When Hooper announces that the fan-tail launch is overloaded, Brody appeals to his deputy with a degree of familiarity and urges him to do the same to talk some sense into the fishermen ('Lenny, that's what I'm talking about. You know their first names. Talk to those clowns.'). Hooper's next question ('Can you tell me how I could find Chief Brody?') might seem disingenuous, given that the man he's talking to clearly seems to be in charge, or it may simply be that he's just following social convention - just as he will later demonstrate the correct etiquette by bringing both red and white wine ('I didn't know what you'd be serving.') to the Brodys' dinner table.
Brody's abrupt response ('Who are you?') suggests that he thinks this is just another fisherman in search of the bounty on the shark. Hooper holds out his hand and introduces himself, reducing his first name to a single syllable with no fancy academic title in front of it. He looks down at his extended hand in anticipation of a response and there's a minor beat of hesitation before Brody takes it. When the chief realizes who he's speaking to there's a sense of relief in his voice, and he claps Hooper on the shoulder and repeats his own name enthusiastically. Within a couple of scenes, Hooper will be on first name terms with Brody, which - if you're looking for a homo-erotic subtext to the relationship between the male leads - could be a good place to start.
The conventional introduction that identifies the oceanographer to both the movie's main protagonist and its audience is in contrast to the manner in which Quint introduces himself without any reference to his name ('You all know me.'). In Jaws, characters use names and titles as a means of asserting authority, or showing either affection or contempt, as well as a way of trying to ingratiate themselves. The mayor first hails Brody by his rank and surname from across the street outside the hardware store, but on the ferry calls him Martin. Ellen uses Brody's title in a way that is both mocking and tender. Quint delivers the same title with a degree of sarcasm, but on board the Orca uses it in a tone of respect. The fisherman barks out orders to Hooper in much the same way that Captain Bligh referred to Mr Christian on the Bounty, but later drops the honorific as an acknowledgement of the young man's bravery.
