英式英语和美式英语在发音上有何不同?
我通常回答:「粗略来分,有些美国人卷舌的音,英国人是不卷的,例如 car, bird, girl…」
想想,还有点像京片子儿话音和台湾休闲国语,翘舌和不翘舌。我的外籍朋友都能区分这两种口音的中文,除了Gordon 。
某天,Gordon 从公司打电话,叫我教他一句点餐的中文,因为他想去路边摊吃中饭。
“ Honey, how do you say pork fired rice in Chinese?”
“ You say 猪肉炒饭,again,炒~饭~”
我进行电话教学,还提醒他记得卷舌,四声别走音。
「猪~肉~炒~饭~」
我们反覆练习发音,搞得我好像在外太空订便当似的。
罢特,当我下课回到家,发现这位英国大师一脸不法喜,劈头就抱怨:
Gordon: I was embarrassed when ordering my lunch at a street food stall.
Because the Chinese word you taught me on the phone was wrong.
Nobody understood what I said.
(我在路边摊点中饭时好糗,因为妳在电话教我的中文是错的,没人听懂我在说什么)
伊凡: You mean…炒饭 for fried rice?
(你是说炒饭吗?)
Gordon: Yes, the owner of the food stall even told me the food I wanted to eat was actually 草幻,and I heard all the diners there say 草幻!
(对啊,小吃摊老板还说我点的是草幻,我也听到那里的客人都说草幻)
伊凡: Oh no, you don’t really think 草幻 is the right word for fried rice, do you?
(完了,你不会真以为草幻是fried rice的正确中文吧?)
Gordon: I finally said 草幻 to get my lunch.
(我最后说草幻就吃到中饭)
伊凡: …………
看到这个歪果人认真说台湾国语的模样,又摆出不信任老婆的态度,偶港觉四态粉严重~
如果有机会带外国朋友去路边摊吃美食(当然不只是吃草幻啦),试试以正确发音和声调,为他翻译老板常说的话:
1. 要不要加辣?
Do you want to add chili to your food?
Do you like it spicy or not spicy?
2. 如果你不喜欢香菜,要事先跟厨子讲。
If you don’t want coriander in your food, tell the cook in advance.
3. 这家自助餐的菜是用称重的。
The dishes in this self-service cafeteria are sold by weight.
4. 臭豆腐通常附上泡菜
Stinky tofu is usually served with kimchi.
说了一连串英语之后,居然还被问道「Excuse me,你刚说的是英文吗?」
该卷舌的音没卷,该用的字讲错,常让听众怀疑你说的到底是英语还是外星话。
问题就是出在发音,发音,发音(因为很重要,所以要讲三遍。)
快来 EF English Live 线上英语家教课程吧,母语老师一对一矫正你的发音,别再出糗啦!