2012年9月20日星期四

古德明: 有疑問,請賜示




問:電郵結尾時,要說「如有任何疑問,請隨時賜示」,以下哪個英文說法較好?──Please feel free to let me know if you have any question / if there should be any question

答:這一句文法沒有什麼問題,但question最好改為questions,因為對方可能有不止一個疑問。又feel free to三字可以刪去:Feel free to即「請勿猶豫(做某事)」,是頗為隨便的說法,例如:Please feel free to do what you want(你想做什麼都可以,不必客氣)。Please let me knowPlease feel free to let me knowPlease don't hesitate to let me know都要簡潔。寫公函,短話不宜長說。

至於if you have any questionsif there should be any questions,當然是第一個說法較好。第二個說法避免提及對方,語氣顯得冷淡。這正如I would like to inform you that(特此奉告)勝於冷冰冰的Please be informed that。公函一般宜令讀者感到親切,感到信件是特別為他而寫的,不應用Please be informed that之類被動語態(passive voice)句子,把對方隱去。

留意假如不說If you have any questions,可說If you should have any questions,只是兩句含義有點不同。不用should的寫法,表示對方可能有疑問;用should的寫法,則表示對方未必會有疑問。If there are any questionsif there should be any questions的分別也是如此。