【新唐人2013年04月10日訊】 (美国之音電)
- 禮節美語-245 Preparing for a Media Interview 1
公司主管 Lenny 要接受媒體採訪，讓秘書 Jessica 幫他請了一個諮詢顧問，預先做準備。Lenny 打電話問 Jessica:
Lenny: Hey, Jessica…did you set up that appointment with the media consultant?
Jessica: I sure did, boss. I expect him any minute now.
L: Good. I’m kind of jittery about this interview. I’m new at this and the idea of going on television gives me butterflies in my stomach.
J: Don’t worry sir, I’m sure you’ll do just fine…oh, here’s the consultant!
Carl: Hi, I’m Carl Anderson from Plus 1 Media Consultants.
J: Hi Carl. Mr. Lee is waiting for you in his office. Please come this way.
秘書Jessica告訴老闆，諮詢顧問約好了，隨時會到。I expect her any minute now. Lenny承認，他以前沒接受過採訪，I’m new at this. 所以感覺很緊張，I’m kind of jittery about this interview. jittery is spelled j-i-t-t-e-r-y, jittery 意思是緊張，心裡打鼓，也可以說 The interview gives me butterflies in my stomach. to have butterflies in one’s stomach 也是心裡緊張，七上八下的意思。正說著，諮詢公司的Carl到了，Jessica 帶她去見 Lenny.
C: Good morning, Mr. Lee. Nice to meet you!
L: Hello Carl. So…I hear you can help me nail this upcoming interview.
C: Our company specializes in media matters. We can help you learn how to put your best foot forward, what pitfalls to avoid and how to sound friendly without sounding insincere.
L: Those would be good points…okay, let’s hear what you got.
C: For starters, let’s talk about the news organization that’s going to be interviewing you. Business Watch International or BWI is a hard-hitting business news channel. They won’t make it too easy for you.
Carl工作的諮詢公司做的就是跟媒體有關的事情。They specialize in media matters. specialize is spelled s-p-e-c-i-a-l-i-z-e, specialize是專門從事的意思，後面跟介詞 in. Carl能教 Lenny 如何 put your best foot forward 展現出自己最好的一面，讓他顯得友好但又不虛偽。Carl說，準備採訪Lenny的媒體 BWI is a hard-hitting business news channel. hard-hitting意思是力度大，毫不客氣的。Lenny問：
L: So no softball questions, huh?
C: Actually, the interviewer will probably start off with a couple of really easy and complementary questions. But don’t let these fool you into a false sense of security. Right after the interviewer butters you up, he or she will throw you a curve ball.
L: Okay, so in the beginning I’ll try to remain guarded.
Carl說，採訪Lenny的記者上來會先問幾個簡單的問題，這種問題也可以叫 softball questions，相對於 hardball questions, 刁難人的題。但是Carl警告Lenny說，Don’t let these fool you into a false sense of security. 別上當，錯誤地覺得自己安全了。to fool someone into a false sense of security 意思是給人錯覺，讓人覺得自己很安全。Carl 還說，Right after the interviewer butters you up, he or she will throw you a curve ball. 這裡所說的 to butter someone up 意思是恭維某人，throw a curve ball at someone 意思是出其不意地刁難某人。看起來，Lenny一定得保持警覺，remain guarded. 或者也可以說，He cannot let his guard down. 不能放鬆警惕。
