异类之不一样的成功启示录 第151期:文化因素对飞机失事的影响

 　　In 1994, when Boeing first published safety data, showing a clear correlation¹ between a country's plane crashes and its score on Hofstede's dimensions, the company's researchers practically tied themselves in knots trying not to draw offense².

　　1994年，波音公司第一次公开发表了一份安全数据，该数据表明一个国家的飞机事故频率与其霍夫斯泰德维度上的数值有很大关联，公司的调查人员表示他们没有任何冒犯之意。

　　"We are not saying there's anything here, but we think there's something there" is how Boeing's chief engineer for airplane safety put it. Why are we so squeamish?

　　我们认为现在罕有这种情况发生，但是那时这种情况确实有发生，波音总工程师怎样看待飞机安全问题呢？为什么我们会如此小心翼翼？

　　Why is the fact that each of us comes from a culture with its own distinctive³ makes of strength and weaknesses, tendencies and predispositions, so difficult to acknowledge?

　　我们每个人所处的文化都会有优势与弱势，问题处理方式的趋势与倾向，为什么会难以公开？

　　We cannot pretend that each person is a product simply of our own lifes and experiences. When we ignore culture, planes crash.

　　我们不能够假设我们只是个人生命与经验的产物，正如同我们不能够忽略文化因素对飞机失事的影响那样。

　　Back to the cockpit. "Today weather radar⁴ has helped us a lot." No pilot would say that now.

　　回到驾驶舱。“气象雷达为我们提供了很大帮助。”现在没有一个飞行员会这样讲话。

　　But this was 1997, before Korean Air took its power distance issues seriously.

　　但是这发生在1997年，发生在大韩航空公司严肃考虑权利距离问题前。

　　The captain was tired, and the engineer's true meaning sailed over his head.

　　机长很疲惫，飞行工程师真实的意思并没有进入机长的脑海。

　　"Yes," the captain says in response."They are very useful." He isn't listening.

　　机长只是回应说：“是的，他们非常有用。”但他没有注意听。

　　The plane is flying toward the VOR beacon⁵ and the VOR is on the side of a mountain.The weather hasn't broken, so the pilots can't see anything.

　　飞机朝着VOR的定位点飞去，但VOR的定位点却是在山上，天气能见度很差，因此飞行员看不见任何东西。

　　The captain puts the landing gear down, and extends the flaps.At 1:41:48, the captain says, "Wiper on," and the flight engineer turns them on.

　　机长启动着陆引擎并展开翼襟。在1点41分48秒，机长说道：“打开雨刷。”然后飞行工程师打开雨刷。外面下起雨。

　　At 01:41:59, the first officer asks, "Not in sight?" He is looking for the runway. He can't see it. He's had a sinking feelings in stomach for some time now.

　　在1点41分59秒，副驾说：“看不见。”他在寻找跑道，他看不见。他有种不详的预感。

　　One second later, the Ground Proximity⁶ Warning System calls out, in its toneless electronic voice, "500 feet."

　　一秒钟以后，地面警告系统用毫无音调的电子声音说：“500英尺。”飞机距离地面还有500英尺。而这个地面却意味着尼米兹山的一面。

　　But the crew is confused because they think that the ground means the runway, and how can that be if they can't see the runway.

　　但是机组人员不清楚，因为他们以为地面意味着跑道。如果他们看不见跑道怎么办？

1 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

2 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

3 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

4 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

5 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

6 proximity   

n.接近，邻近

参考例句：

• Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
• Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。