Hi Yue, it is important to be polite and begin your sentences with the word please. Always say thank you if the person gives you an answer. Safe topics would be the weather, hobbies, fashion and sport until you get to know someone well.

To communicate with locally oriented mind sets a reserved attitude with a tendency to open up slowly is a good way to start with bearing cultural differences ,habits and specific traditions in mind. In fact individual differences between people regardless from their origin play a big role in determining the course of verbal communication between them. The degree of disclosure and openness are personal traits rather than characteristics attached to any nationality.With a minimum knowledge of the cultural background of any people you can tap into their sphere. Avoiding sensitive issues and being indirect first is a good path of conduct facilitating a positive communication later.

Hello Yue, The positive and negative indirect communication ? I assume you rather mean how indirect communication could turn positive or negative? or when is it better to use both direct and indirect communication in a positive way avoiding any negative outcomes ! When you get acquainted to someone for the first time it is recommended to start communicating in a conservative indirect way to break the ice and get to know how the person is to communicate with further. Formally reserved at the very beginning then slowly getting lesser formal and direct in your speech. The person's culture, age , career ,nationality , gender etc will determine to a certain extent how you will approach him. In general initiating with an indirect approach is a safer way for positive results or at least for avoiding misunderstandings. Direct approach could follow or come later in communications when a minimum of a rapport is already created. I don't think that the Americans have a stereotype "right topic" to start a conversation with nor do any nationality in particular specially in global internet and business communications. Americans however tend to communicate in a more direct aggressive ( relatively) manner. This aggressiveness is rather regarded so because of its relatively too direct manner lesser familiar in other cultures specially oriental and far eastern ones. With Americans you can be straight and short with lesser formalities without having to worry about any sensitive responsiveness in interpersonal communication.

In English it is more polite to make your communication indirect. Direct statements and questions are often considered rude, threatening and offensive. For example - in a bar PORTUGUESE - I want a beer and a water. ENGLISH - Please may/can I have a beer and a water? For example - asking for directions PORTUGUESE - Where is the hospital? ENGLISH - Excuse me, I don't suppose you can help me. Do you happen to know/could you tell me where the hospital is, please? I have big problems when I speak other languages because it feels like I am being rude when I ask for something so directly. However, if I use indirect speech in other languages, my sentence becomes very confusing and loses all meaning. I don't understand this "what about the right topic for Americans meet for the first time?" - the topics to talk about? NEVER money, how much you earn, relationships (more than "this is my boyfriend, bob"), religious practice (unless you are at a specific religious meeting/ceremony/celebration), weight/body parts (hehe), politics/who you vote for...etc you start with easy topics to get to know each other - what do you do for a living? do you live near here? How do you know our host/friend? etc you stick to safe topics that cannot cause offence.