如何跟陌生人“搭讪”（上）

 　　小时候，爸妈总告诉我"不要和陌生人说话".这份"不要XX"名单还包括："不要接受陌生人的食物和糖果"、"不要上陌生人的车"等等。

　　WHEN I was a child, my parents always told me that I should never talk to strangers. This was part of a whole list of things I should never do: Never accept food or candy from strangers, never get in a car with strangers, and so on.
　　可如果我们不试着与陌生人讲话，就交不到新朋友，连份工作也找不到，还将错过与陌生人分享另一种生活的乐趣。
　　If we didn't start a conversation with strangers, we'd never make new friends. We'd never get a job. We'd miss out on the joy that comes from talking with unfamiliar 1 people about their lives.
　　当你旅游时，注重与当地人沟通能让你了解该处风土人情。此外，和其他同行者谈天说地也不错，这不仅能带来实用的建议，听到一些精彩冒险故事，说不定你还可以找到将来一起出行的旅伴！
　　Whenever you travel, it's important to converse 2 with the locals to learn what life in the place you're passing through is like. It's also good to strike up a conversation with other travelers. You can get some useful advice, hear amazing adventure stories, and maybe even pick up a partner for future trips!
　　同样的道理也适用于本地社交活动。在咖啡馆、俱乐部与陌生人搭讪也能让你交到新朋友，幸运的话甚至可以找到一个恋人。而且，这总比你一个人枯坐整个下午或晚上有意思多了。
　　The same thing applies to social settings 3 closer to home. Talking with a stranger at a café or club could get you a new friend or even a romantic 4 partner. It's also a much more entertaining way to pass the afternoon or evening than sitting alone by yourself.
　　更何况，在如今这个社会，想在事业上出人头地就一定要有良好的人脉关系。你认识的人越多，就越有可能碰到那些能帮你带来机会的人物。
　　And, in a world where getting ahead professionally 5 often depends on personal connections, the more people you know, the more likely you are to find someone who can help you find opportunities.
　　下文将提供一些社交指南，教你如何与陌生人搭讪。读了这个，你就知道什么该说，什么不该说，以及怎样最大限度地把握每一场谈话。
　　The following pages offer you the ultimate 6 social guide, with some advice on how to mingle 7 with strangers. You'll learn what to say, what not to say, and how to make the most out of each conversation.
　　开场白：如何打破沉默
　　Try breaking the ice
　　别只顾着低头看鞋，走过去和生人打个招呼。当你意识到自己正与文化背景迥异的人面对面，以下这些开场白将帮你度过尴尬时刻。
　　Don't just stare at your shoes. Go say "Hi" to that new guy. The ice-breakers that follow will help you get through the embarrassing 8 moments when you find yourself in front of people from different cultures:
　　英式开场白：天气不错，对吧？
　　British: 'Beautiful day, isn't it ?'
　　英国的天气变化莫测。因此，天气是英国人最关心的话题之一。谈论天气时有个简单的秘诀：无论你是否同意说话人的观点，都要回答"对".这是因为英国人常以天气为开场白，以达成一致立场，继而转谈其他话题。
　　The weather in Britain is unpredictable. So, it's one of the topics the British care most about. And there's a simple rule governing weather-speak: Say, "Yes" whether you agree with the person's comment on the weather or not. That's because the British start a conversation using the weather so that they can find common ground and move on to something else.