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Other examples: You tell a story about the purchasing agent who always buys from his neighbors and friends, implying impropriety and possibly kickbacks; while in your colleague's culture, people always do business with friends and neighbors rather than strangers. Or, you may tell a story glorifying individual ruggedness and resourcefulness while the listener in another culture values group decisions and a team spirit. |
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The storyteller has to understand varying, even conflicting values to illustrate them appropriately rather than hold them up to mockery. |
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Tip 1010: Adapt your humor. |
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Punch lines don't always work from one scene to the other. The crowd may be baffled, bored, or buffaloed. The slightest difference in word choice, use of slang, or even timing may send your punch line straight over others' heads. Not only will they not laugh; they may be offended or consider you a "fuzzy" thinker. |
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Tip 1011: Remember that all laughter may not be fun and games. |
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Laughter and giggles in most cultures indicate good humor, goodwill, joy, and amusement. But in some cultures, laughter and giggling may mask pain or embarrassment. My Okinawan cleaning lady met me one day after work with a bad case of the giggles; she was embarrassed over breaking a cherished vase. |
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Tip 1012: Use appropriate sports analogies. |
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People everywhere either watch, participate in, or know about sports. But the popular sports change from country to country. Take the point you want to make and transport it to the appropriate field, court, pole, pool, stadium, floor, arena, or ring. |
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Tip 1013: Select the right pronoun for "You". |
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In modern English, the second person you means one or many, familiar or formal, friend or foe. In other languages, the selection of the pronoun connotes age, sex, occupation, and social and professional status. |
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