快來看明天10/2(六)工商時報裡 "世界公民weekly" 精彩預告：華爾街新口號: Greed is legal，當貪婪變成合法
八O年代電影華爾街的主角戈登蓋柯──股市惡勢力的代表，現在有新口號，貪婪不只是美德，它合法，而且無所不在。二〸年前電影《華爾街》是如何改變人們對於金融市場印象?在新一波金融金融風暴中，蓋柯如何還找得到他的角色?熟悉字的第二個意思：sell不是賣
大家都知道sell就是“賣、出售”的意思，人們可以出售貨物，也可以向別人兜售某種理念或者想法。這次來看幾個和sell這個詞的習慣用語。Debug：
這些句子很彆扭，都是直接中翻英講出來的英文，你會不會也講出類似的英文呢?歡迎訂閱世界公民weekly電子報：點此訂閱 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(37)
英文第一課裡就學到stand up這個字了吧。然後根深蒂固就一直以為stand只能夠當站， stand這個詞意思很多的，今天我們來看看其中幾個比較常用的表達。熟悉它的第二個、第三個意思，你的英文聽起來就會很自然，不像翻譯式的英文。一起來讀stand這個字的延伸意思。1. stand-out 才華出眾的人這兒在stand和out之間有一個短線。Stand-out當名詞用，它和形容詞outstanding意義相關連。outstanding是"傑出的"，stand-out指才華出眾的人了。例如：I admit Wendy is a good researcher, but nobody would call her a stand-out right now. She was so eager to get a promotion that she faked some of the results in her last research report and now she's a laughing stock among her colleagues.我承認溫蒂是一個好的研究員，但是現在還稱不上是最頂尖的。她這麼急著想攀升職位，在上一次的研究報告裡成果中做假，反而成了同事們當中成了一個笑柄。2. stand the heat 吃苦耐勞、經得起批評和種種考驗Stand在這裡意思為"忍受"。Stand the heat來自這樣一句成語: If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. 這句話意思就是：怕熱不要進廚房。意思就是，如果你吃不起苦就別幹那一行。例如：The mayor is always complaining about the way the press treats him. He asked for the job, though, didn't he? What I say is, if he can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.市長老是抱怨媒體對他的態度，可不是他自己要當市長的嗎?我的意思是，要是受不了批評，就別坐這個位子。3. stand somebody up 放鴿子、爽約stand somebody up表面上是讓某人站著，意思就是"放某人鴿子，失約"等意思。例如：I had a date with Lisa at the movies last Saturday but she never showed up. She said her car broke down, but I think she's lying - I'm afraid she stood me up for some other guy.我和Lisa約好上星期六去看電影，但是她根本沒來。她說她的車拋錨了，但是我覺得她在撒謊，恐怕是為了跟別人約會而放我鴿子。4. stand pat 打定主意，不換牌Pat是打撲克拿到的一手好牌。Stand pat是玩撲克的時候輪到你補牌，但是你有一手pat（手上牌很好），你拿定主意不補牌，你就說，stand pat，不補。後來stand pat被用來表示堅定不移、決不改變主意。甚至也可以延伸為固持己見，互不相讓。The President and the Congress stand pat 總統和國會各執己見，處於膠著狀態其他stand相關的片語還有stand by 支持﹕I will stand by you no matter what they say you did.（不管別人怎麼說你，我都很支持你）；Stand off 的意思是和別人保持距離，態度冷漠，形容詞是 standoffish，例如﹕He has standoffish manners（他的舉止冷漠）。是一個特別為商業人士量身打造的on-line全英文改造計劃。我們知道(1)你很忙，但不會忙到一天連7分鐘也沒有；(2)你英文非好不可，可過去背的英文都不實用。(3)你挑剔，只想要最對味的主題。改變你的英文，就能改變你的世界！試聽請上網www.window1001.com。 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(2,495)
文/Jessie湯
"There isn't anything about the process of innovation per se, that makes it unpredictable." – Clayton Christensen管理學之父彼得．杜拉克（Peter Drucker）說：「不創新，就等死！」（innovate or die!），而美國哈佛商學院教授克雷頓．克里斯汀生（Clayton Christensen）則提出更進一步的說法，認為企業光是「創新」還不夠，必須發動以「夠好」（good enough）為核心精神的「破壞性創新」（disruptive innovation），才能確保企業永續生存。克里斯汀生也因為這項「破壞性」的創見，被譽為「當代最具影響力的創新大師」。克里斯汀生是在1997年出版《創新者的兩難》（The Innovator’s Dilemma）一書時，提出「破壞性創新」理論，其基本定義如下：Disruptive innovation describes a process by which a product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market and then relentlessly moves “up market”, eventually displacing established competitors.An innovation that is disruptive allows a whole new population of consumers access to a product or service that was historically only accessible to consumers with a lot of money or a lot of skill. 克里斯汀生在接受記者訪問時，做了如下更清楚的解釋：“A disruptive innovation brings to market a product not as good as the products in the current market, and so it cannot be sold to the mainstream customers. But it is simple and it is more affordable. It takes root in an undemanding portion of the market, then improves from that simple beginning to intercept with the needs of customers in the mainstream later.”“I call that a disruptive innovation not because it's a breakthrough from a technological sense, but instead of sustaining the trajectory of improvement that has been established in a market, it disrupts it and redefines it by bringing to the market something that is simpler.”“Internet telephony--the packet-switching technology developed by Cisco and others--wasn't good enough to be used in the voice telecommunications market, so it took root in a less demanding application, data transmission. Little by little, it got better and better and now you can send a voice signal over the Internet. That's a good example of a disruptive innovation.” 克里斯汀生指出，過去企業習慣在原有產品的發展下，維持「漸進式」（Incremental）的創新（讓產品不斷改善及更新），或者是「激進式」（Radical）的創新（發展不同的技術），不論「漸進式」或「激進式」創新，目的都是在改善既有產品的性能，因此統稱為「延續性創新」（sustaining innovation），「延續性創新」自然而然地會驅使企業逐步往高階市場發展。Because companies tend to innovate faster than their customers’ lives change, most organizations eventually end up producing products or services that are too good, too expensive, and too inconvenient for many customers. By only pursuing “sustaining innovations” that perpetuate what has historically helped them succeed, companies unwittingly open the door to “disruptive innovations”.反觀許多沒有大資本、高階技術和「成功包袱」的小企業，就比較有機會和意願，推出「比既有產品更差」或「只比沒有好一點」的產品，許多「破壞性創新」的成果因而冒出頭來，包括：網路電話skype、電子閱讀機Kindle、世界最大的B2B網站阿里巴巴、華碩電腦首掀的小筆電創舉Eee PC、在中國掀起風潮的山寨機、低價聞名的印度塔塔汽車，以及全球發燒的社群網站Facebook。毫無疑問地，「破壞性創新」改變了企業之間的競爭模式，強者不見得更強，新進者也不見得永遠處於弱勢。隨著市場汰舊換新速度加快、企業之間競爭激烈，克里斯汀生的理論益發獲得各產業領導者的重視，不斷思考，要怎樣才能催生出「破壞式創新」的產品或服務？克里斯汀生認為，要產生「破壞式創新」，必須從客戶的生活情境去思考，推出符合客戶使用情境的產品，以增加產品推出的成功率。畢竟，「A customer will never lead you to develop a product which that customer cannot use.」他說。但是，他也發現，許多頂尖的企業無時無刻不保持警覺，專心聆聽客戶的聲音，積極地投資新科技來滿足客戶需要，但是在面對科技與市場結構的變遷時，仍喪失了既有的領導地位，其原因就在於它們把所有的投資與科技都集中在開發現有重要客戶最需要、可以創造最大利潤的產品上，許多能決定企業存續的「突破性科技」（disruptive technology），則因遭到這些主流客戶的排斥而放棄。“If you're looking to start a new-growth business, very often, the most important customers to understand are non-customers. Because if you figure out why it is they're not customers, and then bring an innovation that allows them now to become customers, that's what growth comes from.”這就是創新的兩難－貼近主流客戶的需求對現在的成功非常重要，但是長期的成長與獲利卻是依靠另一種完全不同的經營模式。因此，管理者為了要創造出這個新的事業模式，必須發展另外一個不同的組織，讓這個組織專心進行「破壞」。“If the organization or the business unit charged with serving the installed base is also asked to go after non-customers with the more affordable, simpler product, they can't do it. Because the business models are so different, and small customers with the lower priced product -- it's not an attractive financial -- it doesn't solve the financial goals of an established business unit. Almost always, this new game begins before the old game ends. If you somehow create a strong economic incentive for the management of the existing business unit to go after the new disruptive opportunity, you take your eye off the main profit and cash engine of the company, and you stumble very quickly. And yet, while that is still going, you've got to get your foothold in the new market. And that's why it's just really important to set up a separate unit.”(本文同步刊於99/9/25工商時報)“紐約時報俱樂部團體課程”要教你讀紐約時報，讀到它的information成為你的knowledge，讀到它professional的英文從你的口中自然說出來，讀到它的style成為你的style。現在就點此報名甄選。 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(6,700)
小編悄悄話：這些表達一般在教科書中不容易見到，而卻又是老美日常生活中最鮮活的語言喔。1、我請客：覺得我們常用pay這個詞，如Let me pay it for you。在電影裡常聽到的說法是：I am buying；This is on me；This is all my bill。
2、向前看！：我們會說Look forward！而美語裡有個更貼切的說法是Eyes front！眼睛朝前，是不是很生動？
3、頭等大事：你會怎麼說呢？The most important thing嗎？看這個吧“It's on the top of my list”。
4、停電：No electricity？其實提到“電”，老外更多是用power，停電就可以是There is a power failure或Power goes out。
5、我不是傻子！：I am not a fool？對，語法完全正確。但再看這個I am no fool。比上面的只少兩個字母，但是不是感覺不一樣？同樣的道理，我們常說I have no idea，而不常說I don’t have any idea。
6、short hairs：是“短頭髮”嗎？它就是我們說的“小辮子”！
7、收買某人：有個比較正式的詞叫bribe，名詞時為“賄賂”的意思，動詞時就有“收買”之意。既然提到了“買”，那麼我們能不能用上buy呢？當然，那就是buy sb off。
8、She knew red was her color。“她知道紅色是她的顏色”？恰當的翻譯是：她知道自己和紅色很相配。Then, what's your color?
9、看在主的份上，你就……：兩種說法，其一是For the love of God，另外For God's sake(sake的意思是緣故、關係)二者之中，後者更常用。 熟到老外都覺得你英文好，現在就加入量身訂做的1on1 program！ 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(11,850)
（小編悄悄話：這篇同步刊於9/25週六工商時報”世界公民weekly”。每次閱讀一個有趣的城市，讓你以英文暢遊全世界！）
C’est la vie-- Nice
啊，尼斯，這就是人生！文/Wendy周
The city that freed me. The city that freed my soul. A place that after you set foot in, you’ll feel freed from yourself. Freed from the restrictions in the world. Freed from all. In this southern French city, I see people that come from all over the world. Different colors, different cultures, different backgrounds. All come for the purpose of true relaxation. To drink in the beauty of this city. Artists come to seek inspiration. Families come for relaxation. People come for the inspiration of life.
走在蔚藍海岸，它的藍、它自由的空氣，喚醒我渴望自由的心靈。我可以看見Henri Matisse在此感受到靈感，他形容尼斯是乾淨、澄澈、精緻、明淨的；尼斯的天氣、尼斯的蔚藍海岸、尼斯的陽光促成了他的創作。在這裡，混合著地中海的熱情，我的靈魂不由自主的被它帶進異國澎湃。位於南法的這片土地有著獨有的魔力，無論是古老的舊城區、香味四溢的蔬果市集、佈滿粗獷小石頭的海灘、路旁叫賣的攤販，每個角落都在訴說自己的故事。
I walked to the beach. I’ve always loved people watching at the beach. Because you see life, you see people, you see culture. And you get to feel the immensity of the sea. At the beach, by the bonfire, there were people juggling, people laughing, it’s like a big carnival within itself. I was having the fun of my life. I just wanted to shout out, “C’est la vie.” My soul is awakened.
C’est la vie :這是一句法語，是連老美都愛用的法語。相當於英文裡This is life的這就是人生。法國人的生活節奏慢，喜歡享受人生，每當法國人享受生活的時候就會說C'est la vie，已經成為他們的口頭語了。注意發音：大致是se-la-VEE。延伸的用法：這就是人生，也可以用在感嘆莫可奈何的時候。來看兩個例子：something that you say when something happens that you do not like but which you have to accept because you cannot change it. 有些事我們不得不接受，因為我們無法改變事實，所以就是無奈的意思了。例句：I've got so much work that I can't go away this weekend. Oh well, c'est la vie. 我有很多工作要做，週末我走不開，哎，無奈啊。我坐在天使濱海大道Promenade des Anglais上的餐廳，揣摩著尼斯人的悠閒，點了海鮮盤，喝著白酒，在這個曾隸屬於義大利的土地上，時間彷彿凝結了。餐後，在這個象徵狂放、自由、濃豔、不受拘束的蔚藍天堂中，我盡情享受著陽光，帶著我的筆記本，坐在海灘，用文字試圖記下這一切，努力記下這海的藍和天空的清澈所連成一線的景觀。在這裡，我終於懂了，懂世界之美包含它的外表和內涵：外表的美是短暫的，但內涵的美才能真正永垂不朽，就如尼斯一般。
My Nice Experience時尚民宿Bed and Breakfast- Le Dortoir (http://www.ledortoir.net/en)In Nice, right in the center of all the buzz sits a very tasteful and fabulously designed little place called Le Dortoir. As soon as I walked into my room, I knew I was in B&B heaven. The design was so modern and chic but warm at the same time. I put down everything, got out the wine I just bought and sat at the terrace to feel the cool breeze. I took a long bath in the gorgeous cast-iron tub next to the bed. Everything was designed to details and just enough personal touches to welcome its guests. It’s the perfect start for my Nice adventure.
Le Dortoir是兼具時尚與品味的民宿，每個角落都看得到主人的用心。開放式的浴室讓整個空間更加寬廣，可在外面陽台俯瞰尼斯街景；夜晚，仿古的浴缸正是沉澱心靈的角落。房間設計彷彿置身在五星級飯店，但高級的享受伴隨著的是一般人都付得起的價格。早晨還有主人特別準備的早餐貼心送到房門口；每間房間裡有研磨咖啡機，濃郁的咖啡香配上法式可頌，尼斯的一天正要開始。lBuzz原是形容一種聲音，在這可形容成「熱鬧」。lChic可譯為"別致"，要注意的是它的發音，ch不發原本的音而是發sh的音。
旅遊小知識國外通常會看到以下幾類住宿型態：1.Hotel: 大飯店，如Hilton, Four Seasons, Hyatt.2.Hostel: 青年旅館，是背包客的最愛。3.Motel: 常位於高速公路旁的小型飯店，給開車的旅客停留一晚的地方。在美國公路旁到處可見Motel 6。 4.Inn: 小型飯店，通常價錢比Hotel低，Holiday Inn就是一家眾所皆知的inn。5.Lodge: 小木屋，常位於樹林裡。6.Bed and Breakfast: 民宿，提供早餐但種類沒有hotel多，淡季時房價會調得很平價來吸引顧客。7.Resort: 大型度假村，在許多度假勝地可見。
Kind of foodIn Nice, their cuisine shows a clear inspiration from Spanish, Catalan and Italian traditions, and is strongly based on vegetables, herbs and olive oil. Typical starters are vegetable salad and cheese.lSocca：尼斯的鹹餅，有濃郁的橄欖油香味，在當地到處可見。lPan-bagnat：尼斯三明治，有生菜、蒜醬、番茄、水煮蛋、青蔥、橄欖油醃漬的鮪魚。lPissaladiere：它是一種餡餅，包著洋蔥、鯷魚與黑橄欖。lRatatouille：什錦蔬菜，包括番茄、紅甜椒、茄子、洋蔥、蒜頭。lMesclun：尼斯特產的沙拉，有許多當地產的蔬菜，如蒲公英的莖、菊苣、馬齒莧和山蘿蔔。lTripes a la nicoise：牛或豬肚淋上用番茄熬煮的醬汁。lSoupe au pistou：一種用馬鈴薯和不同蔬菜去燉煮的湯。
Where to grab foodThe sunny boulevards of Nice are lined with exceptional restaurants for different tastes and budgets. Promenade de Anglais is home to some of the most prestigious cuisine in the city, all featuring a wonderful view of the sea. In the Old Town, you’ll find a mix of pubs and bars.
尼斯的美食混合著地中海的特色，從路邊的小攤販到餐廳林立的天使濱海大道，再到老城區裡的酒吧，都可以嗅到橄欖加上香料的香氣，無論是在cafe裡吃著mesclun沙拉或在高級飯店品嘗米其林三星的料理，都是人生一大享受。
Tip for eating in NiceThere's a rule to keep in mind when you’re eating in Nice. Bread is seen in all meals there. Biting on a whole piece of bread might raise a number of eyebrows. Locals usually tear it into small pieces with their hands and then only eat the bits.
在法國，有一個很重要的餐桌禮儀不可不知：因為餐餐都附有麵包，吃麵包時很重要的一點就是不要整塊拿起來啃食，那樣在當地人的眼裡看起來是一件非常不禮貌的事，在當地，應該是要把麵包撕成小塊，再放進嘴裡。歡迎訂閱世界公民weekly電子報：請點此訂閱 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(286)
以下是社交場合可能引起尷尬的七句話，看看自己有沒有犯這類錯。（1）You've put on weight.
評論人的體重很不禮貌，而類似You're getting fat. 會讓老覺得粗魯且侮辱人。（2）Oh you're pregnant!
假如不明顯，不必刻意提起。說錯反而尷尬。（3）Is this your daughter?
如果她恰巧是他的女朋友怎麼辦呢？避免對對方關係的任何猜測，而是等待對方介紹，或是大膽的介紹自己。（4）That color doesn't suit you.
品頭論足令人討厭。讚賞你喜歡的一件衣服或飾品才會讓人愉快。（5）How much money do you make?
談論錢或薪水都是不和時宜的。（6）You look sick.
太直接可能會變成侮辱。如果某人的確看起來不太健康，你可以問：Are you feeling ok? （7）How old are you?
年齡是敏感話題除非你是和小孩談話。
社交場合說什麼好呢？英國流行的一句諺語，If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. 不是好話就不要說！說好話就對了！
【Window 1001】是世界公民文化中心為忙碌上班族所量身訂作的線上九宮格英語學習平台，不論你從事的領域是金融、科技、貿易或管理，每天只要20分鐘，3個月就能讓一個「英文只夠用來自我介紹」的學習者，進步自在與人用英文交談有意義的話題；心動不如馬上行動，立即試讀請上網www.window1001.com登記。
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學英文的人大抵要經歷兩個過程，由簡入繁，再由繁入簡，高明的境界是用最簡單的語言把一件事情說清楚。今天介紹的這〸個句子都是很簡單的句子，也都是你認得的字，但一開口說出來，立辨高下。I got loads out of it.
我從中學到了很多東西。Let's push it back to next week.
咱們把(會議)延遲到下周吧。Can I pick your brains for a second?
能否請你借一下你的腦袋？Can you give me a few points?
能否給一些建議？I'd love to be my own boss.
我也想自己當老闆。You're cutting it a bit fine, aren't you?
你把時間卡得太緊了吧？I've double-booked myself.
我重覆安排行程了。That figures.
怪不得。(原來如此)If you need my help, do let me know. Just remember I am a phone call away.
你需要幫忙一定得告訴我，不就一通電話嗎。I am at your service at any time.
隨時為您服務。字用對了，英文就活了！進步最快的辦法是加入世界公民1on1 programà 登記甄選 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(110)
文/Lily彭
不要以為只要聽懂每一個單字，就算聽懂了一段英文了。人講英文的時候，一定會有一些語調上的變化，不同的語調傳達出各種不同的情緒：懷疑、肯定、激動、傷心、憤怒、感歎……不同的情感變化。
常見的例子是，你沒聽清楚別人的講話，要對方再重複一次，就要說“升調”的I beg your pardon（↗）。但是如果“你不小心踩到別人”，就要用到“降凋”的I beg your pardon（↘）。看來同樣的一句話，由於“語調”的不同，意思也就有所差別。
語調（intonation），就是說話的腔調，講話時候的抑揚頓挫。世界上沒有一種語言是用單一的聲調說出的，英語有五種基本語調：升調、降調、升降調、降升調以及平調。每一句話都有字的意思，和語調的意義，兩者加起來才能完整傳達的意義。同樣的句子，語調不同，意思就會不同，有時甚至會相差〸萬八千里。語調造成的變化，今天和我們一起做題目，看看有哪些新發現。
A：Can you bring me the book?
B：Sorry?（↗）
B用升調說“Sorry” ，其意思是“I didn't hear you. Could you say that again, please?”
A：Can you bring me the newspaper?
B：Sorry. （↘）
B用降調說“Sorry”，表示拒絕。
單一音節的語調並不重要，重要的是它與另外一個的相對高度。每一句話中的語調波峰一般都是句重音所在。通過一句話中的語調波峰所在，我們就可以瞭解說話人的意思。如人們讀“I work for the company. ”這句話時，由於強調的重點不同，語調也就隨之發生了變化。比較看看：
I（↗）work for the company. （暗示在場的其他人不是在這家公司工作）
I work for（↗）the company. （表示我是在這裡”工作”，暗示著我可不是來玩的）因此，對下面的對話所提問的問題進行選擇時，就不難回答了。
M：Mary looked very tired these days.
W：She looked OK to me（↗）.
Q：What does the woman think of Mary?
〔A〕She saw Mary and me.
〔B〕Mary said she was fine.
〔C〕She looked up the word for me.
〔D〕She considered Mary was all right.
答案（D），這句話裡的句重音碰巧落在句子的最後一個字“me”上。女士以升調重讀“me”，意思是她不贊成男士意見：你覺得她累，可在我看來，她沒什麼問題。
疑問詞像who，which，what，how，when，where，why可以用降調也可以用升調，但含義不同。如：
A：Mr. Johnson thinks we ought to give a proposal first.
B：Who?（↗）
A：Mr. Johnson
B 用升調說“Who”，表示聽不清談話，要求對方重複。
A：We'd like to have someone to say a word at the beginning to welcome the guests.
B：Who?（↘）
A：We thought that you or Dr. Dan might do it.
B 用降調說“Who”，是問，那你覺得誰適合？
附加疑問句可以讀升調也可以讀降調，意思不同。降調是要只等對方證實。升調表示對內容的真實性沒有把握，要對方自己判斷。如：
A：You will finish the work, won't you?（↘）
B：Yes, I will.
A 用降調提問，是再確認，我知道你會完成，但口頭上再確認一下，安心些。
A：You will finish the work, won't you?（↗）
B：No, I won't. ( 或Yes, I will.)
A用升調提問，表示A也沒把握，因此，得到的回答既可能是肯定的，也可能是否定的。
語調可以反應談話人的互動性。如：
A：Are you Mr. Lin?
B：Yes.（↘）
A：Here you go.
此例中，B用降調說“Yes”，表示B的認可，這是一個封閉式的回答，這表明如果A 沒有新的問題要問或新的資訊要告知，也許他們的對話就可以結束了。
A：Are you Mr. Lin?
B：Yes?（↗）
A：Ah, you have a message.
有些疑問句讀作降調，實際上表示感歎。如：Isn't she pretty！（↘）這句話實則表示：她多美啊！請看下面的實例：
M：Wasn't Sue's speech great!（↘）
W：Are you serious?
Q：What does the man say about Sue's speech?
〔A〕Sue's speech wasn't great, was it?
〔B〕Sue's speech was great, wasn't it?
〔C〕Sue gave a serious speech.
〔D〕Sue was not serious.
答案是B。有時候問句並沒有期待有答案，相當於直述句，但別有意味。如：
M：Do you think Patty is qualified to do the job?
W：If Patty y is not, who is?（↗）
Q：What does the woman mean?（C）
〔A〕Patty is not qualified for the job.
〔B〕Nobody is qualified for the job.
〔C〕Patty is well qualified for the job.
〔D〕All except Patty are qualified for the job.
對語調的感知能力和反應能力經常也靠直覺，太分析的角度去看反而複雜，假如記不起來，就感覺它，在交談的語氣裡揣摩，〸之八九，你會答對。
字用對了，英文就活了！進步最快的辦法是加入世界公民1on1 programà 登記甄選
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文/Jessie湯
See the Jungle from Where You Are, and See the World from the Jungle
“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right." – Jane Goodall
在26歲芳華正盛時，珍古德（Jane Goodall）開始致力於黑猩猩（chimpanzee）的行為研究；半個世紀過去了，今年高齡76的珍古德，於9月初第〸三度造訪台灣，慶祝非洲岡貝（Gombe）研究的50周年，也再度提醒台灣的人民，從大自然的眼光中，重新檢視自己的生存行為與態度。
不像現在大多數人都意識到生態保育的重要性，1960年珍古德踏進岡貝森林時，卻是抱著「雖千萬人吾往矣」的心情，堅毅而孤單地展開長達50年關於黑猩猩的野外研究，也因為珍古德的研究，糾正了學術界對黑猩猩這一物種長期以來的錯誤認識，之後，她長期致力於環境慈善事業，帶給人類如何與動物和諧共存的全新視野。
《華盛頓郵報》（The Washington Post）在日前回顧珍古德的成就，如此介紹她：
Primatologist Jane Goodall began her groundbreaking research into chimpanzee behavior on July 14, 1960: 50 years ago tomorrow. She was a 26-year-old with no scientific experience or college degree. British authorities balked at(畏怯/猶豫)the idea of having Goodall stay alone in the wilderness around Lake Tanganyika(坦葛尼喀湖), in what is now Tanzania(坦尚尼亞), so her mother went with her.
During Goodall's six-month sojourn in the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve, now Gombe National Park, Goodall saw a chimp strip leaves off twigs to fashion tools for fishing termites from a nest. Until then, scientists thought that humans were the only creatures that created and used tools. This was just the first of many Goodall discoveries that have redefined the relationship between humans and other animals.
即使是在今日地球村，女性獨立意識抬頭，卻也鮮少聽說有女性隻身前往非洲森林探險，因此，50年前，珍古德的這趟旅程可以說是標新立異的創舉，也是極具危險度的一種挑戰－因為，雖然當時動物學家及人類學家都知道，黑猩猩和人類在生物學意義上有近親關係（Chimpanzees share 98.4% DNA with humans, which makes them closer to humans than gorillas.），瞭解黑猩猩的生活方式，可能有助於理解石器時代人類祖先如何生活，但黑猩猩遠比人類要強壯得多，研究牠們是件非常艱辛且危險的事，需要耐心與全力以赴。
不過，對從小就熱愛動物的珍來說，這趟旅程是在圓一個認識環境、理解生命的夢。
“There was one occasion I can never forget. I had followed a chimp deep into the forest. He stopped to rest, and as I sat near him I saw a ripe palm nut and held it toward him on the palm of my hand. He turned his head away. I held my hand closer and then he turned back, looked directly into my eyes, took the nut, dropped it and very gently pressed my fingers with his in a gesture of reassurance. We each understood the other, bridging our two worlds, communicating with gestures that had probably been used by our common ancestor six million years ago.”
從學者的理性研究角度，珍歸納出黑猩猩的行為模式與人類有許多相像之處：They hunt, sometimes engage in cannibalism, make war on each other, adopt orphans, and drum on tree roots and wave branches in ritual-like displays. Some chimps are cunning politicians; others seem devoted to their families.
“They kiss, embrace, hold hands, pat one another on the back, swagger, shake their fists, and throw rocks in the same context that we do these things. There are strong bonds of affection and support between family members. They help each other. And they have violent and brutal aggression, even a kind of primitive war. In all these ways, they’re very like us.”
而從一個熱愛生命的人文關懷者角度，珍教導世人用更同理的眼光，看待不同於己身的生命：
“When I first went to Cambridge University in England,…I was completely horrified to find that the professors and my fellow students were very disapproving of the fact that I had given the chimpanzees names, talked about them having personalities, and described how their minds worked and how they solved simple problems. Above all, they were horrified that I ascribed emotions like happiness, sadness, fear, despair, and grief to the chimpanzees.”
“All these things were uniquely human and not to be talked about in relation to any kind of non-human animal. Fortunately, by that time I was 26, and all through my childhood I had a wonderful teacher about animal behavior - my dog Rusty. He taught me that animals have personalities, minds, and feelings.”
“Gradually since that time in 1960, attitudes towards animals have softened in scientific communities, so we now have students who are studying animal minds. We have students studying animal emotions. And we even have people who are trying to work out ways of coming to grips with animals' personalities, so it's changed, but it still has some way to go.”
諷刺的是，當人類自認為是「萬物之靈」，站在主宰者的高位，人類讓自己持續生存下來的能力卻不見得比動物們高明。珍古德在接受訪問時，感嘆地說：
“In some ways we’re not successful at all. We’re destroying our home. That’s not a bit successful. Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans have been living for hundreds of thousands of years in their forest, living fantastic lives, never overpopulating, never destroying the forest. I would say that they have been in a way more successful than us as far as being in harmony with the environment.”
也因此，現在的珍古德，每年僅有兩次短暫停留於岡貝，而把大多數時間留給年輕人，四處演講呼籲環境保育的重要。當被問及為什麼不繼續留在森林裡做研究，珍古德的回答是：
“Gombe, with its chimpanzees and baboons, its forests and birds, lizards and butterflies, is my spiritual refuge. Lying under a great tree, looking up at the tiny stars whose light shines down through the rustling leaves, or lying on the beach and gazing up at the moon, puts everything in perspective, gives meaning to my life. Gives me the strength to leave the peace and go back on the road. Sometimes we must leave what we love to save it—and so I stay on the road, raising awareness and support, always thinking of Gombe.”
“I could kill myself trying to save chimps and forests, but if children don't grow up to be better stewards of the environment than we are, then what's the point?”
本篇同步刊於9/18工商時報”世界公民weekly”專欄。
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Fast這個字大家都會念，也知道是什麼意思。可是，在很多英文習慣用語中，fast卻並不一定表示"快速"。能夠延伸字的意思，熟悉它的第二個、第三個意思，你的英文聽起來就會很自然，不像翻譯式的英文。一起來讀fast這個字的延伸意思。
1. Life in the fast lane 競爭激烈、忙碌而快節奏的生活方式。
生活每天都像在高速公路上開車一樣，是不是很忙？life in the fast line就是比喻"快節奏的，競爭激烈的、馬不停蹄的生活"。
例句：Tom is a hotel manager. He works 60 hours a week, but he's always flying to Hong Kong, Tokyo or New York and enjoys life in the fast lane.
湯姆是飯店經理，每周已經工作六〸小時了，但他還是喜歡搭飛機到香港、東京、紐約，享受忙碌的生活。
2. Go nowhere fast 毫無進展
Go nowhere意思是"哪兒都不去"。而fast這個詞的意思是"快"。Go nowhere fast是很努力做一件事，卻毫無進展。哪裡都快不了。
例句：I've been working on this problem all evening and I'm going nowhere fast! Could you help me out? 我整晚上都在絞盡腦汁地解決這問題，卻毫無進展，你幫幫我好嗎？
3. To play fast and loose 不負責任、靠不住
Loose本來的意思是鬆散，引申為：輕率的，不在意的。要是說一個人play fast and loose，那這個人就是不負責任的，靠不住的。To play fast and loose常用來形容人對感情的態度。比如說，談戀愛的一方對對方並不〸分真誠，而只是想利用對方，就可以說是to play fast and loose。
例句：This reporter is known for playing fast and loose with the facts. 這名記者是出了名的罔顧事實。
4. Hard and fast 嚴格的規矩、規則
Fast除了快之外，還有一層意思是停在一個地方動不了。那麼hard（嚴格的）跟fast（不可動搖的）兩個字放在一起，可想而知是多麼嚴格的規則了。
例句：In our office building there is a hard and fast rule against smoking. 我們辦公室嚴禁吸煙。字用對了，英文就活了！進步最快的辦法是加入世界公民1on1 programà 登記甄選 世界公民文中心 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(399)
