What one culture considers a perplexing or awkward pause, others see as a valuable moment of reflection and a sign of respect for what the last speaker has said. Research conducted at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in Dutch and also in English found that when a silence in conversation stretched to four seconds, people started to feel unsettled. In contrast, a separate study of business meetings found that Japanese people were happy with silences of 8.2 seconds—nearly twice as long as in Americans’ meetings.These cultural differences are reflected in the saying in the US that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” while in Japan it’s reckoned that “a silent man is the best one to listen to”. In Japan, the power of silence is recognised in the concept of haragei (belly talk), which suggests that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. “As soon as you need words there’s already a failure to understand each other so you’re repairing that failure by using words,” says Dr. Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University in the US.Of course, there are times when it’s better to speak up. Silence can sometimes be misinterpreted, says Tannen. Researchers of courtroom interaction found lawyers advised clients giving testimony to think before answering and not jump in immediately. But juries often suspected that a silence before speaking meant the person was making a lie, she says. “The intention and the effect of silence are often different.”In the workplace that can mean a manager announcing a decision and assuming that if staff are unhappy they will speak up, she explains. The employees, however, may see no point in saying anything because the boss has made up their mind. “That’s a very dangerous difference,” she says.Learning how to face silence is an important skill, says Matthew MacLachlan of UK-based Learnlight, a language and soft skills training provider—especially when working across cultures.In presentations, silence can be far more effective than dramatic passion, he adds. “Before starting, look at the audience and be silent for a moment because that says, ‘I’m in control. I know what I’m doing. I’m confident.’” A classic example was when Apple co-founder Steve Jobs launched the first iPhone, says MacLachlan. “He introduced pauses so that you didn’t miss his key points. Because silence makes us nervous, our instinctive reaction is that we’d better pay attention, there’s something going on here.”“Silence can be a very powerful focal point for understanding ourselves, understanding others, for developing better mutual understanding and more productive outcomes and that applies to business, politics, education, law, medicine, every realm of human life,” says Carbaugh. Having observed the use of silence in Finland and also among the Blackfeet Nation, a North American Indian tribe in northern Montana in the US, he says he sees benefits far beyond wheeling and dealing.1. What is the reaction of the Dutch after a four-second silence in conversation?A) Confused and awkward.B) Happy and comfortable.C) Anxious and worried. D) Indifferent and calm.2. What does the sentence “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” (Para. 2) mean?A) A person who speaks up most loudly gets the most attention. B) A silent person can have a more successful life.C) A greased wheel is the least likely to break down.D) A rusty wheel is more likely to make disturbing noises.3. What did lawyers advise clients to do when giving testimony according to researchers?A) Speak up loudly.B) Hide their real intentions.C) Remember to defend themselves.D) Think before speaking. 4. Why may employees fail to speak up even when unhappy with their manager’s decision?A) Because they are afraid of being fired by their boss.B) Because they don’t want how to talk with the boss.C) Because they think their boss’s decision cannot be changed. D) Because they think their boss is more experienced.5. Why did Steve Jobs introduce pauses when launching the first iPhone?A) To show his confidence.B) To disguise his nervousness.C) To convey his ideas more clearly.D) To remind listeners of his key points.

What one culture considers a perplexing or awkward pause, others see as a valuable moment of reflection and a sign of respect for what the last speaker has said. Research conducted at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in Dutch and also in English found that when a silence in conversation stretched to four seconds, people started to feel unsettled. In contrast, a separate study of business meetings found that Japanese people were happy with silences of 8.2 seconds—nearly twice as long as in Americans’ meetings. These cultural differences are reflected in the saying in the US that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” while in Japan it’s reckoned that “a silent man is the best one to listen to”. In Japan, the power of silence is recognised in the concept of haragei (belly talk), which suggests that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. “As soon as you need words there’s already a failure to understand each other so you’re repairing that failure by using words,” says Dr. Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University in the US. Of course, there are times when it’s better to speak up. Silence can sometimes be misinterpreted, says Tannen. Researchers of courtroom interaction found lawyers advised clients giving testimony to think before answering and not jump in immediately. But juries often suspected that a silence before speaking meant the person was making a lie, she says. “The intention and the effect of silence are often different.” In the workplace that can mean a manager announcing a decision and assuming that if staff are unhappy they will speak up, she explains. The employees, however, may see no point in saying anything because the boss has made up their mind. “That’s a very dangerous difference,” she says. Learning how to face silence is an important skill, says Matthew MacLachlan of UK-based Learnlight, a language and soft skills training provider—especially when working across cultures. In presentations, silence can be far more effective than dramatic passion, he adds. “Before starting, look at the audience and be silent for a moment because that says, ‘I’m in control. I know what I’m doing. I’m confident.’” A classic example was when Apple co-founder Steve Jobs launched the first iPhone, says MacLachlan. “He introduced pauses so that you didn’t miss his key points. Because silence makes us nervous, our instinctive reaction is that we’d better pay attention, there’s something going on here.” “Silence can be a very powerful focal point for understanding ourselves, understanding others, for developing better mutual understanding and more productive outcomes and that applies to business, politics, education, law, medicine, every realm of human life,” says Carbaugh. Having observed the use of silence in Finland and also among the Blackfeet Nation, a North American Indian tribe in northern Montana in the US, he says he sees benefits far beyond wheeling and dealing.1. What is the reaction of the Dutch after a four-second silence in conversation?A)  Confused and awkward.B)  Happy and comfortable.C)  Anxious and worried. D)  Indifferent and calm.2. What does the sentence “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” (Para. 2) mean?A)  A person who speaks up most loudly gets the most attention. B)  A silent person can have a more successful life.C)  A greased wheel is the least likely to break down.D)  A rusty wheel is more likely to make disturbing noises.3. What did lawyers advise clients to do when giving testimony according to researchers?A)  Speak up loudly.B)  Hide their real intentions.C)  Remember to defend themselves.D)  Think before speaking. 4. Why may employees fail to speak up even when unhappy with their manager’s decision?A)  Because they are afraid of being fired by their boss.B)  Because they don’t want how to talk with the boss.C)  Because they think their boss’s decision cannot be changed. D)  Because they think their boss is more experienced.5. Why did Steve Jobs introduce pauses when launching the first iPhone?A)  To show his confidence.B)  To disguise his nervousness.C)  To convey his ideas more clearly.D)  To remind listeners of his key points.