英語沙龍十年合集珍藏版第三輯NINE TIPS1) FORCOMMUNICATING SUCCESSFULLY WITH

所屬教程:英語沙龍十年合集珍藏版第三輯

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NINE TIPS¹⁾ FORCOMMUNICATING SUCCESSFULLY WITH A GLOBAL AUDIENCE²⁾

In our jobs, we may have occasions to communicate with people in other countries or from other cultures. Whether we are buying, selling, consulting, or simply trying to obtain information, we will need to get across ideas to an audience we are not used to dealing with. Just as we need to understand the characteristics of our audience when we communicate with others from our own country, we need to understand something about the culture, business customs, and communication styles of foreign audiences.

Here, then, are some tips to assist you in your intercultural³⁾ communications.

1. Be Clear And Simple.

Whether communicating orally or in writing, avoid long, complex sentences, highly technical language, jargon⁴⁾, and colloquialisms⁵⁾. Don’t be condescending⁶⁾, but do use simpler words when they are available.

2. Don’t Assume That Someone You Hear Speaking English Will Understand You.

If you talk too fast, slur your words or have an accent, even a foreigner who seems to speak perfect English will have a hard time following you. An added problem is that many English-speaking foreigners are too polite to let you know they haven’ t understood.

3. Learn The Business Customs And Terminology Of Those You Will Be Communicating With.

For example, we use the metric system of measurement, the US uses a different system of measurement. And many countries use the day ／month ／year system for dating as opposed to the US system of month ／day ／year. A meeting arranged in one of these countries on 7. 5. 89 is scheduled for May, not July.

4. Use Written Messages Whenever Possible.

You read English more easily than you understand spoken English. If you communicate by phone, follow up with a confirmation in writing to guard against miscommunication.

5. Don’ t Be In A Hurry To Get To The Point.

Europeans, Africans, and Arabs in particular, are put off by the straight-to-the-point style of North American business communication. They prefer a more round-about approach.

6. Don’ t Ask Questions That Require A Yes Or No Answer.

Whereas North Americans tend to say yes when they mean yes and no when they mean no, that’s simply not the case in most other cultures. In Asian countries, for example, it is considered impolite to say no, so Asians may answer affirmatively⁷⁾ if only to mean“Yes, I heard you. ”Europeans, on the other hand, may initially react negatively to any question, but they actually mean“maybe”or“it depends. ”In many countries, the answer you get is what the person thinks you want to hear.

7. Learn About The Country’s Body Language.

Gestures⁸⁾ have various meanings in different places. In Yugoslavia turning the head from side to side means yes；in Japan, looking someone in the eye is considered judgmental or hostile；and in Ghana, thumbs up is a rude gesture. To avoid giving offense, keep your hands quiet.

8. Control Your Style Of Expression.

The North American style of expressing emotions is considered impulsive and wild by Asians but restrained and cold by Latin Americans. You need to be aware of how your habits of emotional expression will affect people in a particular culture.

9. Don’ t Interrupt Periods Of Silence.

Many foreigners are offended by the North American penchant for jumping in to fill any gaps in a conversation. Speakers in many cultures enjoy periods of silence and use them to gather their thoughts. Be patient. Allow the person to formulate what he or she wants to say, and try not to be“helpful ”by putting words into the other person’s mouth.

國際商務交往成功的九要訣

在我們的工作中, 我們可能有機會同來自其他文化國度的外國人打交道。無論是做買賣、協商, 還是僅僅獲得信息, 我們都需要使那些我們從未與之打過交道的人弄明白我們的意思。正如當我們同本國同胞打交道時需要懂得他們的特點一樣, 我們也需要了解外國交往對象的文化背景、商業(yè)習俗以及交談風格。

這里有一些建議能幫助你在國際交往中成功。

1、簡明清楚。

無論用口頭或書面形式交往, 要避免長句和復合句、高深的技術詞語、行話以及俚語。不要顯得屈尊俯就, 但要盡量用簡明的詞語。

2、不要以為講英語的人都能聽懂你的話。

如果你講話太快, 吞音或有口音, 即使講一口流利英語的外國人也很難聽懂你的話。再者, 問題是許多講英語的外國人很有禮貌, 他們不會告訴你他們沒有聽懂你的話。

3、了解你交往對象的商業(yè)習俗和術語。

例如：我們使用公制計量法而美國卻使用一種不同的計量法。還有, 許多國家寫日期的順序是日、月、年, 而美國的順序卻是月、日、年。如果在前者某一國家開會, 會議時間定為“7. 5. 89”, 這是指在５月開會, 而不是在７月。

4、 盡可能用書面形式交往。

閱讀英語比聽懂英語要容易。如果你打電話進行交往, 打完后要寫下一份書面實錄, 以防止誤解。

5、不要匆忙作出判斷。

歐洲人、非洲人, 尤其是阿拉伯人, 對北美洲商人在交往中的直率作風感到不快。他們喜歡比較迂回的交際方式。

6、不要提那些答案是“是”或“不是”的問題。

北美洲人心里想說“是”就說“是”, 心里想說“不是”就說“不是”, 而在其他許多國家, 情況就根本不是這樣。例如：在亞洲國家, 說“不”被認為是不禮貌的, 因此亞洲人的肯定回答可能只是說“是的, 我聽到你說的了。”另一方面, 歐洲人對任何問題開始都可能作出否定的反應, 但是, 實際上他們的意思是“可能（或許）”或“看情況再說（視情況再定）”。在許多國家, 你所得到的回答是同你交往的人認為你想聽到的話。