与外国人交往的常识
第一幕:一位学校领导向教师们介绍新来的美国老师 Ladies and gentlemen, I’m delighted to introduce to you a very pretty girl, Miss Brown. She is a very good teacher from the USA. 对这番话,美国女教师一脸难堪的样子。 文化差异:中国人介绍来宾,喜欢用褒扬的话语言辞。但美国人认为,初次结识,相互介绍,不必评头论足。凡是主观性的评论,尽管是美言,也会给人唐突、强加的感觉。对以上那番话,美国女教师感到难堪的是pretty和good两个词。在那种场合,介绍应该突出背介绍人的身份、学历、职务等,而不应该是外貌和抽象的评论。相比之下,如果把pretty和good改成实际教育背景和经历,这样的介绍句比较客观,令人容易接受。比较下面改变措辞的介绍: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m delighted to introduce to you a new teacher from the USA., Miss Ann Brown. She is a doctor of American Literature with experience of teaching English as a Foreign Language. 特别忠告:介绍客人要介绍客观事实,不要主观评论。要注重身份,不要着眼外貌。
第二幕:一位美国同事感冒了,中国同事表示关心 Chinese: You look pale. What’s the matter? American: I’m feeling sick. A cold, maybe. Chinese: Go and see the doctor. Drink more water. Did you take any pills? Chinese medicine works wonderful. Would you like to try? Put on more clothes. Have a good rest. American: You are not my mother, are you? 文化差异:美国人比较看中个人的独立性。受人照顾往往被视为弱者。给对方出主意或提建议时,不能使对方认为自己小看他的能力。美国人对上面第一句话的反应通常是“Take care of yourself. I hope you’ll be better soon.”不必教人怎么做。中国人则以出主意提建议表示关心,而且以兄弟姐妹或父母亲人的口吻,或以过来人的口气,这对美国人行不通。 特别忠告:对病人表示关心,不必尽提建议。 特别成就感:(1)I’m sorry to hear that (you’ve got a bad cold). (2)I hope you’ll be all right very soon. (3)Take extra care of yourself. (4)That’s too bad. What’s the matter? (5)How are you feeling now? |