2011年商务英语辅导：商务礼仪美语（6）

会计考友

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）
9 |* |. g" }; dA：Chen Hao, you need to be prepared for a lot of toasting tonight.
5 [' m) I2 m6 |/ ?- ]C：Toasting? 烤面包？
4 d9 Z7 l( p4 M/ k4 a- LA：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.
0 y' ~- a/ ^, @6 u  A0 K" J% ?6 }C：噢，你是说祝酒啊。西方人祝酒有什么规矩吗？
& Z" p5 L/ A+ i5 a2 K0 CA：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.
# z( j3 d8 R& C8 g( R, g9 S  hC：那是戴维斯的事吧。我们有什么要做的吗？
. J  @! b$ [. q4 y% B* gA：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.
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？
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.
  J" N2 w1 b! c7 o" C) d% QC：是不是每个人都要说祝酒辞呢?
- }- M: f0 a5 }& [/ JA：Not necessarily, but you will be expected to toast James since you worked closely with him.
C：幸亏你事先告诉我。不过那我该说些什么呢？
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.
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。
宴会结束后，陈豪和Amy一起搭出租车回家。
A：Chen Hao, Your toast was excellent and you seemed completely at ease. You obviously practiced your remarks.
3 r5 j9 S! F/ I6 [C：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。
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.
2 K! D' l6 @$ aC：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？
! q$ [* a5 I$ Q4 v: _; GA：Not at all. That was correct etiquette. You never drink to yourself. Only to other people.
5 r% p& h# }. r: b- M( @C：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。
A：No you wouldn't. I would have warned you about that.