Comparison of Politeness Norms This article will focus on two countries, Egypt and South Korea, and how they compare to the norms of politeness courtesy in the United States; and the possible misunderstandings that might arise from differences between cultures. There are similar, but perceptible, differences between American and Egyptian cultures in norms of communication and courtesy. In general, people in Egypt are more expressive and passionate when interacting. Personal communication Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to Bass, Goodman and Nagata, (2018) Egyptians, when communicating with acquaintances, close friends, relatives, tend to joke, are evocative, verbose and love to use puns and jokes. They are generally more open and emotional and show happiness, gratitude and grief without reservation. Americans, while capable of being expressive, generally speak to acquaintances in a more sober tone, displaying open and expressive communication gestures with close friends and relatives. As for feelings of pain and sadness, Egyptians freely express their moods, with moans, tears, chest blows, not only with the death of a loved one but also of an acquaintance or a stranger. In Western culture, emotional manifestations of grief can, and have, created unfair perceptions and stereotypes of emotional instability and lack of self-control. In comparison, unless a traumatic event occurs in sudden extreme circumstances, Americans tend to be less outgoing. with showing pain, but will do so at specific places and events, such as funerals and memorial services, but generally not in public, according to Cultural Atlas, Egyptian Culture, (2018) when Egyptian men greet each other, it is not uncommon for them to kiss on both sides of the cheeks, followed by a pat on the back, then a light handshake with constant direct eye contact. In a greeting between men and women, a handshake may be acceptable in certain circumstances, but the woman must extend her hand first. Otherwise, a man should bow his head in acknowledgment. Although America is a mix of different cultures and customs with various ways of greeting, the handshake is usually done with a firm but not overly tight grip. Gently placing your hand in another person's hand can be interpreted as fake. A woman accepting and initiating a handshake is acceptable and expected. Kissing an American's cheek can take him by surprise, particularly among males, and can create embarrassment and cross a boundary. It is also considered invasive and threatening to continuously look a person in the eye during a conversation. Punctuality In Egypt, punctuality is not a priority, it is more a question of relationships than time. It is not uncommon for them to arrive 30-45 minutes late for work, a funeral, a wedding, or a dinner invitation. In contrast, according to International Students > Home > ISI Students > Survival in the US > Tips > (2018) In American culture, arriving 10-15 minutes late for an invitation can be considered rude without warning, and in the workplace the Repeated delay may justify termination. South Korean Courtesy Rules-Greetings. According to ediplomat (2018) - Koreans begin greetings with a bow and a handshake with the left hand supporting the right, this denotes respect. For Americans, although it is considered a pervasive practice in Eastern culture, it is still difficult to get used to bowing. However, failure to bow is considered a form of disrespect, everyone, Korean or foreign, must bow