Eye Language

Just back from a tour of several Arabian Gulf countries, a woman recalls how jumpy she felt talking to men there. "Not because of what they said," she explains, "but what they did with their eyes." Instead of the occasional blink, Arabs lowered their lids so slowly and languorously that she was convinced they were falling asleep. In Japan eye contact is a key to the way you feel about someone. And the less of it,the better. What a Westerner considers an honest look in the eye, the Oriental takes as a lack of respect and a personal affront. Even when shaking hands or bowing — and especially when conversing — only an occasional glance into the other person's face is considered polite. The rest of the time, great attention should be paid to fingertips, desktops, and the warp and woof of the carpet. "Always keep your shoes shined in Tokyo," advises an electronics representative who has spent several days there. "You can bet a lot of Japanese you meet will have their eyes on them."

阅读自测

I. Do you understand the meaning of the following sentences relating to eye and could you explain them in your own words ?

1. His eye s are bigger than his stomach.

2. He's got a black eye .

3. Mary spent the whole evening making eyes at other men.

4. The trip to Australia was quite an eye-opener.

5. My wife and I don't see eye to eye on this matter.

6. She is always the apple of her father's eye .

Ⅱ. Fill in the blanks with proper prepositions:

1. The discovery of the murder weapon provided the key the mystery.

2. Please keep an eye the baby for me.

3. Can you look me the eye and say you didn't steal it?

4. For a moment her words didn't sink .

参考答案

Ⅰ.

1. He is too greedy in asking for or taking more food than he can eat.

2. He's been beaten by somebody and there is a dark bruised skin around his eye.

3. Mary spent the whole evening looking at other men amorously and seductively.

4. The trip to Australia was very enlightening and brought some surprises to me.

5. I don't agree with my wife on this matter.

6. She is loved much by his father.

Ⅱ. 1. to 2. on 3 . in 4 . in

参考译文

眼睛的语言

从波斯湾的几个国家旅行回来后, 一位女士回想起她同当地男子谈话时忐忑不安的情景。“不是他们说话的内容，”她解释说，“ 而是他们说话时的眼神让我紧张不安。”阿拉伯人不是偶尔眨一下眼睛，而是缓慢而倦怠地垂下眼睑，这使她误以为这些阿拉伯人就要睡着了。

在日本，眼神的接触是你了解别人的关键所在。眼神接触越少越好。西方人认为看着别人的眼睛是一种诚实的表现，而东方人则将盯视对方看作是不尊敬别人，是对他人的一种冒犯。实际上，在握手或鞠躬的时候，尤其是在两人交谈的时候，偶尔朝对方的脸上扫一眼才是礼貌的举动。其他时候，谈话人则应把注意力集中在指尖、桌面以及地毯表面的纹理上。“ 在东京，记住一定要让你的皮鞋保持光亮可鉴。”一位已经在那里呆了几天的电子产品代理人提出忠告，“ 我敢说许多你遇到的日本人都会对你的鞋盯上几眼的。”

阅读导评

眼睛被誉为“心灵的窗户”, 它传达着无声的语言, 具有反映深层心理的功能。眼神的交流是人们一个非常重要的交际手段。西方文化中有这样一句话———不要相信那些不敢直视你的人。在美国人看来, 不直视对方眼睛是不诚实、虚伪、心不在焉的表现; 而在东方人看来, 避免直视对方则是为了表示礼貌、尊敬或服从。因为文化不同而造成误解是在所难免的, 化解尴尬、成功交际的唯一办法是设法了解彼此间的文化差异和风俗习惯。

词意解析

1. 阿拉伯湾, 也称为Persian Gulf ( 波斯湾) , 是印度洋的一个边缘海, 位于伊朗高原与阿拉伯半岛之间。

2. languorously adv. 倦怠地, 无精打采地。该词的名词形式是languor ( 倦怠, 慵困) , 动词形式是languish, 如: His vigilance never languished. ( 他的警觉从未松懈过。)

3. 眼神接触越少越好。这种结构相当于汉语中的“ 越⋯⋯越⋯⋯”, 表示两个过程按比例同时递增。better 后面省略了it is, 因为这种结构往往有省略。例如: The sooner, the better.( 越早越好。)

4. 东方人, 尤指中国人和日本人。与该词相对应的是the Occidental ( 西方人, 欧美人) 。

5. take . . . as 视⋯⋯为, 把⋯⋯理解为, 如: She took what he said as a compliment. ( 她把他的002 话看作是恭维话。)

6. conversing 是converse 的动名词形式, 意为“ 谈话, 交谈”。其名词形式是conversation。例如: Although they were strangers, they conversed with ease. ( 他们虽然互不相识, 却谈得很自在融洽。)

7. warp n. ( 织物的) 经线; woof n. ( 织物的) 纬线; the warp and the woof of the carpet 指“ 地毯表面的纹理”。the warp and woof of sth. 还可以引申为“ 某事物的基础或结构”。

8. have one's eyes on 密切注意, 注视, 如: Businessmen always have their eyes on the new trade opportunities. ( 商人们总在关注着新的贸易机会。)

大家加油啊， 坚持就是胜利！