A man was lecturing in Latin America. He was going to use a translator, but to identify with his audience, he decided to begin his talk by saying in Spanish, “Good evening, ladies and gentleman.”

He arrived at the auditorium a little early and realized he did not know the Spanish words for ladies and gentlemen. Being rather resourceful, he went to the part of the building where the restrooms were located, looked at the signs on the two doors, and memorized those two words.

When the audience arrived and he was introduced, he stood up and said in Spanish, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” The audience was shocked. The people seemed stunned. He didn’t know whether he had offended them or if perhaps they hadn’t heard him or understood him. So he decided to repeat it. Again in Spanish he …