I：Matthew, do you know much about body language in countries around the world?

馬修，你了解世界各國的肢體語言嗎?

M：Sure, I've picked up a few things from travelling around for work. Why?

當然。我工作中有很多出差的機會，了解到一些這方面的知識。怎么了?

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!

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?我不知道該怎么辦!

M：Did you bow back?

你也鞠躬回禮了嗎?

I：No, I tried to shake her hand, but her hand was so limp I was a bit offended.

沒有，我試著和她握手，但是她的手軟弱無力，弄的我都有點不高興了。

M：Well, Japanese businessmen and women typically bow to greet each other in Japan. She might have been offended by your strong handshake.

哦，在日本，談生意的人無論男女一般都會互相鞠躬致意。你握手那么用力她很可能因此而有點不愉快。

I：But she was in America! Shouldn't she have known that strong handshakes in America signify confidence and respect?

但她這是在美國!難道她不知道，在美國用力握手意味著信任和尊重嗎?

M：Things are different in Japan. You know, in some countries, making eye contact with others is considered rude.

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為是無理的舉動

I：Is that why she wouldn’t look at me in the meeting?

這就是她為什么在開會時一直不看我的原因吧?

M：I think it's highly possible, yes.

我覺得很可能是這個緣故。

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.

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參加的會議之前，一定要熟知一些有關(guān)跨文化交流方面的知識。

M：That's a good idea. When you don’t know much about other cultures, the simplest thing can offend someone.

這是個好主意。當你對另一種文化缺乏了解的時候，即使是最簡單的舉止也會冒犯到別人。

I：That's so true. It's great that we see eye to eye on this.

一點沒錯。真高興咱倆對這件事情看法一致。