go2study - zep columns 001

二、文化差异分析

美国人常在结束交谈之前向对方说句“邀请”用语，其实是告别用语。如果对方理解这一告别用语，他就不会对这番话感到突然，於是双方会很自然地将这一信号转入告辞语，然再分手。以下两句常被误爲“空头支票”：“Let’s get together sometime.” “ I hope I will see you soon”。如果把这两句表达翻译成汉语，我们对这两句表达必定会理解爲“邀请”。其实并非如此。

美国妇女朱迪想结束与卡门的交谈，说了这麽一句话：“Maybe we could get together at each other’s houses sometime, 而卡门以爲这是邀请她的用语，对此信以爲真。此後卡门一直在等待朱迪的邀请，可朱迪的邀请从未兑现，这使卡门大失所望，认爲朱迪是不可信赖的朋友，不守信用。

産生这种误解的根本原因在於不同的民族在邀请用语方面存在悬殊的文化差异：朱迪并无邀请之意，仅表示对交谈很感兴趣；而卡门却以自己的文化习惯来理解这一用语，认爲这是向朋友发出的邀请，因而她一直等待朱迪安排下一次约会的具体时间。其实朱迪对卡门的答复仅是一种应酬。在这种情况下，如果卡门再作主动的询问，这种误解就会消除，或许会使朱迪的含糊邀请成爲正式的邀请，实现下一次约会。

	卡门主动地询问
Judy	“Maybe we could get together at each other's houses sometime, I'm sure the kids would enjoy that.”
Carmen	“Sure. That would be nice.”
Judy	“Yeah. Let's do it soon.”
Carmen	“How about this Friday morning？ Are you free？”
Judy	“I'm not sure. I have to check my calendar.”
Carmen	“okay. If that day's not good for you, maybe we could meet Monday morning．”
Judy	“OK. I’ll give you a call.”
Carmen	“Or I can call you. Let's exchange phone numbers.”

	（Carmen and Judy give each other their phone numbers and continue to talk．）

叁、正式的邀请

英美人士的正式邀请具有以下特徵：

明确的内容 2）明确的地点 3）具体的时间 4）请求答复

如： I would like to invite you for a reception at my house at 8 Friday evening, can you come?

1	A	We really should get together sometime.
	B	Yeah. We really should.
	A	You know my number. Just give me a call.
	B	OK.

2	A	Listen, I have a lot to talk to you about. Think we should try to have lunch together sometime soon.
	B	OK.
	A	I’ll call you.
	B	Sounds good

3	A	Okay. Good talking to you. Let’s get together sometime.
	B	Sounds good.
	A	I’ll call you one of these days and we’ll set up a time that’s good for both of us.
	B	Great. Talk to you soon.
	A	See you soon
	B	Talk to you later.

Deena	“Jim, are you and Claudine free on Saturday night? We’d like to have you over for a diner.”
Jim	“Yes. I think we’re free. That sounds nice.”
Deena	“If you can, let’s make it for 8:00 or 8:30 after the kids are asleep.”
Jim	“Good idea.”