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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 "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 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 Front Porch 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 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.
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