生活英語情景主題:注意姿態

Isabella: Matthew, do you know much about body language in countries around the world?
Matthew: sure, I’ve picked up a few things from travelling around for work. Why?
I: well, I had a meeting today with a woman from Japan and she wouldn’t stop bowing! I didn’t know what to do!
M: did you bow back?
I: no, I tried to shake her hand, but her hand was so limp I was a bit offended.
M: well, Japanese businessmen and women typically bow to greet each other in Japan. She might have been offended by your strong handshake.
I: but she was in America! Shouldn’t she have known that strong handshakes in America signify confidence and respect?
M: things are different in Japan. You know, in some countries, making eye contact with others is considered rude.
I: is that why she wouldn’t look at me in the meeting?
M: I think it’s highly possible, yes.
I: 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.
M: that’s a good idea. When you don’t know much about other cultures, the simplest thing can offend someone.
I: that’s so true. It’s great that we see eye to eye on this.

伊莎貝拉: 馬修，你瞭解世界各國的身體語言嗎？
馬修：當然。我工作中有很多出差的機會，瞭解到一些這方面的知識。怎麼了？
伊：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？我不知道該怎麼辦！
M：哦，在日本，談生意的人無論男女一般都會互相鞠躬致意。你握手那麼用力踏很可能因此而有點不愉快。
I：但她這是在美國！難道她不知道，在美國用力握手意味着信任和尊重嗎？
M：這跟日本的習俗完全不同。你知道嗎，在有些國家，直視對方的眼睛被認爲是無理的舉動。
I：這就是她爲什麼在開會時一直不看我的原因吧？
M：我覺得很可能是這個緣故。
I：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蔘加的會議之前，一定要熟知一些有關跨文化交流方面的知識。
M：這是個好主意。當你對另一種文化缺乏瞭解的時候，即使是最簡單的舉止也會冒犯到別人。
I：一點沒錯。真高興咱倆對這件事情看法一致。

Bow 彎腰，鞠躬
Crawl 向前爬
Kneel 跪下
Pull 拉，拔
Handshake 握手
Smile 微笑
Nod 點頭
Climb 向上爬
Dive 跳水
Lean 傾斜，斜倚

A very strong handshake shows that the person is aggressive.
握手時非常用力，表明這個人可能有敵意和挑釁的意味。

In North America, people who are facing each other generally want about three feet of space in front of them.
在北美，人們面對面交談時要保留三英尺左右的距離。

In some countries, looking at someone in the eye is considered rude.
在某些國家，直視對方的眼睛會被認爲是無理的表現。

Mary is a difficult supervisor. She will really get in your face if you make a mistake.
瑪麗這個主管很難相處。只要你做錯事她就會毫不客氣的批評你。