The Discomfort of Silence
Many Americans find silence uncomfortable. They will murmur on to fill any quietness if it extends for more than a moment. Students often study with their radios singing;housewives leave televisions on for the companionship of sound even though they may be working in some other room. If you are silent for long periods,they will do their best to draw you out or will ask if you feel all right or if there is anything that they can do to help you. Sometimes silence can be puzzling, however; if Americans disagree with what you are saying, many of them will remain quiet. This may not suggest agreement; often it only means that they consider it impolite to argue further.
沉默的不適之處
許多美國人發現沉默令人不適。如果沉默的時間超過一會兒，他們就會低聲說話填補沉默的時間。
學生學習時經常聽著收音機的歌聲。主婦們雖然在其他屋子干活也會開著電視，與電視聲音做伴。如果你長時間保持沉默，他們就會竭盡全力讓你說話，或者詢問你是否還好，他們有沒有什么可以幫忙的。但有時沉默會使人誤解；如果美國人不同意你說的話，他們很多都會保持沉默。這并不表明他們贊成，通常沉默只是意味著他們認為繼續爭論缺乏禮貌。