In the United States, it is not customary to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate attention. The same meaning is attached to telephone call made after 11 :00 p.m. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he assumes it’s a mater of life and death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance.

　　【译文】在美国，人们通常不在清早打电话给别人。如果你在早晨别人刮脸或吃早餐的时候打电话来，那就意味着你有非常重要而紧急的事请。晚上11点之后打来电话也一样。人们在睡觉的时间接到电话时就会以为发生了生死攸关的事。打电话所选择的时间表示事情的重要程度。

　　In social life, time plays a very important part. In the U.S.A. guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in advance because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings arise between people from cultures that treat time differently. Promptness is valued highly in American life. For example, if people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the U. S. no one would think of keeping a business associate waiting for an hour, for it would be too impolite. Even a person who is five minutes late is expected to make a short apology.

　　【译文】时间在社会生活中作用重大。在美国，如果仅仅提前三四天接到宴会的邀请，人们会觉得自己不够受重视。但并不是所有的国家都是这样。在其他国家，人们会觉得提早很多天就预定约会的做法很愚蠢，因为一周以后某一天的计划很有可能被忘掉。在不同的地区，时间有不同的意义。因此，来自时间观念不同的两种文化氛围中的人之间就会产生误解。比如：美国社会崇尚迅捷。人们会觉得办事不够迅速的人没有礼貌或不够负责。在美国，人们无法想象让生意伙伴等上一个小时，那简直太失礼了。人们觉得即使只迟到了五分钟，也应该简短地表示歉意。

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