英语交际误例分析
2020-09-10王峰
王峰
在现实生活中，难免要与别人打交道，但你可得注意，要是用英语与别人交流，千万不能将汉语的思维习惯机械地搬到英语中来哦！否则会闹出笑话的。不信，看看下面的这些日常交际用语你会几个呢？
【误1】— What do you want to buy？
— A pair of shoes.
【分析】英国、美国的营业员主动问顾客要买什么东西时，要说：What can I do for you？/ Can I help you？/ Is there anything I can do for you？不能说：What do you want do buy？（你要买什么？）
【误2】— Who’s that？
— I’m Alice.
【分析】在电话里回答“Who’s that？”或“Who’s it？”时，英美人常说：This is Alice（speaking）.
【误3】— Hello， who are you？
— Hello， I’m Mr Smith.
【分析】英美人在电话中问对方是谁时，要说：Hello， who’s that？ / Hello， who’s that speaking？ / Is that…speaking？ / Is that you，…？ 对方回答时，要说：This is …（speaking）.
【误4】— Sorry to have troubled you a lot.
— No trouble.
【分析】在对方向你表示歉意时，你应说：Never mind. /That’s all right. / It doesn’t matter. / It’s nothing. No trouble（不麻烦）。
【误5】— Merry Christmas to you！
— Thanks a lot.
【分析】听到有人祝你节日或周末愉快时，你应该说：The same to you，因为对于对话双方来说节日或周末是共有的;当听到别人说“Happy birthday to you！”祝你生日快乐时，你要说：Thanks/Thank you. 因为生日是你自己独有的，祝贺仅仅是单方面的。
【误6】— Thank you for your help.
— No thanks.
【分析】听到别人感谢时，英美人习惯回答：Not at all. /You are welcome. / That’s all right. /Don’t mention it. / My pleasure. / It’s my pleasure.等。
【误7】— Would you have another cup of tea？
— Oh， no， I wouldn’t.
【分析】表示“不再吃或喝……”，要说：No， thanks. /No， I have had much.若要表示“要”或“再来点……”答语可用Yes， thanks ./Yes， but only a little.
【誤8】— We are leaving for Hangzhou.
— Wish you safe all the way.
【分析】当别人告诉你要去某地时，你应说：Have a good time./ Have a good trip.等。
【误9】— Would you please lend me your eraser？
— Of course ， I would.
【分析】许诺别人借用某物的请求时，应说：Here you are. / Of course. / Certainly.
【误10】— My mother is ill.
— What illness？
【分析】听到别人生病的不幸消息时，英美人常说：I’m sorry to hear that.
【误11】— You speak English very well.
— No， not so well.
【分析】英美人在听到别人夸奖或赞美时，不像中国人一样先谦虚一番，而是表示谢意，谢谢别人对自己的夸奖。他们常说：Thanks. /Many thanks. / That’s very kind of you. /It’s very kind of you to say so. 而不说：No， not so well. / Just so-so. /Don’t mention it.
【误12】— How’s the young man？
— He’s a doctor.
【分析】How’s the young man？是问“那个年轻人身体如何？”答语应是：He’s much better. What’s the young man？是问那个年轻人的职业，答语应为：He’s a doctor.
