and may ask you to use that instead. Malays   Many Malays do not have surnames. Instead, men add their fathers name to their own name with the term bin (meaning ‘son of’). So Rosli bin Suleiman, would be Rosli the son of Suleiman.   Women use the term binti, so Aysha bint Suleiman is Aysha the daughter of Suleiman. Indian   Many Indians do not use surnames. Instead, they place the initial of their fathers name in front of their own name. The mans formal name is their name s/o (son of) and the fathers name.   Women use d/o to refer to themselves as the daughter of their father. Gift Giving Etiquette Here are some general gift giving etiquette guidelines: Gift giving to Malays:   If invited to someones home for dinner, bring the hostess pastries or good quality chocolates.   Never give alcohol.   Do not give toy dogs or pigs to children.   Do not give anything made of pigskin.   Avoid white wrapping paper as it symbolizes death and mourning.   Avoid yellow wrapping paper, as it is the color of royalty.   If y ou give food, it must be â€Å"halal† (meaning permissible for Muslims).   Offer gifts with the right hand only or both hands if the item is large.   Gifts are generally not opened when received. Gift giving to Chinese:   If invited to someones home, bring a small gift of fruit, sweets, or cakes, saying that it is for the children.   A gift is traditionally refused before it is accepted to demonstrate that the recipient is not greedy.   Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they indicate a desire to sever the relationship.   Flowers do not make good gifts as they are given to the sick and are used at funerals.   Do not wrap gifts in mourning colours white, blue, or black.   Wrap the gifts in happy colours red, pink, or yellow.   Elaborate gift wrapping is imperative.   Never wrap a gift for a baby or decorate the gift in any way with a stork, as birds are the harbinger of death.   It is best to give gifts in even numbers since odd numbers are unlucky.   Gifts are generally not opened when received. Gift giving to Indians:   If you give flowers, avoid frangipani as they are used in funeral wreaths.   Money should be given in odd numbers.   Offer gifts with the right hand only or both hands if the item is large.   Do not wrap gifts in white or black.   Wrap gifts in red, yellow or green paper or other bright colors as these bring good fortune.   Do not give leather products to a Hindu.   Do not give alcohol unless you are certain the recipient drinks.   Gifts are generally not opened when received. Business Etiquette and Protocol in Malaysia Meeting and Greeting Within the business context most Malaysian businesspeople are culturally-savvy and internationally exposes. Your experience may very well depend upon the ethnicity, age, sex and status of the person you are meeting. The best approach is always friendly yet formal. A few tips include:     Initial greetings should be formal and denote proper respect.   If in a team, introduce the most important person first.   Many Malays and Indians are uncomfortable shaking hands with a member of the opposite sex.   Foreign men should always wait for a Malaysian woman to extend her hand. Foreign women should also wait for a Malaysian man to extend his hand.   To demonstrate respect Chinese may look downwards rather than at the person they are meeting.   It is important that professional titles (professor, doctor, engineer) and honorific titles are used in business. Malays and Indians use titles with their first name while Chinese use titles with their surname. Business Card Etiquette   Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions.   If you will be meeting Chinese, have one side of your card translated into Chinese, with the Chinese characters printed in gold.   If you will be meeting government officials, have one side of your card translated into Bahasa Malaysia.   Use two hands or the right hand only to exchange business cards.   Examine any business card you receive before putting it in your business card case.   The respect you show someones business card is indicative of the respect you will show the individual in business. Act accordingly.   Never write on someones card in their presence. Communication As an extension to the need to maintain harmonious relations, Malaysians rely on non-verbal communication (i. e. facial expressions, tone of voice, body language, etc). Such a communication style tends to be su btle, indirect and. Malays may hint at a point rather than making a direct statement, since that might cause the other person to lose face. Rather than say no, they might say, I will try, or I’ll see what I can do. This allows the person making the request and the person turning it down to save face and maintain harmony in their relationship. If you are unsure about the affirmative response you received, you may want to continue the discussion, re-phrasing the question in several different ways so that you may compare responses. If the response was given because the Malaysian did not know how to respond in the negative without causing offense, this may come out. Alternatively, they may have someone else give you the bad news. Silence is an important element of Malaysian communication. Pausing before responding to a question indicates that they have given the question appropriate thought and considered their response carefully. Many Malaysians do not understand the Western propensity to respond to a question hastily and can consider such behaviour thoughtless and rude. Malaysians may laugh at what may appear to outsiders as inappropriate moments. This device is used to conceal uneasiness. Do not show anger in public as it makes Malaysians uncomfortable and creates a feeling of powerlessness. There is a greater chance of achieving a good outcome id you are calm, whereas little is resolved by shouting. Business Meetings   It is a good idea for the most senior person on your team to enter first so that he or she is the first to greet the most senior Malaysian.   This gives face to both parties as it demonstrates respect towards the Malaysian and shows that you respect hierarchy within your company.   It is customary for leaders to sit opposite each other around the table.   Many companies will have their team seated in descending rank, although this is not always the case.   Expect the most senior Malaysian to give a brief welcoming speech. You need not reciprocate.   There will be a period of small talk, which will end when the most senior Malaysian is comfortable moving to the business discussion.   Meetings may be conducted or continue over lunch and dinner.   Meetings, especially initial ones, are generally somewhat formal. Treat all Malaysian participants with respect and be cautious not to lose your temper or appear irritated.   At the first meeting between t wo companies, Malaysians will generally not get into in-depth discussions. They prefer to use the first meeting as an opportunity to get to know the other side and build a rapport, which is essential in this consensus-driven culture.