Courtesy can be a demonstration of respect.
Courtesy is a term that comes from courteous , an adjective that describes attentive, affable and restrained people. Specifically, this meaning emanates from many centuries ago when the Cortes were the most important centers on a political and social level. In those, which were under the orders of the kings, there were also officers and vassals who were subordinate to them. Thus, when any of these men were believed to behave well, they were called polite and the quality they had to be polite was what was called courtesy.
It is the demonstration of a subject who expresses affection , respect or attention towards another individual. Courtesy, therefore, is an expression of good manners or recognition of social norms that are considered correct or appropriate .
For example: “Please accept this glass of champagne free of charge: it is a courtesy on the house” , “Could you show a little courtesy to my friends? "You didn't even say hello when you entered," "The actor once again showed his courtesy by greeting each of his followers who were waiting at the door of the theater."
Courtesy phrases
In addition to all of the above, we have to emphasize that there is what is known as courtesy phrases . We could say about them that they are ready-made expressions that are used quite frequently and that whoever uses them is considered to be demonstrating their good manners and also their respect for the person they are speaking to.
In this way, we find a wide variety of courtesy phrases, where the following take special relevance:
• Sorry.
• Sorry for the inconvenience.
• Good morning, good afternoon, good night…
• Please.
• Thank you so much.
• It's a pleasure to meet you.
Broadly speaking, these are some of the most frequent and most useful courtesy phrases in contact with other people. However, it should be noted that they are also known by the name of courtesy formulas .
Acting politely means behaving in a friendly and polite manner.
Rules to follow
To treat someone with courtesy, it is essential to follow these rules:
• Treat her as we would like to be treated.
• Avoid attitudes or expressions that may be offensive.
• Be kind and polite.
• Do not interrupt him when he is speaking.
• Listen actively and do not make fun of their opinions.
Courtesy as a cultural phenomenon
It is important to note that politeness is a cultural phenomenon : what is considered polite in one society may be rude or absurd in another.
In this sense, the example of belching in Japan can be mentioned, which is a sign of good manners after a meal as it shows that one has made good use of it. In the Western world, on the other hand, burping is considered something in bad taste.
Something similar happens with the act of chewing gum , tolerated in informal settings (in the middle of a sports game, at a gathering of teenagers, etc.) and condemned in formal meetings.
It is possible to distinguish between negative politeness (linked to deference: “Could you hand me that book, if it's not too much trouble?” , “If you don't mind, I'm going to sit in this chair.” ) and positive politeness (which seeks to establish a positive link between two parties).