英文謝辭

聞問切 —by 魯效陽 英文謝辭
2005.1.11

【明報專訊】一位署名Ada的讀者來電郵問，如何寫英文謝辭﹖有否多種寫法﹖

謝辭因場合不同而內容各異，無法在一篇短文中詳列出來。現只能舉出兩個例子。

（一） Julia Roberts獲頒奧斯卡最佳女主角獎，其謝辭的一段為﹕

I want to acknowledge so many people that made Erin Brockovich. But let me make my dress pretty. Universal, everybody at Universal, Kevin Mischer and Stacey Snider and Stacey Sher and I can't believe I'm remembering everybody's name. Jersey Films, Danny Devito, and everybody over there. Everyone I've ever met in my life.
讀者或以為自己不可能獲此殊榮，因而覺得上文並無參考價值。其實錯了。我們至少可學到﹕
（1） 用慣了thank，可改用acknowledge，增些新意﹔
（2） 隨口插入But let me make my dress pretty一句，令謝辭顯得格外自然。

（二） George W Bush總統就職演說（2000年），其致謝部分為﹕

Chief Justice Rehnquist, President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, distinguished guests and my fellow citizens, the peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country. With a simple oath, we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings. As I began, I thank President Clinton for his service to our nation. And I thank Vice President Gore for a contest conducted with spirit and ended with grace.

我們雖不可能作此類演說，但絕對可借鑒其策略﹕

（1） 宜擴大致謝的對象，以增強效果，例如提及my fellow citizens﹔
（2） 顯示器量和風度，例如感謝不屬「自己友」的Clinton，以及競選對手Gore。