與英國人講話時避免的禁忌話題雙語

　　英國人可喜歡絮叨、聊天和嘮嗑了——我們喜歡與人交談。那麼大家知道嗎?跟英國人說話時要注意這些事項，接下來，小編給大家準備了,歡迎大家參考與借鑑。

　　The British love a ‘natter’, a ‘chat’ and a ‘chin-wag’ – which is to say that we enjoy a conversation. There are, however, some topics that are best avoided. Here is a list of four that will raise eyebrows in polite company. It’s not all foreboding though: I’ve included some suggestions that’ll help you get British chins wagging.

　　英國人可喜歡絮叨、聊天和嘮嗑了——我們喜歡與人交談。但有一些話題還是不要提起的好。如果你和英國人提到以下四個例子，對方即使再有禮貌也會皺起眉頭。不過這篇文章也不全是關於這些給人帶來不祥預感的話題，最後也包括了些建議讓你可以挑起英國人民的話頭。

　　SEX

　　性

　　It is illustrative of British embarrassment that I feel awkward just typing the three letter word S-E-X. In Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hugh Grant ***as ever playing the stereotypical Englishman*** asks another guest at a wedding whether his girlfriend is well. The guest replies: ‘she’s actually no longer my girlfriend’. Awkward enough, but then Mr Grant’s character, in an attempt to console the man, makes it much worse. He causally mentions that the lady in question had not always been perfectly loyal to his conversant. The erstwhile boyfriend chokes on his champagne. ‘She’s now my wife’ he reveals. Given the choice, most Brits would prefer a picnic on an active volcano to being in this situation.

　　單單把這個字的三個字母***S-E-X***打出來，我就已經想鑽地洞了，現在你知道英國人有多容易尷尬了吧。電影《四個婚禮和一個葬禮》中，休·格蘭特***一如既往地飾演了傳統的英國男人角色***在一場婚禮上問一個客人他女朋友怎麼樣。客人回答道：“她已經不是我女朋友了。”夠尷尬了吧，但之後格蘭特的角色還想去安慰那個客人，情況愈演愈劣。他隨意提到話中的女士對這個客人劈過腿。“前男友”聽了被香檳嗆到一口，說：“她現在是我妻子。”大多英國人寧可選擇在活火山上野餐也不想陷入如此尷尬的境地。

　　The British reticence about matters of a carnal nature is inherited from the 19th century. The Victorians were notorious prudes. They would even go so far as to cover-up a table leg, fearing that it would look immodest if left exposed. After the ‘sexual revolution’ of the 1960s we’re more open ***no-one thinks twice before leaving a table leg naked*** but sex remains a taboo subject in polite conversation.

　　英國這種不願談論露骨話題的習慣要從19世紀說起。維多利亞時代人民的假正經是眾所周知的。他們甚至覺得桌腿看起來太下流，要把它遮起來。60年代“性解放”後，我們變得更開放***沒有人會在遮不遮桌腿這種問題上浪費時間***，但在禮貌的交談中，性還是屬於一大禁忌。

　　RELIGION

　　宗教

　　During the Tudor period of English history, expressing a religious opinion might lead to execution. Modern Britain is very multicultural, and though one is unlikely to lose one’s head as the consequence of a careless remark, religious debate remains a precarious topic. Faith is seen as a private matter, and it would be considered rude to simply ask someone what religion they belong to. It’s best to keep off the topic until you are better acquainted.

　　在英國曆史上的都鐸王朝階段，表明自己的宗教立場也許會被處以死刑。現代英國具有多元文化，隨便說話不會讓你被斬首，但宗教還是一個危險的話題。信仰屬於私人範疇，隨便問別人信什麼教會被認為很沒禮貌。這話題還是留到你們更熟了以後再說吧。

　　POLITICS

　　政治

　　There is a defunct Oxford tradition, dating from the dark days when the university only accepted men, prohibiting any mention of sex, religion and politics during a formal dinner. Anyone who broke the rule would be forced to drink a huge jug of beer, and if he was unable to finish it in one go would have to pay the bill. I’ve mentioned sex and religion already, and the third traditional taboo – politics – is just as dangerous as the others. As with religion, it is considered extremely impolite to ask someone what political party they support, or which way they vote. Many political topics cause sharp divides amongst the British public – UK membership of the EU and Scottish independence are the highest profile at the time of writing. Save in-depth political discussion until you are better acquainted.

　　有個已過氣的傳統曾經流傳在牛津只收男生的那段黑暗時期***對男生來說無比黑暗…***：任何人在正式晚宴上絕不能提到性、宗教或政治。破壞規矩的人要強行喝下一大壺啤酒，一口氣喝不完的話，這個人要付錢。之前提了性和宗教，第三個禁忌——政治——和其他兩個一樣危險。就像宗教一樣，問一個人他支援什麼黨派或者他投了誰的票也是特別無禮的行為。很多政治話題造成了英國民眾的巨大分歧，例如本人撰寫此文時最火的：英國於歐盟是留是走、蘇格蘭獨立等。還是等你們更熟了再來深度討論政治話題吧。

　　MONEY

　　錢

　　The fourth and final of the major taboo subjects is personal wealth. Expect horrified looks if you ask someone what their salary is. It is, however, perfectly acceptable to talk about how much famous people earn, especially if they are paid to play football. You’ll never be unpopular if you express outrage at Wayne Rooney being paid £300,000 a week, which is over ten times the annual average in the UK. Even the most rabid of Manchester United fans will agree that this is a bit silly; just don’t mention it if you happen to meet Mr Rooney himself.

　　最後一個重大禁忌是個人財富。如果你問到別人的薪水，等著他目瞪口呆吧。但是討論名人收入倒沒關係，特別是足球運動員。韋恩·魯尼每週賺30萬英鎊，這比英國人平均年薪的10倍還多。如果你對此表示憤慨，不用擔心沒人附和。即使是最最瘋狂的曼聯粉絲也會承認給這麼多不太明智;只要在你碰到魯尼本人的時候不要講就好了。

　　WHAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT...

　　你可以談論…

　　It might seem that no topic is safe in British company. Don’t be scared – there is plenty to natter about. The classic conversation starter is to make an observation on the weather. The weather changes frequently in England, which means that this gambit can often be used numerous times in the same day. It’s usually best to be on the pessimistic side, as if you are then contradicted and the conversation begins on a happy note. Good lines include ‘what fantastic weather, but I doubt it’ll last until the afternoon’ and ‘what awful weather, no doubt it’ll be raining until next year now’.

　　貌似和英國人聊什麼都不行。別怕，其實可以聊的東西可多呢。一般可以從天氣聊起。英國的天氣很多變，所以這個梗一天可用多次。最好一開始悲觀點，以便於之後來個話風一轉，開始談論節奏愉快的話題。比如，你可以說“天氣棒呆了，不過下午就要變臉了吧”，還有“天氣爛透了，這雨會下到明年吧”。

　　After discussing the weather there is unlikely to be time for more conversation, or by then the weather might have changed allowing you to start again. In the unlikely event that you do manage to exhaust this topic of conversation, don’t be afraid to talk a little about yourself. British people are generally interested in the world, and will be keen to know where you come from and your life there. You can then mirror their questions: for instance, if they ask whereabouts in China you come from, you can enquire as to which part of the UK they call home. You’ll soon find yourself a new friend, or at the very least you’ll learn something about the weather forecast and the geography of Great Britain.

　　聊完天氣，一般沒什麼時間再聊其他的，或者那時老天已經變臉了，你就可以再來一遍。難得有時你說盡了這個話題的話，就聊聊自己吧。英國人大多天性好奇，會很想知道你來自何方還有你在那裡的生活。之後你就可以模仿他來問問題：比如，如果他們問你從中國哪裡來，你也可以問他們的家鄉在英國哪兒。這樣的話就馬上可以交到新朋友了，就算交不到朋友，至少也會更瞭解天氣預報或英國地理。