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Sunday, May 27, 2012

culture of singapore

Facts and Statistics

Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Capital: Singapore

Population: 4,353,893 (July 2004 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%

Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist

The Language

Singapore has attempted to promote a national identity in its land of immigrants since its independence in 1965. As part of this effort, Singapore has four national languages: Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English. For business and politics, English is the language of choice.

Singapore Society & Culture

The Family

. The concepts of group, harmony, and mutual security are more important than that of the individual.

. The family is the centre of the social structure and emphasizes unity, loyalty and respect for the elderly.

. The term, 'family' generally includes extended family and close friends who are treated as family members.

. Respect for the elderly and seeing the family as the place one goes to for support, both help retain core values in this island nation.

Face & Respect

. Having face indicates personal dignity.
. Singaporeans are very sensitive to retaining face in all aspects of their lives.
. Face is a prized commodity that can be given, lost, taken away or earned.
. It is a mark of personal qualities such as a good name, good character, and being held in esteem by one's peers.
. It can also be greater than the person and extend to family, school, company, and even the nation itself.
. Face is what makes Singaporeans strive for harmonious relationships.

Hierarchy

. Singaporeans claim they are an egalitarian society, yet they retain strong hierarchical relationships that can be observed in the relationship between parents and children, teachers and students, and employers and employees.
. This goes back to their important cultural value, group dependence.
. This reliance on hierarchy is drawn from Confucianism, which emphasizes respecting age and status, even blind obedience to one's elders. . In the workplace this is seen in the increased deference that is paid to employees who are older.
. The elderly are always treated with the utmost respect and courtesy.
. Even if you do not personally know the individual, you will be expected to give special consideration.
. Elders are introduced first, are given preferential seating, are given the choicest food, and in general put on a pedestal.
. There was a law passed in 1996 that mandated that children must assume financial responsibility for their elderly parents should the need arise.
. This is indicative of the high status of the elderly and the challenges facing the small country as the next generation becomes more individualistic.

Ethnic Diversity

. Singapore is a multi-ethnic society where Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions coexist beneath the veneer of a western cosmopolitan metropolis.
. The three main ethnic groups are religiously and culturally diverse.

Non-Verbal Communication

. Singaporeans are group dependent and rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels.
. They often trust non-verbal messages more than the spoken word.
. They tend to be subtle, indirect and implicit in their communications.
. They 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.
. Silence is an important element of Singaporean communication.
. Pausing before responding to a question indicates that they have given the question appropriate thought and considered their response carefully.
. They do not understand western cultures ability to respond to a question hastily and think this indicates thoughtlessness and rude behaviour.
Etiquette and Customs in Singapore
Meeting and Greeting Map of Singapore
. Greetings will follow a strict protocol often based on both the ethnic origin and age of the person.
. Younger people or those who work in multi-national companies may have adopted the western concept of shaking hands with everyone, but this is not the case with older or more reserved Singaporeans.
. Ethnic Chinese shake hands. Their grasp is rather light although the handshake itself can be rather prolonged.
. Men and women may shake hands, although the woman must extend her hand first. Introductions are always done in order of age or status.
. Between men, ethnic Malays shake hands.
. Men and women do not traditionally shake hands, since Muslim men do not touch women in public.
. Younger Malays may shake hands with foreign women, but it is more appropriate to use the 'salaam' (bowing the head) greeting.
. This is also the greeting to be used when two women meet.
. Ethnic 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.
. As with the other groups, the elderly or the person with the most status is introduced first.

Titles/Names

Chinese

. Chinese traditionally have 3 names. The surname or family name is first and is followed by two personal names.
. Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If they want to move to a first name basis, they will advise you which of their two personal names to use.
. Some Chinese adopt more western names in business and may ask you to call them that.

Malay

. Many Malays do not have surnames. Instead, men add the father's name to their own name with the connector bin. So Noor bin Isa, would be Noor, the son of Isa. Women use the connector binti, so Zarina binti Isa would be Zarina the daughter of Isa.
. The title Haji (male) or Hajjah (female) before the name indicates the person has made their pilgrimage to Mecca.
. The name Sayyed (male) or Sharifah (female) indicates that the person is considered to be a descendent of the prophet Mohammed.

Indian

. Many Indians in Singapore do not use surnames. Instead, they place the initial of their father's name in front of their own name. The man's formal name is their name 's/o' (son of) and the father's name. Women use 'd/o' to refer to themselves as the daughter of their father.
. Since many Indian names are extremely long, they commonly use a shortened version of their name as a sort of nickname.
. At marriage, women drop their father's name and use their first name with their husband's first name as a sort of surname.
. Sikh Indians all use the name Singh to denote themselves as Sikhs. 

Gift Giving Etiquette

Since there are cultural differences in how the three main ethnic groups treat gifts, they are listed separately.

Gift giving to ethnic Chinese:

. A gift may be refused three times before it is accepted. This demonstrates that the recipient is not greedy.
. Do not give scissors, knives or other cutting utensils as they indicate that you want to sever the relationship.
. Do not give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals as they are associated with funerals and death.
. Do not wrap gifts in white, blue or black paper as these are mourning colours.
. Wrap gifts in red, pink, or yellow since these are happy colours
. 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.
. Do not give odd numbers as they are unlucky.
. Do not bring food if invited to a formal dinner party as it insinuates you do not think the host will provide sufficient hospitality.
. Bring a small gift of fruit, sweets, or cakes, saying that it is for the children.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
. Flowers do not make good gifts as they are given to the sick and are used at funerals.

Gift giving to ethnic Malays:

. Never give alcohol.
. Do not give toy dogs to children.
. Do not give anything made of pigskin as Malays are Muslim.
. Give the gift when you are departing, rather than when you arrive.
. Avoid white wrapping paper as it symbolizes death and mourning.
. Wrap gifts in red or green paper.
. If you give food, make sure it is halal.
. Offer gifts with the right hand only or both hands if the item is large.
. Gifts are not opened when received.

Gift giving to ethnic Indians:

. If you give flowers, avoid frangipani as they are used in funeral wreaths.
. Money should be given in odd numbers, so give S$11 rather than S$10.
. 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 colours as these bring good fortune.
. Do not give leather products to a Hindu.
. Do not give alcohol unless you are certain the recipient imbibes.
. Gifts are not opened when received.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Etiquette in Singapore

. Business in Singapore is more formal than in many western countries.
. There are strict rules of protocol that must be observed.
. The group (company or department) is viewed as more important than the individual.
. People observe a strict chain of command, which comes with expectations on both sides.
. In order to keep others from losing face, much communication will be non-verbal and you must closely watch the facial expressions and body language of people you work with.

Building Relationships & Communication

. Personal relationships are the cornerstone of all business relationships.
. Business is a matter of being tied into the proper network, which is the result of long- standing personal relationships or the proper introductions.
. This is a group-oriented culture, so links are often based on ethnicity, education or working for the same company.
. Once you are recognized as part of the group, you will be accepted and expected to obey the unwritten rules of the group.
. Relationships take time to develop.
. You must be patient as this indicates that your organization is here for the long-term and is not looking only for short- term gains.
. Always be respectful and courteous when dealing with others as this leads to the harmonious relationships necessary within business.
. Rank is always respected. The eldest person in the group is revered.
. Most Singaporeans are soft-spoken and believe a calm demeanour is superior to a more aggressive style.
. Watch your body language and facial expressions.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made at least 2 weeks in advance, whenever possible.
. The most formal way to schedule a meeting is to write to the person concerned, although most Singaporeans will schedule an appointment by telephone, fax, or e-mail.
. Do not try to schedule meetings during Chinese New Year (late January/early February), since many businesses close for the entire week.
. You should arrive at meetings on time. Punctuality is a virtue.
. There will be period of small talk before getting down to business discussions.
. Since questioning authority is a taboo, it is important to encourage questions when after making a presentation and then smile when a question is eventually asked.
. Presentations should be accompanied by backup material, including charts and figures.
. Never disagree or criticize someone who is senior to you in rank as it will cause both of you to lose face and may destroy the business relationship.
. Pay attention to non-verbal communication.

Negotiating

. Always send a list of people who will be attending the negotiations and their title well in advance.
. Always wait to be told where to sit. There is a strict hierarchy that must be followed.
. Business negotiations happen at a slow pace.
. Singaporeans are non-confrontational. They will not overtly say 'no'; likewise, their 'yes' does not always signify agreement.
. Singaporeans give a respectful pause of up to 15 seconds before answering a question. Do not start speaking too quickly or you will miss the answer.
. Be prepared with a mental list of concessions you would be willing to make that would not injure your own business.
. Singaporeans are tough negotiators on price and deadlines.
. Decisions are consensus driven
. Avoid losing your temper or you will lose face and damage your relationship.
. If you are signing a contract with ethnic Chinese, the signing date may be determined by an astrologer or a geomancer (feng shui man).

Business Cards

. Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions.
. Business cards are exchanged using both hands.
. If you will be meeting ethnic Chinese, it is a good idea to have one side of your card translated into Mandarin.

Have the Chinese characters printed in gold, as this is an auspicious colour. Hand your card so the typeface faces the recipient.

. Examine business cards carefully before putting them in a business card case.
. Treat business cards with respect. This is indicative of how you will treat the relationship.
. Your own business cards should be maintained in pristine condition. Never give someone a tattered card.


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Monday, May 7, 2012

Facts and Statistics

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Capital: Bangkok

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Population: 64,865,523

Ethnic Make-up: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)

Government: constitutional monarchy

Languages in Thailand

The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones in Thai pronunciation, along with a script that has Indian origins. The Thai language, belonging to the Tai family, is the main language in Thailand although there are several regional dialects as well. Other languages spoken in Thailand are Chinese, Lao, Malay and Mon-Khmer, while English use is becoming more prevalent in government and commerce. English is also being taught as a second language in secondary school and universities, which enables the English speaking visitor in Thailand to have little trouble conversing.

Thai Society & Culture

The WaiMap of Thailand

. The wai is the common form of greeting and adheres to strict rules of protocol.
. Raising both hands, palms joined with the fingers pointing upwards as if in prayer, lightly touching the body somewhere between the chest and the forehead, is the standard form.
. The wai is both a sign of respect as well as a greeting. Respect and courtesy are demonstrated by the height at which the hands are held and how low the head comes down to meet the thumbs of both hands.
. The wai may be made while sitting, walking, or standing.
. The person who is junior in age or status is the first one to offer the wai.
. The senior person returns the wai, generally with their hands raised to somewhere around their chest.
. If a junior person is standing and wants to wai a senior person who is seated, the junior person will stoop or bow their head while making the wai.
. If there is a great social distance between two people, the wai will not be returned.

Buddhism in Thailand

. Thailand is a stronghold of Buddhism.
. Buddhists believe that life does not begin with birth and end with death, but rather that every person has several lives based upon the lessons of life not yet learned and acts committed (karma) in previous lives.
. Buddhists believe that selfishness and craving result in suffering and that compassion and love bring happiness and well-being.

. The true path to peace is to eliminate all desire, a condition which Buddhists define as 'nirvana', an indescribable state free of desire, suffering, or further rebirth, in which a person simply is, and is completely at one with his surroundings.
. Buddhism is practised in Thailand by over 90% of the population. 

Hierarchical Society

. Thais respect hierarchical relationships.
. Social relationships are defined as one person being superior to the other.
. Parents are superior to their children, teachers to their students, and bosses to their subordinates.
. When Thais meet a stranger, they will immediately try to place you within a hierarchy so they know how you should be treated.
. This is often done by asking what might be seen as very personal questions in other cultures.
. Status can be determined by clothing and general appearance, age, job, education, family name, and social connections.

Thai Family Values

. The family is the cornerstone of Thai society.
. Family life is often more closely knit than in western cultures.
. The Thai family is a form of hierarchy with the parents at the top.
. Children are taught to honour their parents.

Thai Demeanour

. Thais place great emphasis and value on outward forms of courtesy such as politeness, respect, genial demeanour and self-control in order to maintain harmonious relations.
. Many of their rules of etiquette are by-products of the Buddhist religion.
. It is a non-confrontational society, in which public dispute or criticism is to be avoided at all costs.
. To be openly angry with someone might attract the wrath of the spirits, which in turn could cause violence and tragedy.
. Openly criticizing a person is a form of violence as it hurts the person and is viewed as a conscious attempt to offend the person being rebuked
. Loss of face is a disgrace to a Thai so they try to avoid confrontations and look for compromises in difficult situations.
. If two parties disagree, one will need to have an outlet to retreat without losing face. Etiquette & Customs in Thailand

Meeting Etiquette

. The wai (as mentioned above) is the traditional form of greeting, given by the person of lower status to the person of higher status.
. Thais generally use first rather than surnames, with the honorific title Khun before the name. Khun is an all- purpose form of address that is appropriate for both men and women
. In general, wait for your host and hostess to introduce you to the other guests. This allows everyone to understand your status relative to their own, and thus know who performs the wai and how low the head should be bowed.

Gift Giving Etiquette

. If invited to a Thai's home, a gift is not expected, although it will be appreciated.
. Gifts should be wrapped attractively, since appearance matters. Bows and ribbons add to the sense of festivity.
. Appropriate gifts are flowers, good quality chocolates or fruit.
. Do not give marigolds or carnations, as they are associated with funerals.
. Try to avoid wrapping a gift in green, black or blue as these are used at funerals and in mourning.
. Gold and yellow are considered royal colours, so they make good wrapping paper.
. Only use red wrapping paper if giving a gift to a Chinese Thai.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
. Money is the usual gift for weddings and ordination parties.

Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a Thai's house:

. Arrive close to the appointed time, although being a few minutes late will not cause offence.
. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours before entering the house.
. Ask another guest to confirm the dress code.
. Step over the threshold rather than on it. This is an old custom that may be dying out with younger Thais, but erring on the side of conservatism is always a good idea.

Table manners

. A fork and spoon are the usual eating utensils. However, noodles are often eaten with chopsticks.
. The spoon is held in the right hand and the fork in the left. The fork is used to guide food on to the spoon. Sticky rice, a northern Thai delicacy, is often eaten with the fingers of the right hand.
. Most meals are served as buffets or with serving platters in the centre of the table family- style.
. You may begin eating as soon as you are served.
. Leave a little food on your plate after you have eaten to show that you are full. Finishing everything indicates that you are still hungry.
. Never leave rice on your plate as it is considered wasteful. The words for food and rice are the same. Rice has an almost mystical significance in addition to its humdrum 'daily bread' function.
. Never take the last bite from the serving bowl.
. Wait to be asked before taking a second helping.
. Do not lick your fingers.

Business Etiquette and Protocol

Relationships & CommunicationEtiquette in Thailand

. Thais prefer doing business with people they respect.
. Relationships develop slowly and do not flourish after one meeting; it may take several meetings.
. Always be respectful and courteous when dealing with others as this leads to the harmonious relationships necessary within business.
. Thai communication is formal and non-verbal communication is often more important than verbal communication.
. Rank is always respected. The eldest person in the group is revered.
. It is difficult for most Thais to say no, so you must be cognizant of their non- verbal communication.
. Watch your body language and facial expressions, as these will be believed over your words.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Appointments are necessary and should be made one month in advance.
. It is good idea to send a list of who will be attending the meeting and their credentials so that Thais know the relative status of the people attending the meeting and can plan properly.
. You should arrive at meetings on time as it signifies respect for the person you are meeting.
. Although most Thais will try to be on time, punctuality is a personal trait.
. Always send an agenda and material about your company as well as data to substantiate your position prior to the meeting. Allow sufficient time for the material to be reviewed and digested.
. Remain standing until told where to sit. The hierarchical culture has strict rules about rank and position in the group.
. Written material should be available in both English and Thai.
. You must be patient.

Dress Etiquette

. Business attire is conservative.
. Men should wear dark coloured conservative business suits.
. Women should wear conservative business suits or dresses. Women need not wear hosiery.
. Since Thai's judge you on your clothing and accessories, ensure that your shoes are always highly polished.

Business Cards

. Business cards are given out after the initial handshake and greeting. In theory, you should give your card to the most senior person first. . It is advisable to have one side of your business card translated into Thai.
. Using your right hand, deliver your business card so the Thai side faces the recipient.
. Look at a business card for a few seconds before placing it on the table or in a business card case. As in most Asian countries, it is polite to make some comment about the card, even if it is only to acknowledge the address.

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