《中英對照》Manners maketh millionaires舉止造就百萬富豪

◎俞智敏

For international executives navigating the minefield of corporate politics, help is at hand--impeccable British manners can clinch that big deal.

對於必須小心通過企業政治雷區的國際級主管而言，幫手近在眼前─無懈可擊的英式禮儀可以幫你贏得重要的交易。

So says etiquette expert Diana Mather who recently launched a weekend house party at a Scottish castle for businessmen, academics and diplomats eager to prove the 14th century proverb "Manners Maketh Man."

至少英國禮儀專家梅瑟女士是這麼說的，她最近就在蘇格蘭一座城堡為一群急於證明14世紀諺語「舉止造人品」的企業人士、學者及外交官，舉行了一場週末派對。

As well as traditional country house pursuits such as clay pigeon shooting, bridge and formal Scottish dancing, participants will be tutored in the finer arts of charm and proper etiquette--all in the name of good business.

除了參加射泥盤飛靶、打橋牌和學跳蘇格蘭正式舞蹈等傳統鄉間宅邸的娛樂活動外，與會者還會接受有關魅力及適當禮儀的精緻藝術課程─目的都是為了幫助做生意。

The British fear their once famously polite nation is now more renowned for binge drinking and loutish behavior than for the popular image of rolled umbrella and stiff upper lip.

英國人擔心，素以禮貌聞名的英國現在反而以喜愛狂飲和行為粗鄙出名，而非一般人心目中（對英國紳士）收緊長傘及堅定不屈的形象。

"Some young British people are the worst behaved in the world," says Mather, but she insists the old values will endure.

「有些英國年輕人的舉止是世界上最糟糕的，」梅瑟說，但她堅信古老的價值禁得起時間考驗。

"The English gentleman is still viewed as the most gentlemanly in the world. British manners are the passport to success in the boardroom," she said.

「英國紳士仍被視為全球最具紳士氣度的人。英國禮儀是確保在董事會中成功的通行證，」她說。

新聞辭典

clinch：原指把釘子釘牢，文中指得到最後解決、贏得。如We clinched the agreement with a handshake.（我們握手達成協議。）或 I hear he finally clinched the deal to buy the land he wanted.（我聽說他終於搞定了交易買下那塊土地 。）

stiff upper lip：指咬緊牙關、不輕易展露情緒（常用來形容傳統英國紳士或貴族），如He was taught at school to keep a stiff upper lip, whatever happens.（他在學校裡學到，不論發生任何事都必須保持鎮定。）