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/ Social Life |
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A handshake, with direct eye contact and a welcoming smile are
the standard greeting. Maintaining eye contact is crucial
as it indicates interest. When shaking hands, use
the appropriate greeting for the time of day - "Buenos días", "buenas
noches", or "buenas tardes". Once a friendship has been established,
greetings become more effusive. Wait for Dominican friend to determine
when to move to this level.
In general, Dominicans prefer third-party introductions,
so you should wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to
the others at a small gathering. At a large party, if your hosts
are not available, you may introduce yourself; however, always introduce
yourself to the eldest person first. When leaving, say good-bye
to each person individually. At a large party, it is acceptable
to only say goodbye to those with whom you have had a conversation.
Formal and informal greetings
Always refer to people by the appropriate honorific title (Señor or Señora) and their surname. The exception to this rule is older people with whom you have a personal relationship, who may be referred to as "don" or "doña" with their first name.
Most Dominicans use both their maternal and paternal surnames.
The father's surname is listed first and is the one used in conversation.
When a woman marries, she usually adds her husband's first surname
to her first surname with the connector "de", so if María Hernández
López marries Antonio Gómez Pérez, She would be called María Hernández
de Gómez.
Although not as formal as many other Latin cultures, Dominicans reserve the informal word for you ("tú") for family members, addressing children (who address adults using the formal "usted"), and close friends. Likewise, the common greeting changes from "hola" for those in the greeting circle to "¿Cómo está usted?" for those who are not classified as family or close friend.
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