【說話藝術】說 “Please”等於有禮貌?如何淡化語句「命令感」,變得大體有禮?
#職場 #職場英語 #商業英語 #禮貌用語 #英文教學 #please #打工仔在英語國家,“please”是最常使用的單詞之一,我們也習慣性地把“please”視爲「請」的禮貌用語。然而,說了“please”就代表有禮貌的嗎?非也。有時候,儘管在語句中加上“please”,還是會讓對方覺得有被命令的感覺。就拿"Please open the book."和"Please call me back in the afternoon."這兩句做例子,你以為在句首加上”please”就會讓自己的表達更有禮貌嗎?事實是聽者會認爲你是在命令他做事,”please”顯然無補於事。今期,我們就來談談有哪些方法能有助淡化語句的「命令感」,讓我們以英語溝通甚至請求他人做事時,能表現得更大體、更有禮貌吧!
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方法(一): 使用情態動詞 (Model Verbs)
與同事或客戶用英語交流時,不妨多使用情態動詞:can、could、may、might、would等等。
情態動詞(Model Verbs)又稱為情態助動詞(Model Auxiliaries),表示說話人的語氣,可表達意見、要求、意願等,從而使說話的語氣顯得比較有禮貌。
Example 1:
(X)^Please call me back on Monday.
(✓)Could you please call me back on Monday?
(✓)Could you call me back on Monday, please?
(^聽起來像在下命令、提要求。想要語氣禮貌,應使用情態動詞。此外,當“please”用在句首的時候,語氣聽起來就比較強,聽起來像命令。因此,“Please call me back on Monday.”這句説話會讓聽者認爲你是在命令他,一點禮貌也沒有。把“please”放在句子末端,如“Could you call me back on Monday, please? Thank you.” 就顯得更有禮貌了。)
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Example 2:
(X)Please leave. I have to take this phone call.
(✓)Could you step out of the room for a moment, please? I have to take this phone call.
Example 3:
(X)Please order me a coffee.
(✓)Would you get me a coffee, please?
Example 4:
(X) Send me an email by tomorrow.
(✓)Could you send me an email by tomorrow?
Example 5:
(X)I need to borrow your stapler (釘書機)for a moment.
(✓)May I borrow your stapler for a moment?
方法(二): 使用過去式 (Past tense)
在英語世界,Present Simple Tense(現在簡單式)聽起來很直接,太直接的表達容易予人輕率的感覺,不夠莊重禮貌。因此,我們可以將現在簡單式更改為Past Simple Tense(過去簡單式)或Past Progressive Tense(過去進行式),使其語氣顯得更間接有禮。
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Example 1:
(X)Do you have time to meet later to discuss this?
(✓)I wondered if you had time to meet later.
(✓)I was wondering if you had time to meet later.
Example 2:
(X)I’d like to finish this meeting by 4:00 p.m.
(✓)I was hoping to finish this meeting by 4:00 p.m.
Example 3:
(X)Can I ask a question about the proposal?
(✓)I wanted to ask a question about the proposal.
Example 4:
(X)I think you need help with the deadline.
(✓)I thought you might like some help with the deadline.
方法(三): 使用否定疑問句(Negative Questions)
頻繁的使用陳述句的表達可能會令表達顯得生硬、沒禮貌。如果你在話語中不斷使用陳述句,聽者會覺得你在表達一些主觀判斷,較易認為你是一個武斷的人。我們可以嘗試多用否定疑問句代替陳述句,從而以積極的、人性的語氣,代替命令的、直接的、武斷的語氣。在某些情況,使用否定疑問句甚至能有效軟化説話者的語氣,並將過於強硬直接的話語變得較婉轉平和。
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Example 1:
(X)You must consider the funding that we have.
(✓)Shouldn’t we consider the funding that we have?
Example 2:
(X)We need to review these reports one more time.
(✓)Don’t you think that we should review these reports one last time?
總而言之,如果想在交談中更有禮貌,就要學懂要以聆聽者為中心,力圖著力以談吐用字讓自己顯得比對方謙卑、渺小。如果想表示禮貌,記得多善用以上提及的方法喔。最後,別忘了附上一句“Thank you”或“Thanks”!正所謂「禮多人不怪」嘛!