Ευγένεια και έμμεση διατύπωση
Would you mind…, I'm afraid…, it might be worth…, not very: η βρετανική τέχνη του ευφημισμού.
Η αγγλική ευγένεια, ιδίως η βρετανική, βασίζεται στην έμμεση και μετριασμένη διατύπωση. Μια ευθεία φράση, γραμματικά σωστή, μπορεί να ακουστεί απότομη.
| Ευθύ (μπορεί να ακουστεί αγενές) | Έμμεσο (φυσικό) |
|---|---|
| Give me the file. | Could you send me the file, please? / Would you mind sending me the file? |
| No, that's wrong. | I'm not sure that's quite right. / I'm afraid that's not correct. |
| You must check it. | It might be worth checking it. |
| I want a coffee. | Could I have a coffee, please? / I'd like a coffee. |
| It's a bad idea. | It's not the best idea. / I'm not convinced it would work. |
Test yourself
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Κάνε το πιο ευγενικό: Close the window.
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Would you mind closing the window? / Could you close the window, please? -
Κάνε το πιο διπλωματικό: Your report is bad.
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Your report could be improved. / I'm not sure the report is quite there yet. -
– Would you mind if I sat here? – (δέξου)
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No, not at all. / Of course not, go ahead. -
Ανακοίνωσε ευγενικά: «Η πτήση ακυρώθηκε.»
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I'm afraid the flight has been cancelled.