礼节美语 Body Language IV

公司主管Andy又请专门研究肢体语言的Monica给公司销售员 Sara和James培训。Monica说:

Monica:Okay, so we talked about composure. Let's go in the other direction now and talk about humor.

J:Ah, that's something that's always puzzled me. Is it a good idea to make jokes?

M:Research shows that people are more likely to accept an idea if it's wrapped in humor. But the point isn't about finding a really funny joke. Laughter is actually about bonding.

S:Yes...I've noticed that many times people at a meeting are all laughing about something that really isn't all that funny.

Monica接下来谈到了幽默在生意场上的作用。他说，有调查发现，用幽默的方式把一件事情说出来，更容易被对方接受。但关键不是要讲一个特别好笑的笑话，而是笑声能加强人与人之间的纽带。

M:That's right! They are not really joking...they are attempting to bond.

A:So go ahead and throw in a funny comment or a clever remark...but there's got to be some minefields we should avoid as well, right?

M:Yeah...don't make dirty, sexist or racist jokes or comments. And of course don't humiliate anyone.

J:I have a question. I'm never quite sure where to sit during a business meeting.

M:The ancient Chinese art of "Feng Shui" teaches that you should never sit with the door behind you—and actually there's a scientific reason for that.

虽然及时讲个笑话，或是发表一点幽默的评论能有助于调节气氛，加强纽带，但讲笑话也有一些需要忌讳的地方，或者说是 minefield 雷区。Don't make dirty, sexist or racist jokes or comments. Monica说，不要讲黄色笑话、性别歧视的笑话和种族歧视的笑话，而且不要 humiliate 羞辱别人。James问了一个很简单的问题，那就是，开会的时候应该坐在哪儿。Monica 说，按照中国风水里的讲究，后背不要对着门，这是有科学道理的，为什么呢？

M:When a person's back is placed towards an open space he becomes stressed; his blood pressure increases and his heart beats faster.

S:That makes sense! People subconsciously worry about getting attacked if they don't know what's lurking behind them.

J:Interesting. I'll be sure to sit facing the door from now on!

A:Monica, thank you for another great class! I think we all learned a lot today.

M:My pleasure! See you next time!

Monica 解释说，如果后背对着开放的空间，那这个人就容易有压力，血压升高，心跳加速，因为他们不知道身后可能会隐藏着什么危险，They don't know what's lurking behind them. 所以会下意识地感到不安全，因此在选择座位时，最好是脸冲着门。怎么样，大家是不是也学到了一些以前不知道的事情呢？

B:I don't actually mind having a seat with the door behind me—as long as that's not the default place for the person who pays the bill.

A:哈哈! 你是说，只要不是负责结帐的人专门坐的位子就行？我同意！其实中国人饭桌是圆的，就是为了不分主次，所以坐哪儿都差不多。

B:好了，After our business class, let's take a break. Up next is American Sports English!