文化差異

字號(hào):

第一幕:一位學(xué)校領(lǐng)導(dǎo)向教師們介紹新來的美國(guó)老師
    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.
    對(duì)這番話,美國(guó)女教師一臉難堪的樣子。
    文化差異:中國(guó)人介紹來賓,喜歡用褒揚(yáng)的話語(yǔ)言辭。但美國(guó)人認(rèn)為,初次結(jié)識(shí),相互介紹,不必評(píng)頭論足。凡是主觀性的評(píng)論,盡管是美言,也會(huì)給人唐突、強(qiáng)加的感覺。對(duì)以上那番話,美國(guó)女教師感到難堪的是pretty和good兩個(gè)詞。在那種場(chǎng)合,介紹應(yīng)該突出被介紹人的身份、學(xué)歷、職務(wù)等,而不應(yīng)該是外貌和抽象的評(píng)論。相比之下,如果把pretty和good改成實(shí)際教育背景和經(jīng)歷,這樣的介紹句比較客觀,令人容易接受。比較下面改變措辭的介紹: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.
    特別忠告:介紹客人要介紹客觀事實(shí),不要主觀評(píng)論。要注重身份,不要著眼外貌。
    第二幕:一位美國(guó)同事感冒了,中國(guó)同事表示關(guān)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?
    文化差異:美國(guó)人比較看中個(gè)人的獨(dú)立性。受人照顧往往被視為弱者。給對(duì)方出主意或提建議時(shí),不能使對(duì)方認(rèn)為自己小看他的能力。美國(guó)人對(duì)上面第一句話的反應(yīng)通常是“Take care of yourself. I hope you'll be better soon.”不必教人怎么做。中國(guó)人則以出主意提建議表示關(guān)心,而且以兄弟姐妹或父母親人的口吻,或以過來人的口氣,這對(duì)美國(guó)人行不通。
    特別忠告:對(duì)病人表示關(guān)心,不必盡提建議。
    特別成就感:
    (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?
    第三幕:有空來坐坐
    一位美國(guó)教師在中國(guó)任教,中國(guó)同事總是對(duì)她說:“有空來坐坐”??墒牵肽赀^去了,美國(guó)同事從來沒有上過門。中國(guó)同事又對(duì)她說:“我真的歡迎你來家里坐坐。如果沒空的話,隨時(shí)打電話來聊聊也行?!币荒晗聛?,美國(guó)同事既沒有來電話,也沒有來訪。奇怪的事,這位美國(guó)人常為沒人邀請(qǐng)她而苦惱。
    文化差異:中國(guó)親朋好友合同事之間的串門很隨便,邀請(qǐng)別人來訪無需問對(duì)方確定時(shí)間,自己去探訪別人無需鄭重其事征得同意。美國(guó)人則沒有串門的習(xí)慣。一年內(nèi)遇到大節(jié)日,親朋好友才到家里聚一聚。平時(shí)如果有事上門,首先要有時(shí)間確切的預(yù)約。沒有得到對(duì)方的應(yīng)允,隨時(shí)隨地隨便上門時(shí)不禮貌的行為。因此,美國(guó)同事對(duì)“有空來坐坐”這句話只當(dāng)作虛禮客套,不當(dāng)作正式邀請(qǐng)。無事打電話閑聊也是美國(guó)人視為打亂別人私人時(shí)間和活動(dòng)安排的藐視行為。若想邀請(qǐng)美國(guó)人上門,應(yīng)當(dāng)誠(chéng)意的于對(duì)方商定一個(gè)互相都方便的時(shí)間。
    特別忠告:有心約會(huì)要主動(dòng)約時(shí)間地點(diǎn)
    特別成就感:
    (1)I'd like to make an appointment with you. When will you be free/available?
    (2)Let's get together some time next week. What date do you suggest?
    (3)How about coming to my place for dinner this Saturday?
    (4)I'd like to… What time would be convenient for you?
    (5)Would…suit you?
    (6)I wonder if we could arrange a meeting…
    (7)Do you happen to be free on…?
    (8)Have you got any plan for this weekend? How about…?
    (9)I am having some friends around during the weekend. Would you like to join us?
    第四幕:親密無間
    一位美國(guó)教授來華任教,她主動(dòng)讓學(xué)生稱呼她的名字Mary,聲明不必以她的姓氏與頭銜相稱,如:Dr. Smith或Prof. Smith。不久,她和學(xué)生已相處很好,上門找她的學(xué)生絡(luò)繹不絕,使她應(yīng)接不暇,倍受侵?jǐn)_。有的學(xué)生見面時(shí),與她開玩笑說:“中國(guó)菜好吃吧?瞧你胖了不少呢!”在路上,一些陌生人也對(duì)她大大咧咧地喊聲“Hello, Mary?!彼凉u漸地苦惱起來。
    文化差異:在美國(guó),教授對(duì)學(xué)生,老板對(duì)雇員,甚至長(zhǎng)輩對(duì)晚輩,常常主動(dòng)要求以名相稱,以示關(guān)系隨和。但這是在他/她本人允許的前提下,而且是表面形式而已。如果素昧平生,毫無往來,或只是初打交道,冒然稱呼對(duì)方的名字,會(huì)給人“冒失鬼”、“粗魯漢”的印象。另外,對(duì)方平等待人、不拘身份,不等于可以讓人肆無忌憚,無拘無束,沒大沒小。相處時(shí),嘴巴上以名相稱,心中仍應(yīng)記住對(duì)方的身份。在一些莊重場(chǎng)合,例如:老師和校長(zhǎng)在一起時(shí),學(xué)生對(duì)老師不能象往常那樣直呼其名,必須以“某某教授”或“某博士”相稱。英美人即使當(dāng)關(guān)系變得很熟悉時(shí),仍然不會(huì)親密“無間”。他們對(duì)各自的隱私領(lǐng)地會(huì)保持距離。隱私包括私人時(shí)間、住所、物品、年齡、體重、長(zhǎng)相等等。在上面的例子中,中國(guó)學(xué)生犯了三個(gè)忌:隨處叫名、隨時(shí)上門、隨便評(píng)論體重。所以美國(guó)老師很不習(xí)慣。
    特別忠告:稱呼和上門要得到對(duì)方允許,交談不要論及對(duì)方隱私。
    特別成就感:
    1) May I call you…?
    2) Is it all right if I call you…?
    3) You can call me John.
    4) Please call me Mary.
    5) I'd like you to call me Jim.
    6) I'd like to pay you a visit. When will you be free?
    7) I'd like to drop in on you (tomorrow afternoon) if it's all right with you.
    8) Shall I come over (this afternoon)?
    9) Do you mind talking in your place?
    第五幕:一概而論
    一位中國(guó)人在與美國(guó)朋友交談時(shí)說:“American young people are too casual about ***..”(美國(guó)青年對(duì)性生活太隨便.)美國(guó)人則回答:“Well…”
    文化差異:在跨文化交際過程中,應(yīng)當(dāng)避免一概而論的偏見?!皌o be”這個(gè)動(dòng)詞有時(shí)會(huì)導(dǎo)致絕對(duì)的錯(cuò)誤。因此,表示“是”的巧妙方法是在be 前加修飾詞。如:可能、也許、似乎、我認(rèn)為等等。上面那句話可以這么說:
    As I know, some American young people seem to be casual about ***. (據(jù)我所知,有些美國(guó)青年似乎對(duì)性生活很隨便。)
    特別忠告:對(duì)人對(duì)事對(duì)現(xiàn)象不要一概而論,特別是對(duì)異國(guó)文化現(xiàn)象的評(píng)論。
    特別成就感:
    1) It seem to me that…
    2) It appears that…
    3) I have the impression that…