A01 cohe4573 01 se fm. Qxd

1 6 2
T H E N U T S A N D B O L T S O F P R A G M A T I C S I N S T R U C T I O N

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Kumi: How are you?
Paul: Fine,* thank you. And you?
Kumi: I’m fine too. Thank you.
*“Very well/Not bad” are also used.
[note in the teacher’s book]
2 Information about English greetings and a sample of
naturalistic dialogue
Note: The following information was collected from informants ranging in age from
college age to people in their fifties. So the results may be of limited relevance,
especially to young learners.
Research-based information about English greetings
The following data were collected from native speakers of American English.
The greetings and questions below were used by the speakers who initi-
ated the greeting:
(a)
33
Takahashi et al. (2006: 2–3).
Information: Greetings in English
1 Greetings in an EFL textbook
The following is a typical exchange of greetings modeled in English textbooks 
for junior-high-school students in Japan. In this particular book from which the
dialogue is cited,
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the main characters in the book are introduced in the first page
with illustrations. The two participants in the interaction, Kumi Tanaka and Paul
Green, would appear to be friends and also similar in age to the targeted students
(seventh graders). Kumi Tanaka can be assumed to be Japanese and Paul Green 
is introduced as an American; however, their actual ages and relationship are
unknown.
A D A P T I N G T E X T B O O K S F O R T E A C H I N G P R A G M A T I C S
1 6 3

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1 6 4
T H E N U T S A N D B O L T S O F P R A G M A T I C S I N S T R U C T I O N
Answer forms (%)
Questions (%)
(Pretty) good
60
How are you?
53
OK
20
How (are) you/ya doing?
18
Literal answer
20
What’s up?
24
How’s it goin’?
6
(a)
From Kakiuchi (2005a: 70).
(b)
From Kakiuchi (2005a: 72).
The data below were collected from the recipients of the greetings:
(
b)
Naturalistic sample dialogue
Paul and Erin are college students in the US. They are close friends and
equal in social status.
34
Erin: Hey Paul. How’s it going?
Paul: Hey Erin. How are you?
Erin: I’m fantastic!
Paul: I haven’t seen you in a long time. Where’ve you been?
34
Role-played dialogue from Félix-Brasdefer (2005).
3 Possible adaptations for instruction
Note: The point of this sample adaptation is the addition of Dialogue 2, an informal
version intended to integrate pragmatics issues into instruction that may otherwise
be largely grammar-focused. Dialogue 1, below, is identical to the original between
Kumi and Paul in the textbook. In order to make the dialogues more authentic, you
can observe similar exchanges in your instructional setting and edit them based on
the language used.
Greetings (%)
Questions (%)
Hi
54
How are you?
45
Hey
24
How (are) you/ya doing?
36
Hello
11
What’s up?
9
(Good) morning
9
How’s it goin’?
9
Names only
2

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A D A P T I N G T E X T B O O K S F O R T E A C H I N G P R A G M A T I C S
1 6 5
Discussion questions
1
Who is Ms. Anderson? Why do you think so?
2
Who is Paul? Why do you think so?
3
What is the level of formality reflected in Dialogue 1 and Dialogue 2? Mark an
X for each dialogue on the line below. What makes you think so?
Dialogue 1: At school
Dialogue 2: On the street
Kumi: How are you, Ms Anderson?
Ms Anderson: I’m fine, thank you. 
And you?
Kumi: I’m fine too. Thank you.
Kumi: Hi, Paul.
Paul: Hey, Kumi, how’s it goin?
Kumi: Pretty good, thanks. How are you doing?
Paul: I’m OK.

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