Saying thank you!

The phrase ‘Thank you' has at least three meanings:

1. The expression of gratitude (‘Thank you for your help')
2. Indicating that your intervention or presentation is over: ‘Thank you, Mr Chairman'; ‘Thank you for your attention'.
3. Saying that you find it a privilege to be in the other person's company: during the so-called Mohammed cartoon crisis, the Danish prime minister gave an interview on the Al Arabiya TV channel to explain the Danish position. When the interview was over, the interviewer said, ‘Prime Minister, thank you very much'. In response to that, the Danish PM could have said, ‘Thank you, it has been a privilege'. He didn't.

In response to the first ‘Thank you', we can say, ‘You're welcome', or ‘Don't mention it' or ‘Not at all'.

In the second example, there is no verbal response as this ‘Thank you' simply means ‘This is the end of my speech'. When you say ‘thank you' after your presentation has ended, the audience is almost programmed to respond by clapping. Look as if you like it when that happens.

In the third situation, the Danish prime minister actually did say ‘You're welcome', indicating that he had been generous and done the Arab TV channel a favour. Some thought it was the other way around!