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The New Good Manners 新礼貌运动

 

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An increase in bad manners means good business for the etiquette experts  不礼貌的行为愈来愈普遍，反倒为礼仪专家带来商机

 

Poor etiquette on the rise  不礼貌行为日益增多

 

If you’ve ever overheard a coworker’s loud cell phone conversation or become nauseated watching one talk with a mouthful of food, you are not alone. Etiquette experts say a lack of social graces and general rudeness has become all too common in the workplace.

如果你曾经无意中听到同事大声讲手机的对话、或是因看着满嘴食物的人在说话而感到恶心，那么你并非唯一有过这类经验的人。礼仪专家表示，缺乏社交礼节与普遍可见的粗鲁无礼行为，已经成为工作职场太过常见的现象。

 

The line between what is acceptable and unacceptable is blurring as a new generation of employees enters the work force, bringing with it their use of personal technology – cell phones and MySpace, for example – and a more casual attitude and fashion sense.

随着新世代工作者带着他们使用如手机与MySpace社交网站等个人科技的习惯、和更随性的态度和时尚感，加入劳动人口之后，为社会所接纳和不受接纳的行为之间的界线，就变得模糊了。

 

The boon in bad manners has been good for the etiquette business, whose experts are finding their talents in demand. Businesses are also discovering that polishing their employees’ behavior pays off in increased productivity, better sales and a more cooperative workplace.

不过，不懂礼貌的现象反倒为礼仪界带来不少帮助，因为礼仪专家发现，外界对他们专才的需求增大了；各家企业也发觉，改善员工的行为举止相当划算，因为不但生产力增加了、销售量变得更好、而职场中员工的团队精神也提升了。

 

Maria Everding, who has taught etiquette for more than 20 years, trains and certifies at least 10 consultants a month, up from an average of four just two years ago.

玛丽亚．亚佛庭教授礼仪逾二十年，两年前她平均一个月才训练、认证四位顾问，如今却已增加到每个月至少十位。

 

“There is definitely job security for me,” Everding said.

「我的工作绝对有保障，」亚佛庭说道。

 

A welcomed trend  受欢迎的趋势

 

The push for a more civil and refined workplace is also taking hold in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where several companies provide business-etiquette training. Often they’re hired to provide one-on-one coaching as well as to help companies become more professional. Advice is given on everything from table manners to how to dress appropriately.

推动让工作环境更文明、更有教养的风潮，也席卷加州圣瓦昆谷。当地有数家公司提供商务礼节训练，通常他们受聘提供一对一的辅导，也协助企业转变得更具有专业性。他们提出的建议包罗万象，从餐桌礼仪到如何穿着得体都有。

 

The trend doesn’t surprise business management professor Julie Olson-Buchanan, who says companies want to reestablish the ground rules for how employees and managers conduct themselves at work, especially with the use of technology.

企业教授茱莉．欧森－布坎南对这个趋势并不感到意外。她表示，公司希望重新建立员工及经理人上班时行为举止的基本规范，尤其是在科技的使用方面。

 

Twenty years ago most people would have frowned at someone carrying on a loud personal conversation while in line at the grocery store. But cell phone conversations go on all the time now, including at work.

二十年前，大部分人对于在杂货店排队时有人大声喧哗，都会感到不以为然，但是如今手机对话却是无时无刻都在进行，连在上班时也不例外。

 

“There has been a slow erosion of what is OK and what is not OK,” Olson-Buchanan said.

欧森－布坎南指出，「什么事可以做、什么事不可以做的界线，已经逐渐消蚀。」

 

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etiquette [ˋɛtɪkɛt] n. 礼节；礼仪 the set of rules or customs which control accepted behavior in particular social groups or social situations

overhear [͵ovɚˋhɪr] v. 偶然听到，无意中听到；偷听

mouthful [ˋmaʊθfəl] n. 满口[C][（+of）]

social graces 社交礼节 a manner or way that is considered polite

grace [gres] n. 风度，魅力；美德

rudeness [ˋrudnɪs] n. 粗鲁; 无礼

boon [bun] n. 好处; 非常有用的东西 something that is very helpful

in demand 非常需要的; 受欢迎的 greatly desired

polish [ˋpɑlɪʃ] v. 改善；改进

pay off【口】(尤指冒风险的政策、做法等)带来好结果, 成功, 行得通 to turn out to be profitable, effective, etc

certify [ˋsɝtə͵faɪ] v. 发证书（或执照等）给

job security 工作保障，职业安全

take hold 扎根; 产生影响 to become established

conduct [kənˋdʌkt] v. 经营，管理; 表现; 举止

frown [fraʊn] v. 皱眉；表示不满[（+at/on/upon）]

carry on 继续; 进行 to continue without halting; persevere

 

 

 

 

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Generational differences among workers also can create conflict. What may be acceptable to a younger employee, such as text messaging a friend while at work, may not be acceptable to a Baby Boomer, Olson-Buchanan said.

员工间的世代差异也会引发冲突。欧森－布坎南表示，像上班时传简讯给朋友这件事，对比较年轻的员工来说，可能可以接受；但是对老一辈的婴儿潮世代（译注：「美国人口局」界定婴儿潮世代为诞生于一九四六与一九六四年之间的人）的员工来说，可能就难以接受。

 

Tiffany Smith, [owner of an etiquette consulting business,] helps employers and their workers understand how to treat each other with respect.

蒂芬妮．史密斯[这位礼仪顾问公司企业主]协助雇主和他们的员工了解如何尊重对待彼此。

 

“Etiquette is not just about manners. It’s about principles to help people build stronger relationships,” said Smith who trained at the Emily Post Institute. Her clients include schools, businesses and individuals. Simple issues such as wearing the appropriate clothing can dictate how a person is perceived by the public and coworkers, she said.

曾在「埃米莉．波斯特研究院」受训的史密斯表示，「礼仪不是只和礼貌有关，而是和帮助人们建立更稳固关系的原则有关。」她的客户包括学校、企业和个人。史密斯表示，像是穿着适当服装这类的简单事项，却可能会主导着大众和同事对某个人所产生的观感。

 

Well-intentioned efforts such as “casual Friday” have backfired in some offices where employees push the limits of good taste.

如「周五便服日」等立意良好的努力。在员工会挑战好品味的限度的某些办公室，已经产生了反效果。

 

“It is time for some employees to reinforce the dress code,” Smith said.

史密斯指出，「如今该是部份雇主加强服装规范的时候了。」

 

Proper etiquette equals confidence  合宜礼节等于自信

 

Cynthia Merrill said that in her 20 years in the business she has seen demand for etiquette training increase.

辛西雅．梅若表示，她在业界的这二十年，亲眼见到外界对礼仪训练课程的需求提高。

 

“This industry just continues to grow and for good reason,” Merrill said. “There are lots of parents who are now realizing they didn’t have anyone teach them proper etiquette, and they are now wishing it for their children.”

「这个产业不断地扩张，而且理由正当，」梅若说道，「许多父母现在体认到，过去没有人教自己合宜的礼节，而他们现在则觉得，自己没得到的，希望他们的孩子能够获得。」

 

Merrill said that without parents and teachers providing etiquette instruction, employees aren’t likely to absorb the necessary skills at work unless they have a good role model.

梅若表示，没有父母和老师提供礼仪指导，除非员工有个好的学习榜样，否则就不太可能吸收到职场上的必要技巧。

 

Donna Shroyer, director of accounts for a medical billing company, hired Merrill to help her polish her professional skills. She said she learned many things including: thank-you notes are important, and sandals are not proper work attire. She also learned how to handle introductions and was given pointers on dining etiquette.

唐娜．施柔叶是一家医疗账单处理公司的客户主任，她聘请梅若来改善自己的专业技巧。施柔叶表示，她学到了很多事物，包括：感谢卡很重要、凉鞋不是合宜的上班穿着。她也学到如何处理介绍引见，在用餐礼节上也获得指点迷津。

 

“The whole experience has given me a lot more confidence,” Shroyer said. “I know now that what I am doing is the right thing, and that is a powerful feeling.”

「整个经验给了我更多自信，」施柔叶表示，「我现在知道自己所做正确，那是种强而有力的感觉。」

 

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Emily Post Institute 埃米莉．波斯特研究院 an organization created in 1946 by Emily Post, writer of a popular newspaper column on etiquette; the institute provides information on proper manners, business etiquette, etc.

dictate [ˋdɪktet] v. 决定; 支配; 影响

casual Friday 周五便服日 the business practice of allowing office workers to dress more casually than usual on Fridays

dress code 衣着规定; 服装规范 a particular way that people must dress in particular places or for a particular events

thank-you notes 感谢信

sandal [ˋsænd!] n. 凉鞋; 拖鞋

attire [əˋtaɪr] n.【书】服装，衣着

 

 

 

 

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Resolve to have better tech etiquette  下定决心，改善科技礼节

 

The instruction manuals with most electronic gadgets lack some important advice that can save you from making an embarrassing social faux pas.

大部分电子产品的使用手册，都缺乏一些防止你做出社交上尴尬失礼行为的重要建议。

 

Here are dos and don’ts for using the Internet, cell phones, laptops and other devices.  以下是使用网际网络、手机、笔记本电脑和其他设备时，可以做和不该做的事项。

 

• Don’t wear a Bluetooth headset or earpiece if you are not on a call. You’re not an important official with your hand on the nuclear-missile button.  如果不是在讲电话，就别戴着蓝芽双耳式耳机或单耳式耳机，你并不是控制着核子飞弹按钮的重要官员。
• Do think long and hard before inviting someone to be your friend on a social networking site such as Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn. If you are trying to befriend someone who might not immediately recognize your name, attach a note explaining your connection.  在Facebook、MySpace或LinkedIn等社交网站上邀请对方成为好友之前，一定要花更多时间、仔细考虑清楚。如果你想和一个可能无法立即认出你名字的人成为好友，请附上说明，解释你和对方的关系。
• Don’t stretch your laptop or cell phone power cord across the room when you are charging up at a coffee shop, airport or other public place.  在咖啡店、机场或其他公共场所充电时，勿将笔记本电脑或手机的电源线一直拉过整个房间。
• Do return the favor when a stranger offers to take a picture of you. If they have a camera, offer to take their picture as well.  陌生人自告奋勇帮你拍照时，一定要有所回报；如果对方有照相机，不妨也主动提议帮对方照相。
• Do be mindful of others when talking on your cell phone. If you are in a restaurant or a meeting, take it outside or to the bathroom or lobby.  讲手机时，一定要考虑到在场的其他人，如果你是在餐厅或会议中，请到外面、洗手间或大厅去讲。
• Don’t send “unsubscribe” or “take me off this list” messages to everyone on an e-mail list. Rather than hitting “Reply All,” send a message only to the sender.  不要把「取消订阅」或「把我从名单上删除」的讯息，寄给电子邮件名单上的每一个人。不要按下「回复所有人」，只要把讯息寄给寄件人就好。
• Do use headphones when using a music player, portable video game or other device on a plane.  在飞机上使用音乐播放器、携带式电玩游戏机或其他设备时，请用耳机。
• Don’t post compromising photos of your friends and family on the Internet without asking them first.  未经事先询问，不要把朋友和家人的不雅或出糗照片放在网络上。
• Don’t type e-mails in all capital letters. It doesn’t make your message stand out. The same thing goes for posting on online message boards or forums.  电子邮件不要全部都用大写字母打字，这并不会让你的信显得更突出，在在线留言板或论坛上贴文也是如此。

 

−by Robert Rodriguez

 

单词发音

 

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manual [ˋmænjʊəl] n. 手册，便览，简介

faux pas [ˌfoʊˈpɑ]【法】失礼 a remark or action in a social situation that is a mistake and causes embarrassing or offense

dos and don’ts 规则; 准则 rules about what you must do and what you must not do in a particular situation

Bluetooth 蓝牙（一种短距离无线传输技术，最初由易利信创制，后来由蓝牙技术联盟订定技术标准）a short-range radio technology that allows electronic devices to communicate with each other over short distances without connecting cables

headset [ˋhɛd͵sɛt] n. 戴在头上的收话器；（常复数）双耳式耳机

earpiece [ˋɪr͵pis] n. 耳机

think long and hard 深思熟虑 to think very carefully about something before making a decision

power cord 电源线

mindful [ˋmaɪdfəl] adj. 留心的；警觉的；小心的

unsubscribe [ˌʌnsəbˈskraɪb] v. 取消订阅

capital [ˋkæpət!] n. 大写字母

stand out 突出, 显着 to be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent

 

 

 

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Vocabulary Focus

nauseated [ˋnɔsɪetɪd] adj. 作呕的，厌恶 feeling as if you are going to vomit

the line is blurred 两者的界限是模糊的 the difference between two things is unclear

ground rules 基本原则；基本准则 the principles on which future behavior is based

erosion [ɪˋroʒən] n. 侵蚀；腐蚀 the weakening done to something by a series of gradual losses of parts of it

perceive [pɚˋsiv] v. 看作; 视为；认为 to come to an opinion about something

backfire [ˋbækˋfaɪr] v. 产生和预期情况完全相反的结果；事与愿违 for a plan to have the opposite result from the one you intended

role model 榜样角色；模范 a person whom someone admires and whose behavior they try to copy

pointer [ˋpɔɪntɚ] n.【口】暗示，线索，点子 a helpful piece of advice or information

befriend [bɪˋfrɛnd] v. 和……交朋友 to be friendly toward someone

return the favor 还人情; 报答 to do something similar for someone who has done something nice for you

compromising [ˋkɑmprəmaɪzɪŋ] adj. 有失体面的 tending to lower respect for someone; embarrassing

 

 

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