用字遣詞的敏感度
快來看Presentality的最新英語寫作分析~
特別敏感的時刻，我們的用字遣詞也要特別小心。今天的「閱讀筆記」，我們來看前一陣子轟動矽谷的事件：知名軟體公司老闆在部落格的一篇 po 文，讓三分之一員工離職。他到底寫了什麼？
📌 總結幾個重點：
1. 在敏感時刻，用字跟語氣，甚至可能比內容還要重要。
2. 用簡短無修飾的句子，會顯得比較強硬，較長而且有修飾的句子，反而比較溫和。
3. 主詞非常，非常重要。你用的是 I, us vs them，還是 "we" and "our"?
如果以後你在情緒高漲的時刻寫文，也不妨寄給英文好而且中立的朋友，請他們評估文字所帶著的情緒，會很有幫助。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 前一陣子，Basecamp 事件震驚美國科技/新創圈。
Basecamp 是一家團隊協作軟體公司，創辦人 Jason Fried 跟 David Heinemeier Hansson 一直都很願意為自己的理想及理念說話。他們寫的 Rework 一書影響了非常多的人，我在台灣認識的好幾位創業家都曾經跟我分享這本書。
但他們四月底在部落格上公告 Basecamp 一系列政策改變之後，引來非常大的反彈。
我第一時間就有去他們的部落格看他們寫的文章，覺得文筆非常好，而且是用說道理的語氣，很 reasonable。但發布不久，公司超過30%的員工，決定離職，其中包括好幾位高階主管！
What happened? 那篇文章，很顯然觸發了一個危機。我回去再把文章看了一次，發現天啊... 那篇文章的語氣，根本沒有我第一次看感覺的溫和。
Changes at Basecamp: https://bit.ly/2SNN6Kr
很多魔鬼都藏在細節裡。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 主要的改變 = 工作時別討論政治或社會議題
讓大家最氣憤的政策改變，其實就只有一個：
No more societal and political discussions on our company Basecamp account.
在這個時空背景下，美國社會立場分歧這麼深，從左右派政治議題，到種族歧視問題，Basecamp 領導人大膽決定，禁止員工在公司內部的線上溝通頻道，討論社會及政治議題。
要去弄社會政治議題，可以，但請別在公司內。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 開頭還算溫和：說服大家把公司當產品看待
一開頭，Fried 就寫：
At Basecamp, we treat our company as a product. It's not a rigid thing that exists, it's a flexible, malleable idea that evolves. We aren't stuck with what we have, we can create what we want. Just as we improve products through iteration, we iterate on our company too.
Hmmm，為什麼要這樣開頭？為什麼要把「公司」跟「產品」劃上等號？
我們可以想像，Fried 肯定為了這篇文煩惱了一陣子。很多想法不斷的在他腦中盤旋，不同的開場，不同的句子...
但這個開頭，是一個很不錯的 framing：因為 Basecamp 的員工肯定很多 product fanatics - 就是最在乎產品好不好的 "builders"。Product lovers 的一個共同點，就是了解產品是會不斷改變的東西。如果說公司也是，就可以理解，公司也會改變。
然後，他非常小心的挑選最正面的說法。每一字每一句都是 product lovers 會認同的：
•flexible
•malleable
•evolve
•we can create what we want
•improve products
•iterate
用了一連串正面的同義字，就是要塑造 change = positive 的氣氛。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 連大改變，都用「改版」來形容
下一步，就是用一個大家理解的方式，來描述「非常大的改變」：
Recently, we've made some internal company changes, which, taken in total, collectively feel like a full version change. It deserves an announcement.
什麼是大的改變？就有點像「改版」的意思。而且注意到，他不是寫 "We're making a full version change" 喔，而是說："changes... taken in total, collectively feel like a full version change."
也就是說，在中間加了很多緩衝的字眼，淡化 "full version change"。
就像你如果要跟一個人說他是混蛋，哪一種說法比較直接：
The way you act sometimes, when people don't know you yet, can feel like you're a bit of an asshole. 或是 You're an asshole.
講完這個，他就要給大家打預防針了。
而且又是從「產品」開始：
In the product world, not all changes are enjoyed by all customers. Some changes are immediately appreciated. Some changes take time to steep, settle in, and get acquainted with. And to some, some changes never feel quite right — they may even be deal breakers.
哇噻，好幾劑預防針啊！
而且他用了三個意思差不多的字，鼓勵大家「耐心的習慣新的改變」：Some changes take time to steep, settle in, and get acquainted with。
Again 他的用字很細心。"Get acquainted with" 就好像跟我們說，
改變其實是我們的朋友，只要我們願意好好認識它。
但他們其實知道，有些改變是一些人完全，完全無法接受的。
所以才有最後一句："They may even be deal breakers"。
They totally knew what was coming...
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 溫和就到這裡... 語氣開始轉變
接下來，他選擇美國人非常愛用的寫法，就是引用一位大家尊敬的人的話，來幫自己助陣：
As Huxley offers in The Doors of Perception, "We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to fuse their insulated ecstasies into a single self-transcendence; in vain. By its very nature every embodied spirit is doomed to suffer and enjoy in solitude."
這裡藏了點玄機。
如果他的目的是說服大家接受這些改變，那為什麼要引用這一段！？
讀起來，這段話反應了他的心情：在做困難決定時的「孤獨」。如果是這樣，那這段話的用途就是「療癒」而不是「說服」。
因為如果目的是說服，為何不引用某個你的員工/讀者都非常敬佩的人的故事，這個人做了一個不受歡迎，但大部分讀者都會認同是正確的決定？
個人猜測：他上面好話已經寫完了。真正的意涵是：We're going forward, alone if necessary。
而且，他們還把自己的決定，frame 成 navigating somewhere，同時把另一邊寫成 circling nowhere
We all want different somethings. Some slightly different, some substantially. Companies, however, must settle the collective difference, pick a point, and navigate towards somewhere, lest they get stuck circling nowhere.
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 語氣變的很硬：No More
然後他就開始寫改革本身。
如果把所有改變的第一句話看過去，會發現全部都是 "No more..." 開頭。這個硬到不行了。
完整文章: https://bit.ly/3wT6x3z
圖片出處: https://bit.ly/34wWkO5
★★★★★★★★★★★★
Presentality每天都在追蹤與分析跟英文溝通/寫作有關的文章，如果想要透過我們這些「閱讀筆記」一起學習，可在 FB 追蹤我們：https://www.facebook.com/presentality/
📌 Presentality系列文章:
1. 看貝佐斯致亞馬遜股東的最後一封信，學一些英文寫作小撇步
https://bit.ly/3xCN1cC
2. 英文演講實用的結構與技巧
https://bit.ly/2PHu3Ax
3. 在演講中的四種敘述角度
https://bit.ly/39tNUtv
4. 詩人Amanda Gorman的英文演講技巧
https://bit.ly/39sI3on
5. 從 Most Dangerous Place 文章，看經濟學人寫作邏輯
https://bit.ly/3htqJEs
6. 寫作的終極目標是「提供價值」
https://bit.ly/3yA3gYe
7. 看 Bloomberg學資深記者如何寫文章
https://bit.ly/3i3am1P
stuck with you意思 在 Re: [字辨] stick to 與stick with 的差別- 精華區Eng-Class 的推薦與評價
※ 引述《charly (lasciate ogni speranza)》之銘言：
: 兩者的意思似乎非常接近 都有堅持、維持某事的意思
: 字典上的例句是這樣：
: --Would you like some wine?
: No, I'll stick to beer, thanks.
: --We don't want to hear your opinion; stick to the facts.
: --I'm sticking with my original idea.
: --Stick with me, and you’ll be all right.
: 所以差別是在於 'stick to' 的適用範圍較狹隘 只有當存在其他選項時才這麼使用
: 而'stick with' 的用法較廣泛、籠統？
: 請多指教 謝謝!
初步先比較字典定義:
stick to (something) :
(1)to continue doing or using (something) especially when it is difficult to do
so
[EX] She stuck to her story about the money already being missing when she got
there.
(2)to not change (a decision, belief, etc.)
[EX] I intend to stick to my promise/word.
stick with
[A] stick with (something) :
(1)to continue using or doing (something)
[EX] You need to find a job and stick with it.
(2)to not change (a decision, belief, etc.)
[EX] The company is sticking with its decision to close the store.
[B]stick with (someone):
(1)to stay close to (someone) in a race or competition
[EX] The challenger stuck with the champion until the very last round.
(2)to stay near (someone) in order to gain knowledge, protection, etc.
[EX] Stick with me, kid, and you'll learn something!
(Merriam-Webster's Leaner's Dictionary)
所以他們意思上有其重疊處。
建議你多參考後面搭配的字，"stick to" 後面常用的搭配如 "fact" [1]，
"philosophy" [2]，"plan" [3]，"pledge" [4]，"policy" [5]，"position" [6]，
"principle" [7]，"rule" [8]，"schedule" [9] 等。
"stick with"可接的搭配有 "人" [10]，"機構" [11]，"formula" [12]，"plan" [13]，
"policy" [14]，"rule" [15]，"standard" [16]，"strategy" [17] 等。
[1]
Now, the sports minister of Brazil hoped that this would be passed in November,
and now they are waiting for March. But Dilma Rousseff, who is the president of
Brazil, is saying, I am going to stick to the fact that we will not have
alcohol. (CNN, January 21, 2012)
[2]
It's not nice when criticism comes your way. You have to stick to your
philosophy and what you know works and that comes from experience.
(Independent, 07 January 2011)
[3]
By the time they are 11 years old the majority of children have made up their
mind about their future - and stick to their plans, according to new research.
(Guardian, 8 August 2005)
[4]
The government must stick to pledges to reform party financing-or risk any
future scandal further undermining confidence, MPs have warned.
(BBC, 29 January 2012)
[5]
Cristina Fern?ndez has so far proved the naysayers wrong. How long can she
stick to the policies that are about to win her a second term?
(Economist, Oct 22nd 2011)
[6]
Then the poll asked Republicans and independents, "do you want Republican
leaders in the House and Senate to make compromises to gain consensus on the
current budget debate, or do you want them stick to their positions
even if this means not being able to gain consensus on the budget?"
(Washington Post, April 07, 2011)
[7]
The world is a frightening place now. The only way for this country to deal
with it is to stick to principles: to put down aggression on the continent
where we have long committed ourselves to maintain peace and order, Europe; to
approach a turbulent Russia not with weakness but with a clarity and firmness
that Russians will respect, and above all to open our eyes to reality.
(NY Times, January 28, 1994)
[8]
It's not really their Germanic features and grooming that interest the
chancellor, of course, but rather their sober, Germanic approach to global
crisis: If in doubt, stick to the rules. (Newsweek, December 12, 2011)
[9]
This wasn't especially practical for a working journalist with two kids, but I
tried to stick to the schedule. It didn't do the trick.
(Time, Sept. 18, 2000)
[10]
My husband is unfaithful and has a gambling problem. Should I stick with him?
(Guardian, 12 March 2010)
[11]
Everyone is happier here too, you can tell. We've noticed a real buzz about the
place. Working somewhere like this does encourage you to stick with the company.
It would be sad not to work here any more. (Guardian, 11 July 2005)
[12]
Should England stick with a winning formula? (Independent, 23 June 2010)
[13]
When we lost the toss on a pretty good batting wicket for one split second you
think "ah damn, could have really done with batting". But you have to get on
with it and stick with your plan. (Independent, 09 December 2010)
[14]
However, Mr Bernanke will stick with the policy if the unemployment rate fails
to show any meaningful reduction. (Telegraph, 08 February 2012)
[15]
We do have policies. The rule for my three kids is: no electronics on school
days except what you actually need for schoolwork. No gadgets at mealtime or
bedtime. Gadgets are O.K. when you're home sick or in the car for long trips.
My older two kids manage to stick with those rules (mostly). My youngest,
though, asks for that darned iPad constantly. (NY Times, February 24, 2011)
[16]
In light of his recent executive order telling agencies to get rid of rules
that would do needless harm to the economy, President Obama should stick with
the standards chosen under George W. Bush and wait until EPA's next scientific
review of ozone wraps up in 2013, said Khary Cauthen, the group's director of
federal relations. (NY Times, July 28, 2011)
[17]
Barclays appointed Bob Diamond, the head of its investment-banking business, as
its new chief executive from March 2011. Mr Diamond said he would stick with
the strategy of running a diversified bank with retail operations.
(Economist, Sep 9th 2010)
希望以上對你有幫助 :)
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