UK series 英国系列 13 | British Etiquettes 英式礼仪
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Granted, British people are famous for their manners, politeness and appropriate social behavior, but the word "etiquette" actually comes from Middle French’s estiquette - "small note or written message".
虽然英国人以礼貌和适当的社交行为而闻名，但我们常说的“etiquette”一词实际上来源于中古法语中的estiquette ——“小纸条或书面信息”。
In fact, the modern understanding of this word can be connected with the court of King Louis XIV of France. Louis XIV used a small placard called etiquette to remind courtiers to abide by the recognized "house rules", such as not walking through some areas of the palace garden.
事实上，对这个词的现代意义与法国国王路易十四的宫廷有密切的关系。路易十四用一个名为“etiquette”的小标语牌提醒朝臣遵守公认的“家规”，比如他们不能穿过宫殿花园的某些区域。
Every culture is defined by the concept of etiquette and recognized social interaction. However, the British are considered to attach great importance to politeness in history. No matter in speech, timeliness, body language or dining, politeness is the key.
每一种文化都是由礼仪概念和公认的社会交往来定义的。然而，英国人在历史上被认为是非常重视礼貌。无论是在言语、及时性、肢体语言还是用餐方面，礼貌都是关键。
British etiquette dictates courteousness at all times, which means forming an orderly queue in a shop or for public transport, saying excuse me when someone is blocking your way and saying please and thank you for any service you have received is de rigueur.
英国的礼节要求在任何时候都要有礼貌，这意味着在商店或公共交通工具上一定要排队，当有人挡住你时要说“请”，并对你所得到的任何服务说“谢谢”都是必要的。
The British people's conservative reputation is not without merit. Overfamiliarity of personal space or behavior is a big taboo! When meeting for the first time, it's better to shake hands than to hug. Kissing on the cheek is only reserved for close friends.
英国人一般都很保守的，这不是没有意义的。他们对个人空间或行为的过分熟悉是一大禁忌！初次见面时，握手总比拥抱好，亲吻脸颊只留给亲密的朋友。
Asking personal questions about salary, relationship status, weight or age, especially for more "mature" women, is also not welcome.
询问关于薪水、关系状况、体重或年龄的私人问题（尤其是对于更“成熟”的女性而言）也是很不受欢迎的。
Traditionally, one of the best examples of the British etiquette is the importance placed on punctuality. It is considered rude to arrive late to a business meeting, medical appointment or formal social occasion such as a wedding.
传统上，英国礼仪的一个最好的例子就是对准时的重视。在商务会议、医疗预约或正式社交场合（如婚礼）迟到被认为是不礼貌的。
As such it is advisable to arrive 5-10 minutes early to appear professional and prepared as a mark of respect to your host. Conversely, should you arrive too early to a dinner party this could also appear slightly rude if the host is still completing their preparations.
因此，提前5-10分钟到达会让别人觉得你很专业、有备而来、以此表示对主人的尊重。相反，如果参加晚宴的时候你来得太早，这也可能显得有点粗鲁尤其是如果主人仍在完成晚宴的准备。
Should you be invited to a British dinner party it is customary for a dinner guest to bring a gift for the host or hostess, such as a bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers or chocolates.
如果你被邀请参加一个晚宴，客人通常会给主人带礼物，如一瓶葡萄酒、一束鲜花或巧克力。
Good table manners are essential (particularly if you want to be invited back!) and unless you are attending a barbeque or an informal buffet it is frowned upon to use fingers rather than cutlery to eat. The cutlery should also be held correctly, i.e. the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left hand with the prongs pointing downwards.
良好的餐桌礼仪是必不可少的（这是你被再次邀请的保障！）除非你参加烧烤或非正式的自助餐，否则用手而不是餐具吃饭是不受欢迎的。餐具也应正确放置，即右手持刀，左手持叉，叉尖朝下。
As a guest it is polite to wait until everyone at the table has been served and your host starts eating or indicates that you should do so.
作为客人，有礼貌的做法是等到餐桌上的每一个人的菜都上来了而且主人开始吃或者给你一个指示让你开始吃饭了才吃。
Once the meal has begun, it is impolite to reach over someone else’s plate for an item such as seasoning or a food platter; it is more considerate to ask for the item to be passed to you. Leaning your elbows on the table whilst you are eating is also considered rude.
一旦一开始用餐，伸手过别人的盘子去拿调味品或食物盘之类的东西是不礼貌的，一般都需要问别人把食物或者你想要的东西递给你更为体贴。吃饭时把胳膊肘靠在桌子上也被认为是不礼貌的。
Yawning or coughing while eating is considered very rude, also chewing with your mouth open or talk when there is still food in your mouth are all considered rude. These actions imply that a person was not brought up to adhere to good manners, a criticism against not only the offender but their family too!
吃饭的时候打哈欠或咳嗽被认为是非常粗鲁的，当嘴里还有食物的时候张嘴咀嚼或说话都被认为是粗鲁的。这些行为暗示着一个人在成长过程中并没有遵守良好的家教，这不仅是对自己个人的批评，也是对你家庭的批评！
The evolution of etiquette 礼仪的演变
Charles VI of France receiving English envoys, illustration from Jean Froissart's Chronicles, 14th century.
法国的查理六世接受英国使节，来自让·弗罗萨特编年史的插图，14世纪。
More recently, a rise in multiculturalism, a changing economy and the introduction of social and gender specific equality laws have all played a part in Britain moving away from its rigid class system of old and therefore a more informal attitude to social etiquette has arisen.
最近，多元文化主义的兴起、不断变化的经济以及社会和性别平等法的出台，都在英国摆脱僵化的旧阶级制度方面发挥了作用，因此出现了对社交礼仪更为非正式的态度。
However, today – like the rest of the world – Britain has been influenced by the importance of corporate etiquette, with a shift in focus from the social or household setting to an emphasis on business etiquette and protocol. With the whole concept of etiquette being dependent on culture, for a business to succeed internationally it is important to be aware that what is considered good manners in one society may be rude to another.
然而，如今，与世界其他地方一样，英国也受到了企业礼仪重要性的影响，其重心从社交或家庭环境转移到了强调商务礼仪。由于礼仪的整个概念都依赖于文化，要使一个企业在国际上取得成功，必须意识到在一个社会中被认为是良好的礼仪习惯可能会在另一个社会被认为是不礼貌的。
For instance, the “okay” gesture – made by connecting the thumb and forefinger in a circle and holding the other fingers straight, is recognized in Britain and North America as a signal to question or confirm that a person is well or safe. However, in parts of southern Europe and South America this is an offensive gesture.
例如，在英国和北美，通过将大拇指和食指连成一个圆圈而做出“好”手势被认为是一种询问或确认一个人是否健康或安全的信号。然而，在南欧和南美的部分地区，这是一种进攻性的姿态。
Thus, the etiquette of business has become a set of written and unwritten rules of conduct that make social interactions run more smoothly, whether during interaction with a co-worker or contact with external or international colleagues.
因此，商务礼仪已成为一套书面和非书面的行为准则，无论是在与同事的交往中，还是在与外部或国际同事的交往中都能使社交活动更加顺畅。
Indeed, the rise in online business and social media sites has even seen the creation of a worldwide ‘online society’, necessitating its own rules of conduct, commonly referred to as Netiquette, or network etiquette. These rules regarding the protocol for such communications as email, forums and blogs are constantly being redefined as the internet continues to evolve.
事实上，网络商务和社交媒体的兴起甚至见证了一个世界性“网络社会”的诞生，它需要自己的行为准则，通常被称为网络礼仪。随着互联网的不断发展，有关电子邮件、论坛和博客等通信协议的这些规则不断被重新定义。
So, whilst the traditionally accepted behaviors of old may not have the influence they once did, it could be argued that etiquette is as crucial in today’s far-reaching society as it has ever been.
因此，虽然传统上被接受的老行为可能不会像以前那么有影响力，但可以说，在当今这个影响深远的社会，礼仪与以往一样至关重要。
* 所有文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本站立场 *
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