What is Protocol?

The term Protocol comes from the Greek word Proto Kollon literary means first glue, which means a leaf of paper glued to a manuscript volume, describing its contents. It may be said that protocol is the Glue that holds official life in our society together.
Origin: Dates back to 153545; Middle French prothocole, Medieval Latin prtocollum ; Late Greek prtkollon originally meaning - a leaf or tag attached to a rolled papyrus manuscript and containing notes as to contents.

 First Known Use: 1541. Later it was tied up with etiquette. Protocol is the set of traditional practices that have long been accepted & used when dealing with meeting with others. A lot of people in their lifestyle place great importance on manners, protocols and etiquette, both at events, and functions, and also in more private situations. The dictionary defines Manners as: - Ways of behaving with reference to polite standards. - A way of acting, bearing or behaviour - The socially correct way of acting.

And, how can we define a Protocol, and what is Etiquette? Protocol is defined as: A code of correct conduct The system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at official ceremonies and occasions: Etiquette is defined as: conventional requirements as to social behaviour. the set of rules or customs which control accepted behaviour in particular social groups or social situations

Identifying Protocol
PROTOCOL IN DIFFERENT SPHERES OF LIFE : Protocol may exist in all spheres of our life. It is seen in the family, in the educational institutions, meeting, programs, and where not? We find protocol at the time of eating, gossiping, respecting, hoisting flags, communication, and what not?

So Protocol reflects so many dimensions like :

- Mutual respect and consideration. - Bringing together dignitaries between nations. - Encompasses religious & cultural traditions. - Proper way of addressing dignitaries. - To the way of dress for a event. - Sitting arrangement of guest - How to fly the flag, etc

Protocol in Information Technology:

Not only in our social and business life, but the term Protocol is widely used in information technology. In information technology, a protocol is the special set of rules that end points in a telecommunication connection use when they communicate. An informal definition could be "a set of procedures to be followed when communicating"

Protocol in Information Technology:

Protocols are often described in an industry or international standard. On the Internet, there are the TCP/IP protocols, consisting of: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which uses a set of rules to exchange messages with other Internet points at the information packet level Internet Protocol (IP), which uses a set of rules to send and receive messages at the Internet address level Additional protocols that include the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP), each with defined sets of rules to use with corresponding programs elsewhere on the Internet There are many other Internet protocols, such as the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Importance of Protocol

Why Protocol is important or necessary :

- It provides a set of systematic behaviour, procedures,

- Provides harmonisation in term of public communications.

customs that needs to be observed and accepted It brings an organised way of living in the society in the aspect of society interactions It lead to good personal behaviour Facilitate smooth interaction at functions /communications /behaviour/dress/etc. Facilitate smooth running of functions / events

Application of Protocol in our everyday life

Matters that requires adherence to Protocol: (1) Seniority List (According to position and Awards) ( 2) Honorific Address / Salutations (3) Seating Arrangements (4) Sequence of Programme ( 5) Fixing / Flying of Flags (Foreign / National / State) (6) National Anthem

Other Areas where Protocol is applied

Protocol also includes:

> Red Carpet > Presentation of gifts

Etiquette also includes:

> Proper dressing / attires / colours > Shaking hands / bowing curtsies (ladies) > Dining behaviour / manners

1. Seniority List
Seniority List (According to positions and Awards): It is important to know seniority of guests invited to an official functions
for purpose of : Who to address first (salutations) and according to sequence of protocol and seating arrangement for all events. How to address if there is Presence of Royalties, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Speaker of Parliament, Judges, Chief Secretary to the Government, and other Senior Governments Officials and Foreign Guests - High Commissioners and Ambassadors. (His Excellency, His highness, Honorable, Respected etc.) Failure to accord seating arrangement according to seniority will degrade the position of the individual as seniority shows their ranks / status / social hierarchy

2. PROTOCOL FOR ADDRESSING

Example of spoken & written forms of address for U.S Government:
Person Letter of address Letter Greeting Spoken greeting Formal introduction

President of the US

The President The white house, Washington ,DC ,20500

The Honorable Jhon J.Jones Current Address The Vice President, Executive office Building, Washington ,DC ,20501

Dear Mr. (or Madam) President

Dear Mr. (Mrs., Ms ) Jones Dear Mr. (or Madam) Vice President

Mr. (or Madam) President

Mr. (Mrs., Ms ) Jones Mr. (or Madam) Vice President

The President or The president of the United States.

The Honorable Jhon J. Jones The Vice President or The president of the United States.

Former president

Vice President

Some Examples of Addressing (Malaysian style)

Honorific Address / Salutations: Governor for Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak are addressed as Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT). Their wives are addressed as Puan Yang Terutama (PYT). (Those with title TUN and wife TOH PUAN is addressed as Yang Amat
Berbahagia. Those with titles TAN SRI / DATO SERI / DATO should be addressed only as Yang Berbahgia.)

Chief Justice Yang Amat Ariff Judges - Yang Ariff High Commissioner/Ambassador His/Her Excellency Member of Parliament Yang Berhormat Dato in Pahang address as Yang Hormat Wife of Dato in Terengganu address as Toh Puan instead of Datin.

3. Seating Protocol
Correct seating arrangements for occasions such as awards ceremonies and formal dinners must be observed by the event organizers. There are a few simple rules that apply to most situations: 1. 2. When there is but a single table, the host and hostess usually sit at opposite ends, or occasionally in the center of the table facing each other.

The highest ranking male generally sits to the right of the hostess. The wife of the highest ranking man or the highest ranking woman herself sits to the right side of host.

3.

A rule that has all kinds of interesting psychological implications says that married people are never seated side by side, but those engaged are seated side by side whenever possible.

4. The ranks for various persons is determined by the rules of precedence.

Religious and Cultural Protocol : Muslim Style

Protocol for Visiting a Muslim Home Whether you are Muslim or not, you could find yourself invited to a Muslim home. There are certain rules of etiquette you should be aware of. Although your Muslim hosts will understand if you inadvertently slip up, they will be impressed that you took the time to learn their ways. Should You Bring a Gift? While it is certainly not mandatory to bring a gift while visiting, it is a nice touch. Most Muslims do bring a token gift when invited for a meal. Many also bring a gift on the first visit. So, what should you bring? If you are invited for tea or dinner, dessert is a highly appropriate gift. Just make sure that the sweets are not made with alcohol, lard, gelatin, or any other pork product. Other appropriate gifts include flowers, vases, and house wares. It probably goes without saying, but do not take a bottle of wine or other alcohol to a Muslim home. When in doubt, simply pick up a cake. You can never go wrong with sweets.

Religious and Cultural Protocol contd

Greeting Muslims Although it is acceptable here in America for unmarried men and women to embrace, it is completely unacceptable in Islam. Upon greeting a Muslim family, the men will embrace and the women will embrace, but a mixed gender embrace is a big no-no. An embrace usually entails a hug or partial hug and kissing both cheeks. Entering the Home Most Muslims remove their shoes before entering the home. They will usually have a special place reserved just outside the door or in the entry way for shoes. This is both religious and cultural. Cleanliness is very important in Islam. Muslims are not to pray in a dirty area and the bottoms of shoes are considered unclean. As a matter of courtesy, you should remove your shoes if everyone else does.

Religious and Cultural Protocol contd

Mixed Sex Interactions In many Muslim homes, the men will gather in one room and the women will congregate in another. This is because Islam strongly discourages mixing between unmarried men and women. Even in less strict households, where men and women do sit together, there are still certain rules: Flirtatious behavior should be avoided. No touching of the opposite sex, no matter how innocent. Conversation should either be between a group of women, a group of men, or the entire group together. Private conversations between an unmarried man and woman are frowned upon. When speaking to a member of the opposite sex, conversation should be relatively serious and businesslike. Overly playful speech could be misinterpreted.

Although these rules may sound rigid, most Muslims are fairly laid back. Most will not mind if you do not follow their rules. Still, it is a sign of respect to follow the rules of the household. Trust me, they will notice and appreciate your sensitivity and good manners!

Display of Flags Protocol

Display Outdoors Over the Middle of the Street It should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street. Flown at Half-staff Should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By "half-staff" is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States. Flown on the Same Halyard with Non-Nation Flags The American Flag should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the right of the flag of the United States. Suspended Over a Sidewalk The flag may be suspended from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

Display of Flags : American way

The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting national flags. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country has precedence over another A National flag should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority A flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground A tattered or faded flag should be removed and replaced Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that National flags are flown the correct way up Flags, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect The United States of America have a comprehensive Flag Code, the rules of which are detailed below

Terminologies : Flag Hoisting Terminology & Etiquette in Flag display/Hoist - the act or function of raising a flag, as on a rope Half Staff or Half Mast - the flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning Performed by first raising the flag to the top, then lowering it halfway Distress - denoted by flying the flag upside-down.

General Rules to show Respect to the National Flag

Time and Occasions Etiquette for Displaying the American Flag : is the custom to display the American flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. Night Display etiquette - the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness Manner of hoisting - The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously Inclement weather - The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is used The American flag should be displayed daily, on or near, the main administration building of every public institution Polling Day Etiquette - The American flag should be displayed in, or near, every polling place on election days Schoolhouse Flag Etiquette - The American flag should be displayed, during school days, in or near every schoolhouse

Displaying the Flag : some illustrations

1. When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street. 2. The flag of the United States of America, when it
is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right [that means the viewer's left --Webmaster], and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag

Displaying the Flag : some illustrations

3. The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. 4. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building.

The Flag of Bangladesh

National Flag of Bangladesh

The national flag of Bangladesh was a product which first came into idea of painter Quamrul Hasan. On the 3rd March 1971, ASM Abdur Rab, the then VP of Dhaka University Students Union had the honour of hoisting the first flag of Independent Bangladesh at the Dhaka University premise popularly known as Bat-tala. The present flag , quite different from the first one, is bottle green in the background, rectangular in size in the proportion of length to width 10:6. The red circle has a radius of one-fifth of the length of the flag. Red circle is placed on the intersecting point of the perpendicular drawn from the ninetwentieth part of the length and the horizontal line drawn through the middle of its width. The flag of Bangladesh was first hoisted in the UN September 1974.