美国人的问候方式

     East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." At least, that's what English writer Rudyard Kipling said. Truth is, nowadays Easterners and Westerners meet quite often. And when they do meet, naturally, they have to find an appropriate greeting. Aye, there's the rub. What's culturally appropriate for people in one culture may be completely out of line in another culture. So the best approach is to follow the well-known maxim¹, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."「东方是东方，西方是西方，两者是不会相会的。」至少，英国短篇小说家吉普林是如此认为。事实上，当今东方人与西方人时常碰面。当他们会面时，自然而然地必须找出一种合适的问候方式。唉，这就麻烦了！在某个文化里可能恰到好处的事，到另一个文化里，就可能过分踰矩。因此，最佳的做法就是遵守这个耳熟能详的行事准则：「入境随俗」。

    So what's an appropriate salutation for Americans? Maybe you already know how to say, "How are you?" You might even know the customary response, "Fine, thanks, and you?" Is that all there is to greeting people American-style? Well, Americans do often use this trite² greeting, and they generally expect nothing but the standard answer. (If you want to shock an American friend, the next time he greets you this way, tell him how you're really doing.) But most Americans enjoy a little variety now and then. In informal settings, you might hear Americans say, "How's it going?" (which doesn't mean, "What's your destination?") or "What's up?" (which isn't an inquiry³ about the stock market). Formal situations, on the other hand might call for expressions like "Good morning" or "Hello, it's nice to see you."那么，对美国人而言，什么才是适当的问候语？可能你已经懂得怎么说「How are you?」（你好吗？）你甚至也知道一般常用的回答「Fine, thanks, and you?」（我很好，谢谢，你呢？）用美国的方式来问候别人，就仅仅如此而已吗？其实美国人的确常用这老套的问候方式，而他们所期待的，也只是一般的标准回答。（你如果想让你的美国朋友吃惊，下一次他如此问候你时，你就把你真正的感觉告诉他。）但是，多数的美国人偶而会喜欢有些变化。在非正式的场合里，你可能听到美国人说「How's it going?」 (它不是在问「你的目的地是哪里？」)或者是「What's up?」(它也不是询问股市的动态) 而在另一方面，一个正式的场合所使用的问候语，则可能是「Good morning」（早安），或是「Hello, it is nice to see you.」（哈啰！很高兴见到你。）After the initial "hello," what kind of comments are appropriate to kick off a conversation? You might engage in small talk and make a remark about the weather, your job or current events. Or you could ask your American friend about his recent activities or his upcoming plans. If you know that he's been under the weather, you might ask him how he's feeling. But don't make use of personal comments or questions like "Boy, you've put on weight!" or "What are all those bumps on your face?" or "How much money did that necklace cost?" Americans might take offense⁴ at questions or comments about money or their appearance.

    说了开场的「Hello」之后，用什么话来适当地打开话闸子呢？你可能与对方闲聊，提及天气、你的工作或是时事。或者，你可以问你的美国朋友他最近做了什么，或是再来的计划有哪些。如果你知道他一直身体不适，你或许可以问他感觉如何。但千万不要用牵涉个人的评语或问题，像是：「唷！你体重又增加了！」或是「你脸上一粒一粒的是怎么来的？」或是「那条项练你花了多少钱？」美国人可能会对于有关金钱以及个人外表的问题或批评，感到反感。

    One other caution: In some social contexts, particularly in an office or a professional setting, greetings between the sexes should be very conservative. If you're a man, greeting a woman with a statement like "Wow! You look beautiful today!" may be construed⁵ as a come--on. So when you're giving a compliment, the key is to use discretion⁶.

    另一项值得注意的：在某种社交场合，尤其是在办公室或专业场合里，两性之间的问候应该非常保守。如果你是男性，而问候女性时你说：「哇！你今天真漂亮！」这可能会被误解为一种挑逗行为。因此，赞美他人时，仔细斟酌非常重要。

    What about overt⁷ displays of affection, like hugging and kissing? Contrary to some stereotypes⁸, Americans don't go around hugging and kissing everyone they meet. Of course, girls might give each other a squeeze as a friendly gesture, and in some high society circles, a little peck on the cheek is a common courtesy. But except with family members and close friends, Americans usually don't give out wholesale⁹ hugs. Besides that, not all Americans are inveterate¹⁰ huggers anyway. So don't wrap your arms around the next American you see. He or she might be just as uncomfortable as you are.

    那么，公开地表示感情，例如拥抱以及亲吻，又该如何呢？美国人与一般人所认定的典型不同，他们并不会到处拥抱、亲吻遇见的每一个人。当然，女性们可能会在见面时彼此紧抱一下以示友好；而且在某些上流社交圈里，轻吻对方的面颊是很普遍的礼节。但除了对家人与好友外，美国人通常不会经常随便拥抱他人。此外，并不是每一位美国人都习惯拥抱他人。因此，不要随便把手臂环住下一个你碰到的美国人。他可能会跟你一样地不自在。

1 maxim   

n.格言，箴言

参考例句：

• Please lay the maxim to your heart.请把此格言记在心里。
• "Waste not,want not" is her favourite maxim.“不浪费则不匮乏”是她喜爱的格言。

2 trite   

adj.陈腐的

参考例句：

• The movie is teeming with obvious and trite ideas.这部电影充斥着平铺直叙的陈腐观点。
• Yesterday,in the restaurant,Lorraine had seemed trite,blurred,worn away.昨天在饭店里，洛兰显得庸俗、堕落、衰老了。

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 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。

5 construed   

v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析

参考例句：

• He considered how the remark was to be construed. 他考虑这话该如何理解。
• They construed her silence as meaning that she agreed. 他们把她的沉默解释为表示赞同。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

7 overt   

adj.公开的，明显的，公然的

参考例句：

• His opponent's intention is quite overt.他的对手的意图很明显。
• We should learn to fight with enemy in an overt and covert way.我们应学会同敌人做公开和隐蔽的斗争。

8 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

10 inveterate   

adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的

参考例句：

• Hitler was not only an avid reader but also an inveterate underliner.希特勒不仅酷爱读书，还有写写划划的习惯。
• It is hard for an inveterate smoker to give up tobacco.要一位有多年烟瘾的烟民戒烟是困难的。