Tag: writing

一堂關於書信往來的課

之前分享在 Facebook 的文章，重新在這兒分享給大家。

上課前一個小時，請英文老師 Jeff 幫忙印上課講義，我寫的第一封信把他惹毛了。於是他用不同的語氣、內容寫了三封信表達同一件事，在此節錄兩封。三封信對照，讀起來完全不一樣，不光是用字遣詞，也牽涉到預設立場的問題：

  • 第一封信，我的原始信件，隱含預設他會馬上看信而且答應要求，頗不禮貌。
  • 第二封信，加入了他可能不會收到信的疑慮，並用較委婉的語氣請求。
  • 第三封信，加入他如果沒收到信，我讓課程繼續進行的備案，即使對方真的沒收信或無法幫忙也不會尷尬。

溝通真是一門學問，在未來書信要更加注意。

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  1. WRONG WAY – unacceptable

Hello Jeff,

Here is the material for today’s topic. Please help me to print it because I might not have an available printer today. Thanks. Tony

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  1. SLIGHTLY BETTER WAY – but still mostly unacceptable

Dear Jeff,

Here is our topic discussion material for tonight’s class. If you receive this email before our class and can help me, please print out (X number) of copies because I do not have access to a printer today. Thank you. Tony

–3. MOSTLY RIGHT WAY

Dear Jeff,

Attached is our discussion material for today’s class. As I do not have access to a printer today I would like to ask you if you can to please print out (x number) of copies for us. I am sorry to inconvenience you and if you are not able to print them out or do not see this email before we meet it is ok. I will still bring my iPad to present the material to you. Thank you for your help in advance.

Tony