零距离美语会话[文化风俗差异]Lesson5:Didyoutipthebellboy

2.  What to wear?
May, a journalist for China Daily, is attending a conference in New Orleans.

May:  Frank, I want your advice on something.  Some scientists I met at the conference6 this afternoon have invited me to a party.  Actually, they called it an "informal get-together."
Frank:  And what's the problem? 
May:  When I asked how people were going to dress, Dr. Lite said it was casual. 
Frank:  And you want to know what to wear? 
May:  Well, last night I went out with some journalists for a "casual" party, but I was overdressed7.  I wore what I consider casual -- an outfit of skirt, blouse, scarf, and medium heels ... you know.
Frank:  That sounds just right to me.  What was wrong with it?
May:  Everyone else there was wearing blue jeans.  Several of the women had on running shoes.  I felt out of place8.  So I have no idea what to wear tonight. 
Frank:  My guess is you can safely wear last night's outfit to tonight's party. 

【译文】
——弗兰克，我想你在某些方面给我一些建议。今天下午我在会议上碰到的一些科学家邀请我去参加一个聚会。实际上，他们称之为“随便聚聚”。
——那有什么问题？
——当我问到其他人会穿什么衣服时，赖特博士说这很随便。
——那你是想知道该穿什么样的衣服？
——昨晚我和一些记者参加了一个“随便”聚会，但我却穿得过于正经了。我穿了我认为是休闲的服装——一套衣裙、短衫、围巾和中跟皮鞋……你知道。
——我听起来没觉得什么不对劲。有什么不好呢？
——那儿每个人都穿着蓝色的牛仔裤。有几个妇女还穿着跑鞋。我感到很不自在。所以我不知道今晚穿什么好。
——我想你可以穿昨晚的衣服大胆去参加今晚的派对。

3.  Let's go Dutch.
Two friends in line at a movie theater in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Ari:  Come on, Tara.  Let's go up to the window and buy two tickets.  The movie is starting in a few minutes. 
Tara:  We can't break into9 the line.  Don't be so impatient.  We'll be at the front of the line soon. 
Ari:   (To the cashier) Two tickets, please.  How much are they?
(Ari holds a twenty-dollar bill in his hand.) 
Tara:  Oh no, Ari.  I didn't mean for you to pay for me when I invited you to go tonight.  Let's go Dutch. I'll pay my own way.  I insist.
(They enter the theater.)
Ari:  I'm looking forward to this film.  I read a good review of it in this morning's newspaper. 
Tara:  Me, too.  It will be great to see something light and funny10 for a change.  I'm tired of heavy drama. 
(They look for empty seats in the theater.)
Ari:   Are these seats okay?
Tara:  They're fine, but I can't watch a movie without popcorn11.
【译文】
——过来吧，泰瑞。我们上去到窗口买两张票。电影过几分钟就要开始了。
——我们不能挤乱队伍。不要这么没耐心。我们很快就要到队伍前面去了。
——(对收银员说) 请买两张票。多少钱？（阿里手里拿着一张二十元钱。）
——不，不要，阿里。今晚我邀请你来不是要你为我付钱。我们各付各的吧。我会付自己的。我一定要的。（他们进入电影厅。）
——我一直盼着看这部电影。今天早上我在报上看了它的好评。
——我也是。换个口味，看些轻松滑稽点的会很好。艺术性的剧本我都看腻了。
(他们在电影院找空座位。)
——这些座位好不好？
——可以，但是没有爆玉米花，我看不了电影。

4.  Why would Chinese answer questions this way?
An American teacher is talking with his Chinese wife about his Chinese students.

Gary:  Did you go to the bank to withdraw12 money?
Sissy:  Today is so hot, besides I had so much housework to do.  My friend came for a visit and stayed for two hours.  I didn’t forget, but I had no time at all.
Gary:  So you didn’t.  Is that right?
Sissy:  Yes.  I’m sorry.
Gary:  Why didn’t you just answer my question directly?  Why would Chinese answer questions this way?  I simply asked if you did it or not.  It’s a very simple question.  And Chinese often give the reason before they would give a direct answer.
Sissy:  Yes, I’m sorry.  I know it bothers you very much.  But I don’t know why Chinese sometimes would do this.
Gary:  You know, today I asked a student if he brought his dictionary with him.  It’s a rule I made for the class that everyone brings a bilingual13 dictionary with them because sometimes they don’t understand me.  The funniest thing is that this student gave me a lot of reasons and no direct answer.
Sissy:  But you know if he brought it or not, right?
Gary:  Yeah, after all the explanations like, it’s too heavy, I was in a hurry…whatever.
         
Helpful Information：
 It’s an American way of talking that questions should be answered before being explained, even if answers might be something negative and very disappointing. 
美国人的谈话方式是先回答问题再解释原因，即便答案有可能是否定的，并且很令人失望。

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