虽然这个字含有 shop“商店”的意思,不过其实和商店没有直接的关系。Shoptalk 是指“和工作、商务有关的谈话”,举个例子:
In the end, he got bored with the shoptalk of the programmers, which he barely understood.
最后,他对程序设计师之间的专业对话感到无聊,他几乎都听不太懂。
另外,我们也可以用动词词组 talk shop 表示“谈论自己的工作”,举个例子:
Even at a party those guys still talk shop! No wonder most of them are still single.
即使在派对上那些人还是在谈论工作!难怪他们几乎都单身。
在职场上,当公司、团队气氛低迷时,主管常常会给予员工们“精神喊话”来提振士气,英文就是 pep talk,而 pep 就是“精力、活力”的意思。来看个例子:
The manager gave the staff a pep talk this morning, attempting to boost sales.
早上主管给了员工一点精神喊话,试图增加销售量。
相信许多人都有遇过业务、直销的经验,他们通常会有一套“推销产品的说词或话术”,英文可以说是 sales talk,虽然有时挺烦的,不过他们也是在努力工作养家糊口。举个例子:
One classic example of sales talk is, "Hello, have you ever heard of Amway?"
一个很经典的推销名言是:“哈啰,你有听过安利吗?”
Sweet talk 顾名思义就是“用甜言蜜语劝说”,可能是业务想要谄媚客户,让客户掏钱,也可能是想要求对方为自己做某事情,先讲点好听的话让人卸下心防。举个例子:
If you want to some help from people, learn the art of sweet talk.
如果你想要过荣华富贵的生活,先学会甜言蜜语的技巧。
Sweet-talk 也常当动词使用,这时会加上连字符喔,举个例子:
I didn't want to help her, but she sweet-talked me into lending her a thousand dollars.
我原本不想要帮她,但她用甜言蜜语让我心软,从我这借了一千美金。
有在看 NBA 的读者可能会比较熟悉这个词,trash talk 就是 NBA 常见的“垃圾话”,可以说是一种透过辱骂、羞辱对方来打击对手自信心的战术,举个例子:
The legendary basketball player is not only famous for his incredible fadeaway shots but also for his venomous trash talk.
这个传奇篮球选手有名的不只是他的后仰跳投,还有他恶毒的垃圾话。
有些人嘴部肌肉特别发达,不管你对他说什么他都要“回嘴、顶嘴”,英文可以用 back talk 来表示,通常带有负面的意思,可能是回嘴顶撞权威或是回嘴时话中带刺,举个例子:
I'm warning you for the last time—I am the boss here, and I don't want to hear any back talk. Okay?
这是最后一次警告了--我是这里的老大,我不想听到任何回嘴。好吗?
Baby talk 顾名思义就是“儿语”,是指某些父母、成人和小朋友沟通时,刻意模仿小朋友的说话方式,举个例子:
Some adults tend to use baby talk with their partners, which scientists think might be a sign of deep affection.
有些成人会对他们的伴侣使用儿语,科学家认为这可能意味着他们情感相当深厚。