Speaking Effective American English

　　On job interviews when first conversing with an individual and when addressing small or large groups, the first few seconds are critical in setting the tone for how you’ll be perceived. If she has an annoying regional accent, uses incorrect grammar, has a limited vocabulary, and if she has an irritatingly sharp piercing voice, sounds whiny or bossy or doesn’t articulate her words clearly, it’s an immediate turn-off①. This isn’t someone who you would hire or proudly introduce to your friends and business associates. This doesn’t mean that everyone should try to sound like a professional actor or broadcaster. All of us have qualities unique to our own way of speaking, our individual voiceprint as distinctive as our fingerprints. Our voice is very personal and an important part of our identity. Some natural characteristics of our voice may be very appealing.

　　The idea is to take the voice with which you’ve been gifted and give it the very best sound that you can. With the right type of practice, by paying attention to the quality of your voice and by knowing how to properly express yourself, you’ll almost immediately improve your opportunities in job interviews, social situations, in selling, and in running a meeting or addressing groups of people.

　　Let’s say it again, it all begins with the instrument, your voice. If its sound and quality is flawed and needs improvement, that’s where you start. that’s what everyone hears whether in casual conversation or in making a major speech to a large audience. Pure vowel sounds, articulation, proper breathing, expressive speaking patterns, a pleasing vocal range, naturalness, all these will make you get twice the result with half the effort.

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　　行文點評

　　本文結構清晰，銜接自然。第一句話直接切入主題，引起讀者的興趣：你的聲音決定了別人對你的印象。接下來連用兩個if引導的從句從反面說明聲音的重要性。進而作者筆鋒一轉，指出我們說話不需要像professional actor 或 broadcaster那么標準，我們的聲音是個性化的,它是我們身份的重要特征。這時，讀者可能會產生好奇：How to make our voice appealing?

　　針對這個問題，作者在第二段直接提出解決辦法：要利用你聲音的天賦。第一句話為全段的主題句，接下來圍繞這個觀點展開論述。最后一段作者用Let’s say it again進一步強調了聲音的重要性，再次重申了自己的觀點，深化了文章的主題。

　　好文妙譯

　　說一口地道的美國英語

　　求職面試時,當你與他人第一次交談時或在與少數或許多人談話時,開始的幾秒鐘是重要的,因為它決定了別人對你的印象。如果她有嚴重的地方口音、語法錯漏百出、詞匯量有限;如果她聲音刺耳,聽起來像與人抱怨或發號施令或者吐字不清,就會立即引起人的反感。你不會雇用這種人或把這種人自豪地介紹給你的朋友或同事。但這并不是說每個人說起話來要像專業演員或播音員那樣標準。我們每個人說話都有自己獨特的方式,我們各自的聲音就像我們的指紋一樣獨特。我們的聲音是個性化的,而且它是我們身份的重要特征。我們聲音的一些自然特質也許非常吸引人。

　　現在我們要講的是利用你聲音的天賦,盡量使其悅耳動聽。只要經過適當的練習,注意你的音質,了解適當的表達方式,你就能在求職面試、社會交往、推銷、組織會議或在眾人前發言時立刻獲得更多的機遇。

　　在此要強調的是,一切從你的聲音這個工具開始。如果你的聲音和音質有缺陷,需要改進,這就是你的出發點。因為無論在閑談時或在對許多聽眾演講時,你的聲音首先為人熟知。元音字正腔圓,發音清晰,呼吸勻稱,表達方式合適,聲音悅耳,說話自然,所有這些都會使你事半功倍。

　　詞匯斟酌

　　��perceive vt. 感知，感覺，察覺

　　��annoying a. 惱人的, 討厭的

　　��regional accent 地方口音

　　��irritatingly ad. 刺激地, 使憤怒地

　　��piercing a. 刺骨的, 刺穿的

　　��whiny a. 好發牢騷的, 嘀咕不停的

　　��bossy a. 專橫的

　　��articulate vt. ①明確有力地表達②清晰地吐(字)，清晰地發(音)

　　��associate n. 伙伴，同事，合伙人

　　��appealing a. 吸引人的

　　��flawed a. 有瑕疵的,有缺陷的

　　佳句臨摹

　　①【注釋】turn-off 厭煩或反感的人或事物

　　【臨摹】Smelly feet are definitely a turn-off as far as I’m concerned.腳要是有味兒可真惡心，這是我的看法。

　　思如泉涌

　　Speech is silver, silence is gold. 能言是銀，沉默是金。

　　The tongue is boneless but it breaks bones. 舌無骨卻能折斷骨。