A:Matthew, do you know much about body language in countries around the world?馬修,你了解世界各國的肢體語言嗎?
B:Sure, I've picked up a few things from travelling around for work. Why?當然。我工作中有很多出差的機會,了解到一些這方面的知識。怎么了?
A:Well, I had a meeting today with a woman from Japan and she wouldn't stop bowing! I didn't know what to do!好哎,我今天參加了一個會議,會上有個日本女子總是不停地鞠躬?我不知道該怎么辦!
B:Did you bow back?你也鞠躬回禮了嗎?
A:No, I tried to shake her hand, but her hand was so limp I was a bit offended.沒有,我試著和她握手,但是她的手軟弱無力,弄的我都有點不高興了。
B:Well, Japanese businessmen and women typically bow to greet each other in Japan. She might have been offended by your strong handshake.哦,在日本,談生意的人無論男女一般都會互相鞠躬致意。你握手那么用力她很可能因此而有點不愉快。
A:But she was in America! Shouldn't she have known that strong handshakes in America signify confidence and respect?但她這是在美國!難道她不知道,在美國用力握手意味著信任和尊重嗎?
B:Things are different in Japan. You know, in some countries, making eye contact with others is considered rude.這跟日本的習(xí)俗完全不同。你知道嗎,在有些國家,直視對方的眼睛被認為是無理的舉動
A:Is that why she wouldn’t look at me in the meeting?這就是她為什么在開會時一直不看我的原因吧?
B:I think it's highly possible, yes.我覺得很可能是這個緣故。
A:The meeting really didn’t go down well at all. I think I need to read up about intercultural communication before I have another meeting with someone from another country.這次的會晤進行得非常不順利。我想下次再出席類似這樣有外國人參加的會議之前,一定要熟知一些有關(guān)跨文化交流方面的知識。
B:That's a good idea. When you don’t know much about other cultures, the simplest thing can offend someone.這是個好主意。當你對另一種文化缺乏了解的時候,即使是最簡單的舉止也會冒犯到別人。
A:That's so true. It's great that we see eye to eye on this.一點沒錯。真高興咱倆對這件事情看法一致。