三則小故事折射出的中西文化差異

第一幕：一位學(xué)校領(lǐng)導(dǎo)向教師們介紹新來(lái)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(lái)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(jué)。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)該突出背介紹人的身份、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(guò)來(lái)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。

可以使用下列句型：

(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(lái)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(shuō)：“有空來(lái)坐坐”?？墒牵肽赀^(guò)去了，美國(guó)同事從來(lái)沒(méi)有上過(guò)門。中國(guó)同事又對(duì)她說(shuō)：“我真的歡迎你來(lái)家里坐坐。如果沒(méi)空的話，隨時(shí)打電話來(lái)聊聊也行。”一年下來(lái)，美國(guó)同事既沒(méi)有來(lái)電話，也沒(méi)有來(lái)訪。奇怪的事，這位美國(guó)人常為沒(méi)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(lái)訪無(wú)需為對(duì)方確定時(shí)間，自己去探訪別人無(wú)需鄭重其事征得同意。美國(guó)人則沒(méi)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，實(shí)現(xiàn)要有時(shí)間確切的預(yù)約。沒(méi)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(lái)坐坐”這句話只當(dāng)作虛禮客套，不當(dāng)作正式邀請(qǐng)。無(wú)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)安排的毛是行為。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)

可以使用下列句型：

(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?