Addressing a German business person by his or her last name instead of using a first name is an example of observing a cultural adiaphora.

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Addressing a German business person by his or her last name instead of using a first name is an example of observing a cultural imperative. Imperatives refer to what one must or must not do in a certain culture, and in Germany a person must be addressed by his or her last name, even in close business relationships.

Addressing a German Business Person by His or Her Last