陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作。他和美国同事Amy晚上要一起参加同事James的告别晚宴，由公司北京办事处主任戴维斯主持。（Office ambience）2 ]) X; s2 ]$ K# R1 P: p
A：Chen Hao, you need to be prepared for a lot of toasting tonight.! Z4 }* X, y- M8 F
C：Toasting? 烤面包？8 }" h; |. ~, Y1 d! S4 a
A：No, I am talking about honoring someone at a meal or reception by raising a glass of wine, champagne or water and offering a few kind words about that person.
* I- o% r* @( ]C：噢，你是说祝酒啊。西方人祝酒有什么规矩吗？
7 X* n2 E& c! c+ e+ UA：There are two kinds of toasts. There is the informal toast that the host offers at the beginning of the meal to welcome his guests.
& V6 i2 [, U, yC：那是戴维斯的事吧。我们有什么要做的吗？
b; G% D. x- UA：Mr. Davis will stand, raise his glass and thank everyone for coming. He will take a sip of his wine. Then the guests, who remain seated, raise their glasses in response and take a sip.5 v3 x- O; K% l/ y3 m% G5 p
C：就是说我们都不用站起来，只要举起杯，然后抿一口酒就行了。那另外一种呢？! K( q' Q; O% ` N4 q1 k3 h% w! J9 m
A：The other is more formal and comes near the end of the meal, usually during dessert. Champagne will be served. After each toast, everyone raises a glass and takes a sip of champagne.
3 ^( z1 s6 r2 q8 T# ?/ y [4 V3 [/ T6 MC：是不是每个人都要说祝酒辞呢?
: z& w9 Q) q _! D! z1 z* ZA：Not necessarily, but you will be expected to toast James since you worked closely with him.# U! i' J) I. z) a
C：幸亏你事先告诉我。不过那我该说些什么呢？, _7 F2 q" s, g2 \
A：You could say how good James was to work with, tell a funny story about him, wish him success in his new position or use a favorite quote.) p9 `+ d" w$ T1 h6 P' Y) }( a
C：讲笑话是我的长项。不过我还是得赶紧去准备准备，一会餐厅见。9 E2 H$ `/ A- M0 y1 c& B
宴会结束后，陈豪和Amy一起搭出租车回家。
& n4 s/ C! n2 z& r7 _0 U8 gA：Chen Hao, Your toast was excellent and you seemed completely at ease. You obviously practiced your remarks.
5 j2 I1 t6 {' x# g' \- F( RC：这可得谢谢你。还有啊，幸亏你特别提醒我每次只要抿一小口，我真没想到有这么多人祝酒，不然非喝醉了不可。
2 o, w4 ?5 {4 m( | x, F {A：It is acceptable etiquette to raise your water glass instead of the champagne flute. I usually just raise my glass to my lips so it appears that I am drinking when I am not.' p2 c1 p0 {; B8 j6 F8 E" Y! Z7 `$ A
C：怪不得，我还以为你酒量过人呢！不过Amy，我还有个问题。别人为他祝酒，James好像从来不举杯，也不喝。这样做会不会不礼貌？
. v0 D- t* ^0 h LA：Not at all. That was correct etiquette. You never drink to yourself. Only to other people.
! x( n4 {# ]. T# {6 Y' vC：噢，所以被别人祝酒的人自己是不喝的。幸亏被祝酒的人不是我，否则我肯定会闹笑话。7 o! m8 |; Q$ Q& @) N
A：No you wouldn't. I would have warned you about that. |
发表于 2012-8-14 19:12:39
