礼节美语 Business Etiquette 226-Body Language (4)

 　　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 racist¹ jokes or comments. And of course don't humiliate² 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 subconsciously³ worry about getting attacked if they don't know what's lurking⁴ 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？

1 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

2 humiliate   

v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace

参考例句：

• What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢？
• They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我，这只能使我感到羞辱。

3 subconsciously   

ad.下意识地，潜意识地

参考例句：

• In choosing a partner we are subconsciously assessing their evolutionary fitness to be a mother of children or father provider and protector. 在选择伴侣的时候，我们会在潜意识里衡量对方将来是否会是称职的母亲或者父亲，是否会是合格的一家之主。
• Lao Yang thought as he subconsciously tightened his grasp on the rifle. 他下意识地攥紧枪把想。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

4 lurking   

潜在

参考例句：

• Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的，想干什么？
• There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》