Cambodians traditionally greet each other with "Sompeah". This is a pressing of the palms together as in prayer and bowing the head slightly. Younger people or people of lower status usually initiate the greeting and the lower the bow and the higher the hand are held, the more respect is shown. Hand shacking has also been largely accepted in Cambodia. Restraint and courtesy are the focal points of Cambodian social relations. The language of both speech and gesture features these qualities. Even in the greeting one another, Cambodian indicate status for the type of greeting used depends on the rank of the person addressed. Gestures used by those of lower ranks automatically recognize the status of the higher ranks. The most complex gestures are reserved for the royal family or Buddhist monks.
Those automatically given respect-that is, those who are recognized as of higher social rank- including patrons, employers, teachers, parents, grandparents and in general, any one older. The superior returns a simpler greeting that acknowledges the respect given.
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