各種類型的聊天、說話方式
shoptalk
雖然這個字含有 shop「商店」的意思,不過其實和商店沒有直接的關係。Shoptalk 是指「和工作、商務有關的談話」,舉個例子:
In the end, he got bored with the shoptalk of the programmers, which he barely understood.
最後,他對程序設計師之間的專業對話感到無聊,他幾乎都聽不太懂。
另外,我們也可以用動詞詞組 talk shop 表示「談論自己的工作」,舉個例子:
Even at a party those guys still talk shop! No wonder most of them are still single.
即使在派對上那些人還是在談論工作!難怪他們幾乎都單身。
pep talk
在職場上,當公司、團隊氣氛低迷時,主管常常會給予員工們「精神喊話」來提振士氣,英文就是 pep talk,而 pep 就是「精力、活力」的意思。來看個例子:
The manager gave the staff a pep talk this morning, attempting to boost sales.
早上主管給了員工一點精神喊話,試圖增加銷售量。
sales talk
相信許多人都有遇過業務、直銷的經驗,他們通常會有一套「推銷產品的說詞或話術」,英文可以說是 sales talk,雖然有時挺煩的,不過他們也是在努力工作養家餬口。舉個例子:
One classic example of sales talk is, "Hello, have you ever heard of Amway?"
一個很經典的推銷名言是:「哈囉,你有聽過安利嗎?」
sweet talk
Sweet talk 顧名思義就是「用甜言蜜語勸說」,可能是業務想要諂媚客戶,讓客戶掏錢,也可能是想要求對方為自己做某事情,先講點好聽的話讓人卸下心防。舉個例子:
If you want to some help from people, learn the art of sweet talk.
如果你想要過榮華富貴的生活,先學會甜言蜜語的技巧。
Sweet-talk 也常當動詞使用,這時會加上連字符喔,舉個例子:
I didn't want to help her, but she sweet-talked me into lending her a thousand dollars.
我原本不想要幫她,但她用甜言蜜語讓我心軟,從我這借了一千美金。
trash talk
有在看 NBA 的讀者可能會比較熟悉這個詞,trash talk 就是 NBA 常見的「垃圾話」,可以說是一種透過辱罵、羞辱對方來打擊對手自信心的戰術,舉個例子:
The legendary basketball player is not only famous for his incredible fadeaway shots but also for his venomous trash talk.
這個傳奇籃球選手有名的不只是他的後仰跳投,還有他惡毒的垃圾話。
back talk
有些人嘴部肌肉特別發達,不管你對他說什麼他都要「回嘴、頂嘴」,英文可以用 back talk 來表示,通常帶有負面的意思,可能是回嘴頂撞權威或是回嘴時話中帶刺,舉個例子:
I'm warning you for the last time—I am the boss here, and I don't want to hear any back talk. Okay?
這是最後一次警告了--我是這裡的老大,我不想聽到任何回嘴。好嗎?
baby talk
Baby talk 顧名思義就是「兒語」,是指某些父母、成人和小朋友溝通時,刻意模仿小朋友的說話方式,舉個例子:
Some adults tend to use baby talk with their partners, which scientists think might be a sign of deep affection.
有些成人會對他們的伴侶使用兒語,科學家認為這可能意味著他們情感相當深厚。