中式英语是中国人说,写英语的常见病,究其根源,还是中文思维在作怪。在中国人的日常英语口语表达中,最常见的,中国人离开了就不会讲英语的几个常用中式口语表达是:I think, I hear, I want, I hope, I don't know, so, because (of), therefore......., 而英语国家的外国人讲英语时,我们是很少听到这些表达的,尽管,它们在语法上常常没有毛病,但思维却是中式的,给人的感觉就是中式腔,一听便知道是中国人在讲英语。以下,我们来分析一下这种中式表达形成的原因,以及怎样避免今后继续Chinglish:
中国人讲话习惯“以自我为中心”展开话题,所以,英语常常以We,I think 开头。而外国人讲话习惯“以听众为中心”展开话题,所以,他们讲话常常以You 开头,更重要的是,他们认为:当一个人在讲话时,他只能代表自己,并不能代表We,并尽量回避提到“We”;中国人的辩证思维习惯于因果关系,没有因果就不能理论任何事,所以,中国人论述,描述任何事都必须以because,so,therefore来说明原因和结果, 以便撇清 “I”。外国人讲英语习惯于用事实,现象,证据和逻辑说话,他们认为,so, because (of), therefore等等都是多余的,没有必要的(注意:because只能回答与why有关的问题才能使用,而不是滥用),且常常以In fact, frankly speaking, actually, .......等来展开论述,并以clearly,finally,In a word, It seems, In conclusion, 等来结束话题。
为了避免以上标志性的中式英语在我们的英语口语中出现,我们完全可以以Native speaker的表达方式来替换我们习惯的中式日常表达如下:
I think, — I’d like to say…, My memory reminds me that…, In my opion..., My idea is...,My advice is…., My question is..., You'd better try to...,May I understand in this way that...,
I hear — I’m told that…, I've leart that..., I'm gladly informed that..., I hear the news that..., His story tells us that…, The good news for you is..., isen't it?
I want. — Would you serve me that, please? I love to have…, I’d like to have…, I prefer to…,
What I’m interested in is…, Are you be kind to show me that..., please?
I hope —You’ll be expected that…,What I like to is...,I'm eager to..., I'd like to express my best wishes to.., You’ll be appreciated a lot if you’ll be kind to help me do sth.
I don't know — Sorry, I'm not really sure. I've no idea. May I give you an anwser later,Sir? I haven't any idea about it now, but I'll try to tell you my understanding on it some minutes later.
So, Because (of), Therefore —
In fact, Based on the test result you've got, you can understand that..., The key point above mentioned shows us that.., In a word please allow me to say...; Technically (Theoretically) , I'd like to say..., Generally (Logiclly)speaking,
注:以上转换的Native speaker的表达方式还有很多,本文只是列出了一些常见的,中性的表达供大家选择。无论是中文还是英文,口语表达的方式都是因人而异的,并由时间,地点,场合以及讲话人的地位,学历,职业等诸多因素决定的。本文仅仅是抛砖引玉,为困惑的英语口语爱好者指出学习的方向而已.......!
综上所述,从中式英语口语向地道英语口语的转变过程就是我们中国人的辩证思维方式向逻辑思维方式的转变过程,时刻从对方着想,从听众着想,以客观事实说话,以理服人就是地道英语的鲜明特点之一。