When you step on an escalator (自动扶梯), do you stand to one side to let others pass? When someone in the room fans himself with a piece of paper, do you open a window? If you ask someone to hang out with you and they stare at you blankly, do you withdraw the invitation? If you don’t do any of these things, I have some unfortunate news: you cannot “read the air”.
Knowing the unspoken rules governing social life requires a comprehensive understanding of your environment, whatever its setting. It’s a skill that’s valuable anywhere in the world—but in Japan, it is raised to another level. Reading the air—kuuki o yomu in Japanese—is a constant exercise. Misreading the air can blow business deals or ruin relationships.
Rochelle Kopp, who runs a cross-cultural training firm Japan Intercultural Consulting, says that while all nations have varying degrees of indirect communication, in Japan the phenomenon is more prominent in society. For example, if you’re talking to a client who has long since lost interest, you risk being labeled KY—a pejorative Japanese slang term that stands for “kuuki ga yomenai”, or “unable to read the air”.
A big part of “reading the air” is picking up on non-verbal cues. David Matsumoto, a psychology professor at San Francisco State University, studies micro-expressions: tiny involuntary facial tics that can give away a person’s true emotions. When, for example, a client at work says they’re happy with the job you’re doing, a very subtle lip twitch or eyebrow raise could mean they’re not telling you the truth. Noticing micro-expressions, along with other non-verbal communication, is important in any interaction, no matter where you are.
“Silence is one non-verbal signal. So is shifting of posture. A social smile could be yet another signal,” says Matsumoto. “All of these are part of the non-verbal package that contributes to that contextual meaning.” Matsumoto runs Humintell, a company that provides workshops on how to get better at reading micro-expressions and other non-verbal signals. Others provide such services, too; in Tokyo’s Toranomon business district, researcher Kenji Shimizu runs the Institute for Science and Being Sensitive to the Situation.
Like Matsumoto, Shimizu teaches people how to master micro-expressions. Shimizu uses a system developed by U.S. psychologist Paul Ekman, who coined the term and described the subtle facial changes as “involuntary emotional leakage”. “If you notice someone’s disgust (厌恶) —wrinkling around the nose—or anger—brows lowering, eyes widening, lips pressing—and yet those expressions are masked by smiles, you may want to figure out their actual thoughts.” Shimizu says.
8. According to the article, which of the following statements about “reading the air” is TRUE?
A.The culture of “reading the air” only exists in Japan. |
B.It is the skill of understanding others’ unspoken “language”. |
C.It is the key to maintaining good interpersonal relationships. |
D.The skill is all about picking up other people’s micro-expressions. |
9. The underlined word “pejorative” in Paragraph 3 most probably means“________”.
A.disapproving | B.approving | C.unfamiliar | D.familiar |
10. What can be learnt from Kenji Shimizu’s words?
A.A social smile is the best way to hide your emotion. |
B.Micro-expressions can give away the complete contents of a person’s emotions. |
C.The non-verbal signals on a person’s face can reveal his or her true intentions. |
D.You can improve your ability to read other people’s emotions with practice. |