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， slur5 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 haven6' t understood.
3. Learn The Business Customs And Terminology7 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 /confirm/iation8 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 meanYes， I heard you. Europeans， on the other hand， may initially9 react negatively to any question， but they actually meanmaybeorit 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 offense10， keep your hands quiet.
8. Control Your Style Of expression.
The North American style of expressing emotions is considered impulsive11 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 penchant12 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 formulate13 what he or she wants to say， and try not to behelpful by putting words into the other person's mouth.#p#
在大家的工作中， 大家可能有机会同来自其他文化国度的外国人交际。无论是做交易、协商， 还是仅仅获得信息， 大家都需要使那些大家从未与之打过交道的人弄了解大家的意思。正如当大家同本国同胞交际时需要了解他们的特征一样， 大家也需要知道外国交往对象的文化背景、商业风俗与交谈风格。
这里有一些建议能帮你在国际交往中成功。
1、简明了解。
无论用口头或书面形式交往， 要防止长句和复合句、高深的技术词汇、行话与俚语。不要看上去屈尊俯就， 但要尽可能用简明的词汇。
2、不要以为讲英语的人都能听懂你的话。
假如你讲话太快， 吞音或有口音， 即便讲一口流利英语的外国人也非常难听懂你的话。再者， 问题是很多讲英语的外国人非常有礼貌， 他们不会对你说他们没听懂你的话。
3、知道你交往对象的商业风俗和术语。
比如：大家用公制计量法而美国却用一种不一样的计量法。还有， 很多国家写日期的顺序是日、月、年， 而美国的顺序却是月、日、年。假如在前者某一国家开会， 会议时间定为7. 5. 89， 这是指在5月开会， 而不是在7月。
4、 尽量用书面形式交往。
阅读英语比听懂英语要容易。假如你打电话进行交往， 打完后要写下一份书面实录， 以预防误解。
5、不要匆忙作出判断。
欧洲人、非洲人， 特别是阿拉伯人， 对北美洲商人在交往中的直率作风感到不快。他们喜欢比较迂回的交际方法。
6、不要提那些答案是是或不是的问题。
北美洲人心里想说是就说是， 心里想说不是就说不是， 而在其他很多国家， 状况就根本不是如此。比如：在亚洲国家， 说不被觉得是不礼貌的， 因此亚洲人的一定回答可能只不过说是的， 我听到你说的了。其次， 欧洲人对任何问题开始都可能作出否定的反应， 但， 事实上他们的意思是可能（可能）或看状况再说（视状况再定）。在很多国家， 你所得到的回答是同你交往的人觉得你想听到的话。
7、了解外国的身体动作语言。
在不同地方姿势有着不一样的意思。在南斯拉夫， 摇头意味着是；在日本， 正视某人的双眼被觉得是指责或有敌意；在加纳， 翘大姆指是粗鲁手势。为了防止得罪别人， 双手最好别乱动。
8、表达方法要克制。
亚洲人觉得， 北美洲人表达情感的方法是冲动的和狂热的， 而拉丁美洲人却觉得他们是克制的和冷静的。你需要了解你表达情感的习惯在某一特定文化背景下会对大家产生何种影响。
9、不要在沉默时插话。
北美洲人爱在交谈间隙中插话， 很多外国人对此感到不愉快。很多国家的人喜欢在谈话中间有沉默的间隙， 以便进行考虑。此时， 要耐心。叫人家琢磨好自己想要说的话， 不要试图插话帮助人家把话讲出来。
1. tip n. 方法，要诀
2. audience n. 接见，拜见
3. intercultural adj. 不同文化间的
4. jargon2 n. 行话
5. colloquialism3 n. 俗话，白话， 口语
6. condescending4 adj. 谦逊的
7. affirmatively adv. 一定地
8. gesture n. 姿态， 手势， 表示
