2013年10月,美國廣播公司(ABC)就該台播出帶有辱華色彩的言論發布「公開道歉聲明」,承諾今後杜絕類似事件。Apology 有道歉和謝罪的意思。
When you make an apology, you are apologetic(感到愧疚). You can say “forgive me”(請原諒)if you want to ask somebody not to be angry about something that you have done.
You take something back means you admit that something you said was wrong: I’m sorry - I shouldn’t have said that. I take it back.(很對不起,我失言,願意收回我剛才說的話。)
道歉日常應用的場合,主要有五個模式(usual patterns for apologies):
1. Apology for interrupting somebody, bumping into him or treading on his toes(例如因打擾別人、冒犯別人、 踩了某人的腳趾而表示歉意):I’m sorry; I beg your pardon; I do hope I haven’t hurt you; I’m so sorry, it was all my fault. The polite reply will be: Not at all; It’s all right.
2. Inability to attend a function, or fulfill an engagement(因不能赴約或提前離會而致歉):I’m afraid I can’t make it, I find I’ve got another engagement.
3. An excuse on the grounds of illness(因抱病而致歉):I don’t feel up to it.
4. An apology for lateness(因遲到赴約而致歉):I’m so sorry I’m late; I apologize for being late, but …
5. An apology by proxy(轉達致歉的話):John’s sorry he couldn’t come, but he had to leave city suddenly; John sends his excuses, but …
Apology 常見的搭配和詞彙:
a sincere apology(真誠的道歉):Please accept my sincere apologies for my behaviour or any inconvenience this error has caused ;a half-hearted apology is a feeble or lame excuse that lacks sincerity(欠缺誠意的道歉);offer an apology(主動道歉);accept an apology(接受道歉);public apology(公開道歉);written apology(書面道歉);formal apology(正式道歉);issue an official apology(發出官式道歉);a belated apology(來得太遲的道歉)
回答別人的道歉,你可以有以下不同的選擇:It doesn’t matter at all; it’s not your fault; it’s nothing; never mind, it doesn’t really matter; not at all; please don’t worry about it; that’s quite all right; let’s forget it; no problem; please don’t feel bad about it; it’s really of no importance; there is no reason to apologise for such a trifle thing.
Sorry/Excuse me/Pardon
Sorry(表示歉疚;慚愧;過意不去,用途很廣泛):I’m sorry, I forgot(對不起,我忘了). I’m so sorry - I’ll have to ask you to move to another seat(禮貌地請人離開座位).
Excuse me or pardon me(勞駕,對不起)is a common remark for putting a question to a stranger: Excuse me, but can you tell me how to get to Central Square?
美國英語中,excuse me 和 pardon me(對不起,請原諒),常常用來表示道歉(to tell someone you are sorry because you make a small or embarrassing mistake) 。英國英語中,excuse me 和 sorry 的用法稍有不同,一般來說,當你要說的話或要做的事,可能引起對方不快,打擾別人,引起別人注意時,可以先說 excuse me;而 sorry 和 I beg your pardon 則用於說完話或做完事之後,表示歉意,when you want to say sorry politely。
Sorry or Regret?
語言學家有這樣的辨析:Regret is very formal when it is used to apolgise: I deeply regret causing you offence. It is more casual to say you are sorry: I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. You can either say that you are sorry to say something or regret to say something before giving bad news: I am sorry to tell you that you failed the test./We regret to inform you that no train will run today.
Regret(懊悔、惋惜、遺憾)= unhappiness at the loss of something, or because something has or has not happened: We heard with regret that you had failed the examination.(我們聽說你考試不及格,感到很惋惜。)Much to my regret, I must leave you now.(我很抱歉現在就得離開你。)
Regret or Remorse? 懊悔程度不同
Regret 是一椿錯事後的沮喪或悲傷,而且不一定是自己做錯事。Remorse 是更加複雜的東西,而且深刻得多;remorse 這個詞指心中有愧、罪、責、懺悔,通常是因自己犯的嚴重錯失而感受到的,例如:He was filled with remorse for his failure to help his friend.(他因沒有幫助朋友而悔恨不已。)He was filled with remorse for his evil deed.(他對自己做的壞事感到十分懊悔。)
Remorse(懊悔、悔恨、自責)is sorrow for having done wrong; without remorse/sorrow(毫無懊悔)。
Regrettably or Regretfully?
两個副詞都表示非常抱歉、遺憾、惋惜,用法有時稍有分別。These two adverbs are sometimes confused. Regrettably relates to a situation that causes regrets(事情或情况令人遺憾); regretfully relates to somebody who feels sad or regret(某人感到沮喪): This year’s profits are regrettably low. Regrettably, crime has been increasing in this city. She regretfully turned down his offer. He sighed regretfully. Regrettably, not regretfully, may be used to mean “it is regrettable that”: Regrettably, the house does not have a garage.(屋子沒有車房,令人遺憾。)
本專欄逢周二、五刊登