在最近的中美貿易談判中，美國總統特朗普發表的言論給了我一些教寫作修辭技巧的靈感，特別是誇張手法（Hyperbole）、對立手法（Antithesis）及暗喻（Metaphor）。

　　Hyperbole源自希臘文，意思是「過剩」（excess），是輕描淡寫的相反。誇張修辭手法是強調文句中想表達的意思。

　　Antithesis「對立手法」，這種修辭手法着重把一個句子當中兩個相反的意思放在一起，從而達到對比的效果。

　　特朗普近日就中美貿易戰，在社交媒體發表了不少言論，在此舉幾個例子：

　　"Our great Patriot Farmers will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of what is happening now. Hopefully China will do us the honor of continuing to buy our great farm product, the best, but if not your Country will be making up the difference based on a very high China buy……"

　　"So that they will be more competitive for USA buyers. We are now a much bigger economy than China, …… We are the 'piggy bank' that everyone wants to raid and take advantage of. NO MORE!"

　　大量強大正面的形容詞及comparative form and superlative form of adjectives是特朗普運用詞彙的特色。"Piggy bank"就是metaphor，寓意美國將會變成一隻滿肚金錢的大肥豬一樣。

　　當然，他這樣做是想讀者作出正面反應，至於真實情況是否如此，正所謂「識睇睇留言」，大家可從人們回應他的貼文中找到答案。

　　另外，我們也可以從特朗普的言論中看到Antithesis例子。

　　"China will be pumping money into their system and probably reducing interest rates, as always, in order to make up for the business they are, and will be, losing. If the Federal Reserve ever did a 'match' , it would be game over, we win! In any event, China wants a deal!"

　　他說若聯邦儲備局玩這個遊戲"match"，特別以"..."括住。中國便會game over「玩完」，美國就會勝利"we win!"

　　另外, 英文標點符號「,」也可以發揮強調字面意思的作用。在特朗普說"in order to make up for the business they are, and will be, losing."當中的兩個「,」就是想強調中國將會在貿易戰中失利的局面。

　　過去歷屆美國總統發言時也愛運用大量的誇張手法，我特別喜歡羅斯福總統在First Inaugural Address 的一句，"So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

　　Alas, the madness is pouring out of the White House every day. It is probably something to "fear" and worrisome.

　　大專院校語文講師、企業培訓講師及國際英文公開試主考官。

carolc.english@gmail.com