【英语多益通】从菲律宾总统四句道歉「声明」学英文

文/周强(Tim Chou)

我国外交部对于菲律宾总统所提出的道歉无法接受,因此决定对菲律宾采取多项制裁措施马尼拉经济文化办事处(Manila Economic and Cultural Office)主席瑞斯所带来这一封的菲国总统「声明」,不但被我外交部拒绝,更遭媒体指缺乏诚意。究竟这份声明说了什么?其实这封声明只有四句英文

第一句是:The President has appointed MECO Chairman Amadeo R. Perez as his personal representative who will convey his and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology to the family of Mr. Hung Shi-chen as well as to the people of Taiwan over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life.

这句英文近50个字,算是一个长句。许多人看到英文长句,常望而生畏,但是只要适度拆解分析,长句其实亦不过是由短句所组合而成。

本句基本上,由一个担负起连接与修饰功能关系名词who所串连。前半部为「The President has appointed MECO Chairman Amadeo R. Perez as his personal representative…」,此为「菲国总统任命马尼拉经济文化办事处(MECO)主席培瑞斯作为他的个人代表」。句中的appoint与representative都是职场好字。

「appoint」有任命之意,它的名词appointment除「任命」之外,还有一个职场重要用法是「约时间约会」,例如和医生约诊、和客户约时间讨论事情等等,都用此字。「representative」的「-ive」字尾使它看来很像形容词,但是它亦做名词,指「代表」;公司代表是company representative、业务代表是business representative,而它的动词是represent。

本句的后半部是用关系代名词who,修饰菲国总统的个人代表。其中有两个字词的用法值得一学,一是「as well as」,是and(和、与)之意,二是介系词over,有「关于…」之意,所以后半句的「who will convey his and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology to the family of Mr. Hung Shi-chen as well as to the people of Taiwan over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life.」是「就不幸和非故意的人命损失,他将传达菲国总统和人民对于洪家家属台湾人民深深的遗憾与道歉。」句中的convey(传达)、regret(遗憾)、apology(道歉)、unfortunate(不幸的)、unintended(非故意的)都是好字,值得一学。「intend to」是「打算、想要、意图」,而「unintended」是它的反义词,指「非故意的」。

第二、三句是:Upon orders from the President, the National Bureau of Investigation has already started the investigation and is committed to a thorough, exhaustive, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident. The NBI has given this case the highest priority.「受总统之命令国家侦查局已开始调查,并且致力于彻底、公正、快速的侦办此意外事件,并已将此事列为最高优先。」

句中的「bureau」、「investigate」、「is committed to」、「thorough」、「incident」、「priority」都是好字。受总统之命令的order更是多益测验听力部份的高频多义字,有「秩序顺序、订购、命令、点菜」五大用字义。「priority」也是重要字,职场上常用的「第一优先」可以说first priority或top priority。

第四句是:We understand the grief and hurt of the family and of the people of Taiwan over this unfortunate loss and we empathize with them.「我们了解洪家家属与台湾人民对此不幸损失的的伤痛,我们与他们同悲。」

时事中的「声明」,是我们练习阅读能力的好时机,因为其中的用字,必然是职场的常用字,同理也就会是多益测验的出题高频字,试举《多益测验官方全真试题指南II》第83页的118题为例:

Following Ms. Aglo’s appointment to the board of directors, the firm’s investment strategy was _____ reevaluated.(A) thoroughly(B) thorough(C) thoroughness(D) more thorough

解析本题题意是「在Aglo女士董事会见过面之后,公司的投资策略被彻底重新评估。」答案应该是用一个副词来修饰动词reevaluated,所以正确答案应该是(A)。

但是值得一提的是,本题的appointment与thoroughly都在菲律宾总统的声明中出现过,可见这篇声明值得一读。另外,board是多益测验的高频字:牌子、董事会、以及动词的登(上)飞机、船。

希望这件事情能够尽快落幕,但是值此之际,菲律宾总统艾奎诺三世派马尼拉经济文化办事处(MOCO)主席培瑞斯带来台湾的短短四句「声明」,想要得多益测验高分的你,值得一读。

菲律宾总统艾奎诺三世声明全文与Link:

The President has appointed MECO Chairman Amadeo R. Perez as his personal representative who will convey his and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology to the family of Mr. Hung Shi-chen as well as to the people of Taiwan over the unfortunate and unintended loss of life.

Upon orders from the President, the National Bureau of Investigation has already started the investigation and is committed to a thorough, exhaustive, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident. The NBI has given this case the highest priority.

We understand the grief and hurt of the family and of the people of Taiwan over this unfortunate loss and we empathize with them.

http://www.gov.ph/2013/05/15/statement-the-presidential-spokesperson-on-the-appointment-of-meco-chair-perez-as-personal-representative-may-15-2013/

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