奥巴马向日本天皇鞠躬

Barack Obama bows while meeting Emperor Akihito of Japan in Tokyo, 14 November 2009.

谁说美国人对其地位高枕无忧了？巴拉克·奥巴马总统给日本明仁天皇（右）深鞠躬引发了美国媒体对外交礼仪的疯狂争论。他只是出于礼貌？或者他已经叛国了？他以向一个1945年臣服于美国的一隅小国的头领自降身份来摧毁全宇宙的最高政府？

Whoever said that the Americans were relaxed about status? President Barack Obama's deep bow to Emperor Akihito of Japan (right) has sent the US media into a frenzied debate on protocol. Was Obama merely being polite or had he committed treason and demeaned the highest office in the universe by deferring to the head of state of a county that surrendered to the US in 1945?

奥巴马确实有过“前科”。今年年初，在20国峰会时他给沙特阿拉伯的阿卜杜拉国王（King Abdullah ）（图右）深鞠躬。但是后来他的一位助手声称那不是一个正确的鞠躬：“他只是用他的两只手握住了国王的手。因为他太高了，他不得不弯下腰来。”然而奇怪的是，奥巴马在伦敦会见女王时并没有费心弯下腰来，并不是我们妄自尊大地评论的那种。

Obama does have form on this. Earlier this year, he bowed deeply to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the G20 conference, though an aide later declared it wasn't a proper bow, "he was just grasping the king's hand with both his hands and had to bend over to do it as he was so much taller". Curiously, though, Obama didn't bother to bow to the Queen on the same visit to London. Not that we're snitty about it.

戈登·布朗或许了解奥巴马的感受。在荣军纪念日那天，他没有将劲脖子从右侧低下来而显得对纪念碑不敬，而正确的访求是将脖子从垂直的位置尽量向前伸。

Gordon Brown probably knows how Obama feels, having got it in the neck from the rightwing press for failing to show sufficient respect at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day by not moving his neck sufficiently far forward from the vertical position.

所以，正确的步骤是什么呢？根据规范生活礼仪的英国机构德布雷特（Debrett's）一位发言人：“与一位皇家成员初次会面时，应该垂下头或肩膀，目光也要迅速低下去。动作需快速，不要太夸张。离开时应该重复一下这个动作。”

So what is the correct procedure? According to a spokeswoman from Debrett's, "a man should bend his head from the neck or shoulders while briefly lowering the eyes on first meeting a member of the royal family. The movements should be brief and not overstated and should be repeated on leaving."

德布雷特机构没有指导如何给一位非英国皇家成员的人鞠躬。遗憾的是，英国外交部（the Foreign and Commonwealth Office）也没有。“我一点头绪都没有。”一位外交部发言人笑着说，“我以后再答复你。”她没有。因此你必须假定为你选择的鞠躬的程度完全取决与你想要得到什么回报。下面是你的选择：

Debrett's offers no guidance on bowing to anyone who is not British royalty. Unfortunately, neither does the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "I haven't a clue," a spokeswoman laughs. "I'll get back to you." She doesn't. So you have to assume that the size of the bow you choose to make depends entirely on the favours you are hoping to get in return. Here are your options:

奥巴马式深鞠躬：腿要挺直，头和身体与地面平行。（参见：日本明仁天皇）

The Obama Full Bow Legs straight, body and head horizontal (cf emperor of Japan).

奥巴马式不鞠躬：同上，但十指要与对方相扣。（参见：阿卜杜拉国王）

The Obama Non Bow Same as above, only with your fingers crossed (cf King Abdullah).

柔道式鞠躬：同上，只不过试图几秒后“扳倒”对方。

The Judo Bow Same as above, only you try to pulp your opponent seconds later.

歌剧式鞠躬：同上，只不过右手拿一个大手帕，努力站直的时候好擦前额的汗。（译注：演完歌剧后要长时间谢幕。）

The Operatic Bow Same as above, only with a giant hankie in your right hand to wipe the sweat off your forehead after the exertion of returning to the vertical.

罗马教皇式深鞠躬：完全卧倒，同时亲吻机场的跑道。大部分人乘坐完欧洲最大的廉价航空“Ryanair-瑞安航空”后使用。

Full Papal Bow Fully prostrate, while kissing the runway. Used by most of us after a Ryanair flight.

英国式鞠躬：干净利落地点一下头，同时保持淡定。

The British Bow A neat bend of the head from the neck, used while maintaining a stiff upper lip.