Unit7 Tourism Culture
TextA On Your Best Behavior
In the world of culturalbehavior, the only truly safe generalization is: don't generalize.
“AllAmericans are loud and lacking in grace.” “The English are cold and aloof.” “TheFrench are romantic but often rude.” So it goes. And each generalization can beblasted (枯萎的，被咒的) and disproven (被推翻，否决).
InEurope, the general rule of thumb (经验法则) is tobehave as if you were calling on （拜访）a richold auntie. While the New World may have loosened up dramatically in the pastcouple of generations, the Old one remains very buttoned up (扣住)—literally and figuratively. What would be mildly bad manners in the UnitedStates (gum chewing, talking with hands in pockets, legs propped up on furniture,backslapping（拍背以示友好）, etc.) are cardinal（主要的，基本的，深红色的）sins in Continental company. Suit coats stay on in offices and restaurants andon the street, even in July. Women do not wear pants to work or to dressy（讲究服装的）restaurants. First names are never used without invitation and thatusually only comes after long association. Those with academic titles anddegrees expect you to use them as a sign of respect. Except in Southern andEastern Europe, the handshake serves as standard greeting. Smoking at the tableis frowned on until cognac （法国白兰地）andcoffee are served. Punctuality is a must.
Insettings in Britain business, emotions are rarely vented（发泄）and protocol is given the utmost attention. However, you may find the Welsh andScots more informal. Avoid the word “English.” You'll please everyone if youuse the word “British”. The Scotch （苏格兰威士忌）is whatyou drink. The people are called Scots or Scotsmen, and the language itself isScottish. Most honorary titles such as Sir, Dame（夫人，年长妇女）, andLord are used even among familiar acquaintances. But it is wise to first hearhow others address a person.
InGreat Britain, it isn't so much what you do as how you do it. The Britainpublic school specializes in manners and self-discipline. Business is kept firmlyin its place (the office), while lunch, dinner, and weekends are strictly forsocializing. The British keep engagement calendars religiously andget-togethers are booked days or even weeks in advance. If you get aninvitation reading “black tie” or “smoking”, it means men must wear dinnerjackets with all the proper accompaniments （伴奏，伴随物）fromstuds （饰纽）toblack silk hose（长筒袜） and women must wear long dresses. Atformal dinners the host sometimes says Grace. This is a signal that after themain course the Loyal Toast （效忠君主的祝酒）willprobably be offered. This is a toast to Her Majesty's health, and after thatyou may smoke—but never before. By and large, dinner at 7:30 means at 7:30. Youmay be ten minutes late but not ten minutes early. It is not customary to takegifts unless there is a special reason: a birthday, anniversary, orreciprocation（互给，报答） for a gift received. The usualpractice is to take flowers and chocolates. Avoid white lilies, because theysuggest death. If the value of the gift exceeds 15 dollars or so, it may causeembarrassment. Entertainment in the form of lunch, dinner, drinks, or a nightat the theater or ballet usually takes the place of gift giving. Striped（条纹）ties should be avoided in case they are copies of Britain regimentals（军服，团）.
InGermany, gentlemen walk and sit to the left of all ladies and men of seniorbusiness rank. Men rise when a woman leaves or returns to the table. Yourdinner guest will expect you to have made arrangements in advance and notshowing up asking, “Got any ideas where we should eat?” Formality andpunctiliousness （一丝不苟）are more pronounced here thananywhere else in Europe, possibly the world.
Inboth Denmark and Sweden, the toast can be a very formal regimen（生活规则）.You must never toast your host or anyone senior to you in rank or age untilthey toast you, nor must you touch your drink until the host has said skoal.If you are seated at your hostess's left, you should propose a toast to herduring dessert; if on her right, you are expected to make a short speech ofappreciation.
Asianshave an exquisite （精致的）senseof politeness. In most countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia, it isimpolite to start talking business as soon as you sit down. Although you mightnot receive clues from their outward appearance, you can be sure that yourAsian counterparts are taking notice of yours—your behavior, your dress, the tailoringof your suit, the type of writing instrument you see. Whatever happens, do notcause others to lose face. That's neither forgotten nor forgiven.
Ofall the countries in the region of Oceania, Australia is probably the one inwhich Westerners feel the most comfortable. One hand shake or beer and you areon a first-name basis. Australians are direct, and tell it like it is. It isvery difficult to impress an Australian and the effort is perhaps best notmade. One can approach most Australians, no matter how high their position,with the certainty of an attentive and cordial （热忱的）hearing.Any attempt to pull rank is resented. There is nothing an Australian likesbetter than to chat it up with a stranger at a pub. Most visitors report thatit is impossible to have a lonely, morose（郁闷、孤僻） drinkby themselves, unless, of course, they are female. Be sure you do not litterwhile in Australia, as visitors are expected to respect the Australians' highstandards of cleanliness. Most Australians have a strong sense of community andtend to value collective effort highly.
InJapan, they never say no in public, which is why American businessmen oftentake away the wrong impression. But this obsession（痴迷，困扰）with pleasing does not mean that the Japanese make quick friends. A rollicking （欢闹的）nightout on the town will not necessarily lead to signing the contract to youradvantage the next morning. Hence, accepting lavish gifts from a Japanesebusiness acquaintance can lead to obligations that may later prove awkward, ifnot down right （彻底的）painful. Business gifts are frequentlygiven at first meetings. But do not embarrass your Japanese counterpart bybeing the only one to show up with a gift.
Nomatter what the guidebooks say if you are visiting a country for the firsttime, always ask at your hotel or among your business contacts there what thelocal tipping rules are. Times and customs are quick to change, especiallywhere large numbers of Western visitors are a new experience for the locals.What was an insult yesterday may have become a way of life by today.(1089 words)
Exercises:
A. Readthe passage and answer the following questions.
Canyou use one word to describe the characters of social life in Europe?
Whatwould a European think of “talking with hands in pockets”?
InGreat Britain, when can you smoke at formal dinner?
Comparedto people in other countries in Europe or even the world, what is unique topeople in Germany?
InDenmark, if you want to toast someone senior to you in age, how should you do?
Whatdoes an Australian like most?
Whatmay happen if you accept gifts from a Japanese business partner?
Whatshould we do if we are making a visit to a new country?
B.Translate the following sentences into Chinese.
InEurope, the general rule of thumb is to behave as if you were calling on a richold auntie.
Whilethe New World may have loosened up dramatically in the past couple ofgenerations, the Old one remains very buttoned up — literally and figuratively.
InGreat Britain, it isn't so much what you do as how you do it.
TheBritish keep engagement calendars religiously and get-togethers are booked daysor even weeks in advance.
Acceptinglavish gifts from a Japanese business acquaintance can lead to obligations thatmay later prove awkward, if not down right （彻底的）painful.
