瘋狂英語(yǔ)夏令營(yíng)絕密資料(二)

is her name? (to someone with a daughter)
第九幕:正面回答與否
美國(guó)朋友從住所出來(lái),中國(guó)朋友與她路上相遇,并與她打招呼。
Chinese: Hi, Jean. Where are you going?
American: Hi, Yifang.
Chinese: Wow, what a special minority blouse (婦女的寬松衣服) you are wearing! I guess it’s made of silk. (feeling it) How much did it cost?
American: I bought it in Yunnan and it’s worth the cost, I think.
Chinese: Did you get it at a bargain(廉價(jià)品,特價(jià)品) sale?
American: Oh, the bargain sale is really a scene(特色,風(fēng)景).
文化差異:英美人對(duì)于錢有關(guān)的問(wèn)題采取回避的態(tài)度。一般情況下,他們互相不問(wèn)收入或價(jià)錢這類問(wèn)題,問(wèn)了也不會(huì)得到確切答復(fù)。關(guān)于價(jià)錢,人們不提是因?yàn)椴幌胱屓酥雷约旱呢?cái)經(jīng)狀況和消費(fèi)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。中國(guó)人喜歡噓寒問(wèn)暖,對(duì)個(gè)人隱私問(wèn)長(zhǎng)問(wèn)短不足為奇。月薪收入和購(gòu)物價(jià)錢更是朋友家必問(wèn)的話題。對(duì)自己新買的東西,即使對(duì)方不問(wèn),有的人也會(huì)主動(dòng)告知,或讓對(duì)方猜價(jià)錢。對(duì)此,中國(guó)有句俗話“逢人減壽,見貨添錢”,意思是猜年齡時(shí)往小數(shù)說(shuō),采購(gòu)物價(jià)錢時(shí)往大數(shù)報(bào)。聽的人就會(huì)有一種心理安慰和愉悅。對(duì)收入問(wèn)題,在大多數(shù)情況下,人們都會(huì)如實(shí)回答,坦率的互報(bào)家境。但如今收入差距拉大之后,越來(lái)越多的人也會(huì)含糊其辭,說(shuō)些約摸大概的話。例如:
問(wèn):你現(xiàn)在每月掙多少錢? 答:大約…(真實(shí)數(shù)字)
或答:不多,一般化。不如(某人)多,他/她能掙到…
不夠你有本事啦。(哪有你能干啊)
聽起來(lái)不少,但我要支付…
大概…(少于實(shí)際數(shù)字)
在上面的例子中,Jean對(duì)三個(gè)問(wèn)題沒(méi)有正面回答:
Where are you going?
How much did it cost?
Did you get it at a bargain sale?
并對(duì)一個(gè)動(dòng)作有反感:touch her blouse
中國(guó)人喜歡用“上哪去”打招呼,問(wèn)的人并不真正關(guān)心對(duì)方上哪去,被問(wèn)的人也無(wú)需認(rèn)真回答去哪兒,通常說(shuō)聲“不去哪”或“有事去”。英美人不明所以,以為對(duì)方多管閑事,干預(yù)隱私。在英美國(guó)家,“Where are you going?”常常是警察查問(wèn)可疑的人或妻子詢問(wèn)丈夫的行蹤時(shí)間的。朋友之間的確需要了解去向,才問(wèn)“Which way are you heading?”。中國(guó)人談?wù)搶?duì)方的衣飾服裝時(shí),有時(shí)會(huì)用手去觸摸,這也適應(yīng)美人犯忌的行為。
特別忠告:不要用“上哪去”打招呼;不要問(wèn)與對(duì)方開支收入有關(guān)的問(wèn)題;不要用手觸摸對(duì)方的身體和衣物。
第十幕:打圓場(chǎng)
有時(shí)候在用英語(yǔ)交際時(shí),雙方因不適當(dāng)?shù)膶?duì)話會(huì)引起別扭或誤會(huì)。
文化差異:在用英語(yǔ)交際時(shí),有些人盡管語(yǔ)音語(yǔ)調(diào)語(yǔ)法乃至措辭都沒(méi)有錯(cuò)誤,擔(dān)任覺(jué)察雙方之間有點(diǎn)別扭。這些別扭顯然不是語(yǔ)言引起的,而是語(yǔ)言所包含的文化差異的緣故。在這種情況下,可以用道歉與解釋打圓場(chǎng)。
特別成就感:當(dāng)自己的問(wèn)題令對(duì)方別扭時(shí)
1) I hope you don’t mind if…
2) Please let me know if I (embarrass you in any way…which makes you feel embarrassed)
3) I’m sorry to have asked you such a question, I didn’t mean to offend you.
4) Forget it if the question bothers you. In my culture, people…
5) In my country, it’s all right to…
當(dāng)對(duì)方的問(wèn)題令自己別扭時(shí)
1) I’m afraid I don’t care much about that sort of thing.
2) It’s hard to answer this question for you.
3) It’s a complicated matter, I think.
瘋狂英語(yǔ)絕密資料(三)
第十一幕:Yes三用
A: Mr. Smith.
B: Yes?
A: May I ask you a question?
B: Yes, sure.
A: Don’t you like pop music?
B: Yes, I do.
對(duì)話中所出現(xiàn)的三個(gè)yes分別是什么意思?
文化差異:第一個(gè)yes是對(duì)別人的呼喚做反應(yīng),表示“我聽到了,叫我有什么事嗎?”第二個(gè)yes是對(duì)對(duì)方問(wèn)題的肯定答復(fù),表示“你可以問(wèn)”。第三個(gè)yes是根據(jù)自己的實(shí)際情況回答對(duì)方的問(wèn)題“我喜歡”,
