The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show uneasiness or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as uncomfortable. Therefore, they attempt to fill every gap. People in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding.
Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communicating, as traditional Chinese and Thai people do. Therefore, when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops, what may be implied (暗示) is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said. In these cultures, silence is a call for reflection.
Other cultures may use silence in other ways, particularly when dealing with conflicts among people. For example, Russian, French and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement about the topic under discussion. However, Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use, persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect, particularly to an elder or a person in authority.
Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients experience. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patient’s silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing (治愈) value of silence can use this understanding to help patients.
【小题1】What can we learn about silence in conversations from Paragraph 1?| A．It varies with culture. |
| B．It is a sign of boredom. |
| C．It improves friendship. |
| D．It is used to show anger. |
| A．The Chinese. | B．The Thais. | C．The Mexicans. | D．The Russians. |
| A．Break it as soon as possible. |
| B．Let it go as the patients please. |
| C．Use its value to help patients. |
| D．Explain its harm to their patients. |
| A．Usages of Silence |
| B．Different Meanings of Silence |
| C．Sounds and Silence |
| D．Silence Is Gold in Some Cultures |
