谈语言(On Language)

详细内容

'

languagevariesfromcountrytocountry.itdiffersnotonlyinwrittenandspokenlanguagebutalsoingestures.

oncemyamericanteacher,dr.joejohnson,wentontshopping.hewassurprlsedtofindoutthathecouldn'tevencountonhisfingersproficientlyinchina.hetriedtobuysixoranges.theorangesellercouldn'tunderstandhistwohandedcountingwhenheshowedhimfivelefthandfingersandonerighthandfinger.hewasalsoconfusedwhenadriversaidhewouldpickhimupatsixo'clock,andheldhisrightbandinagesturefamiliartohimself.thegesturewasnotfamiliarasasix.itresembledapipe.

therewerenotroublewiththenumbersone,four,andfive.inchina,weshowthemiddleandindexfingerstomeantwo,but,fortheamericans,itmeansvictory.thechineseguestureforthree,toamericans.means"okay."thechinesesevenislikemanypeoplefromsoutherneuropeaadthemiddleeastgesturetomean"money".achineseeightislikeasymbolforapistol.achinesenineinanamericantvstudiomeansthatyouhavethirtysecondslefttofinishwhatyouaredoing.andachineseten,toanamerican,canbeanexpressionofanger,butnotifthereisapleasantchinesefacebehindit!