Singapoređź•Ł
Country in Southeast Asia. Official name – the Republic of Singapore. Population – 5.9 million (as of 2020). Capital – Singapore. Official languages - Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and English. Government type – parliamentary republic. Main religion – Buddhism.
Singapore
Greeting
Singapore is a multiethnic and multicultural country, so greeting customs may vary depending on the ethnicity of the person you are interacting with—whether they are Chinese, Malay, or Indian.
Singaporeans of Chinese descent traditionally greet each other with a handshake accompanied by a slight bow, or simply with a bow. Men usually shake hands when greeting and saying goodbye. Women typically take the initiative by extending their hand for a handshake.
Handshakes among Singaporean Chinese are light and gentle, and can be quite prolonged. During greetings, many Chinese in Singapore avoid direct eye contact, which is seen as a sign of respect toward the other person.
Among Singaporean Malays, most of whom are Muslim, the customary greeting is the salam. In this gesture, both parties extend their joined hands and lightly touch each other’s hands. Then they withdraw their hands and place them on their chest over the heart. Using both hands shows respect to someone older or of higher status. Among equals, the salam is performed with the right hand only.
When meeting foreigners, Singaporeans of Malay descent typically greet them with a handshake. However, keep in mind that physical contact between men and women is not customary among Muslims. Therefore, businesswomen should be aware that male partners may not initiate a handshake, as it is not accepted in their culture.
The same applies to foreign men greeting women during business meetings. A woman may prefer simply nodding her head (a kind of slight bow) instead of extending her hand. In such cases, a man may place his hand over his heart as a respectful gesture. When businesswomen meet each other, they generally exchange handshakes.
The traditional greeting among Singaporean Indians is “Namaste,” used by both men and women. This involves placing the palms together in a prayer-like gesture at chest level and giving a slight bow. This greeting serves as an alternative to a handshake, which is also commonly used, especially among younger people.
When greeting a group of colleagues, you should begin with the person of the highest rank or oldest age. Status—reflected primarily in one’s position, role, or age — is a very important category in Singapore’s business culture.
Introduction
In formal communication, people in Singapore address one another using professional titles, academic degrees, or qualifications. When addressing a Singaporean of Chinese descent, you should first state their title (if any), followed by their surname. When dealing with Singaporeans of Malay or Indian descent, you should also sta...
Exchange of Business Cards
The text on your business card can be in English. However, if you plan to stay in Singapore for a longer time or know in advance that your business partner is of Chinese descent, it's a good idea to prepare business cards with Chinese text on one side.
In addition to your name, surname, and contact information, your card should include ...
Small Talk: Overview
Building and maintaining relationships is of great importance in Singapore's business culture, especially in interactions with foreign partners. Therefore, special attention should be given to small talk with your Singaporean counterparts.
Topics for small talk are usually quite general, and it is best to maintain a neutral and polite tone, favoring vag...
Preferred Topics
Tourism, travel, and interesting places you have visited.
Impressions (positive) about the country, the prosperity of Singapore.
National cuisine.
Plans for the future.
Successes of the company you represent....
Taboo Topics
Avoid discussing political topics, especially the activities of the country's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, one of the architects of Singapore's economic miracle.
Bureaucracy in Singapore, as well as various established rules, introduced taxes and duties.
Political and economic relations between Singapore and neighboring countries, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia. ...
Personal Space
During a conversation, interlocutors (both men and women) typically stand at arm’s length from each other.
In general, physical contact and any kind of touching, except for a handshake, are not encouraged.
In conversation, Singaporeans tend to avoid excessive gesturing and speaking too loudly.
During a conversation, it is important to maintain eye contact with your...
Communication Specifics
Communication in Singaporean society can be described as high-context. This means that a certain amount of information remains unspoken or implicit, as it is either derived from the situation itself or understood without words by all participants due to shared cultural context.
At times, nonverbal cues carry significantly more meaning than the explici...
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