快!老美最擅長「直言直語」

 

美國人通常講話直率,認為有話直說能避免誤解、讓溝通更有進展。我們則注重關係和諧,說話比較嚴謹。不想要這麼沒效率溝通,請注意「用字」和「語氣」:

01 拿掉「猶豫字

△ 聽起來猶豫;O 聽起來肯定

Maybe

△ Maybe we should get the paper work done by the end of the day.

O Let’s get the paper work done by the end of the day.

 

Just

△ I would just like to check if you have any feedback on the paper I sent over.

O Do you have feedback on the paper I sent over?

 

Think

△ I think we need to discuss the marketing issue.

O Let’s discuss the marketing issue.

 

Try

△ I’ll try to edit the article you just sent to me.

O I’ll edit the article you just sent to me.

 

Feel

△ I feel that it can work.

O I’m optimistic that it can work.

 

02 停頓的長度,代表遲疑的程度

談話的節奏直接影響到溝通的順暢感,唸出下面的句子,感受一下停頓不同時,聽起來的差別:

I’ll attend the meeting if you want. (沒有停頓,直接)

I’ll attend the meeting, if you want. (停頓短,有些猶豫)

I’ll attend the meeting. If you want. (停頓長,遲疑)

 

不用拘謹,也不要失禮

「率性」(informality)是美國文化的特點,老闆通常希望員工直接稱呼自己的「First name」,但別誤以為他們是在跟你稱兄道弟,這只是在展現平等。初次見面時,仍要以頭銜加上「Last name」稱呼對方,例如 Dr. Chen、Mr. Smith等。關於和美國人溝通時的稱謂使用,中心外師提供了幾個不同場合中的使用原則:


收錄於英語島 2018年9月號
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