上星期我們提及一般社交英語常用的文字，今期我們嘗試深入一點，介紹Small Talk語文、題材及技巧。
Small Talk是指在社交場合中跟一些素未謀面的人交談，題材大部分也是比較輕鬆的，例如天氣、運動、時下節令、國際盛事等等；重點是要以不重要但大家關注的題材展開一個對話，從而建立長遠及有建設的關係。看似很容易掌握，但也有很多初出茅廬的在職人士因為不懂得選擇適當的題目而開罪別人，又或是把場面弄得尷尬。
除了「How are you? I am fine.」之外，最主要尋找共同話題。如果是在一個展覽會或工作坊，大家可以討論前來的目的，各人的公司背景、學校背景、選修科目等等。
•首次會面
Hello. Is this your first time here/ in...?
Are you based near here?
Where is your school?
Where is your company based?
What does your company/ division/ team/... do?
Where do you work?
Do you work near here? / Is your office/school near here?
•跟已經認識的人
Hello. What a coincidence! / This is a lovely surprise.
Hello. I didn't know that you were interested in such an essay writing workshop .../ that you were in the area/ that you...
What brings you here (today)?
Are you here for/ to...?
(Have you) been busy (lately/ recently/ today/ this week)?
How was your excursion / weekend / Chinese New Year holiday / Christmas?
How's (your project) going?
How's life (treating you)?
What are you working (on at the moment)?
It's (a bit/ rather/ quite/ really/ so) / cold / hot/ humid / overcast ..., isn't it? (Is it usually like this (at this time of year))?
•正面反應
即使要提供正面反應也不用太激烈，始終是一個社交場合或是一個公眾場所，建議保持一定的儀態。
I'm chuffed / delighted / happy/ pleased / relieved/ to hear that.
That sounds great/ fabulous / fantastic / gracious / lovely/ nice/ perfect / wonderful. (I am happy for you.)
•負面反應
即使要提供負面的反應也盡量不要太偏激及用上太強烈的字眼；不建議牽動在場人士的情緒。
I'm (deeply / so) sorry to hear that.
That's a pity. / That's a shame. / That's too bad.
That sounds devastating / disappointing / stressful / terrible / awful.
•有禮貌地完結Small Talk
It was (really/ very/ so) nice to meet you.
Well, it's been great to talk but I have to / must excuse myself ...
Alright then, I'd love to chat more/ hear more about that ... (but...)
I'm afraid/ Unfortunately/ Please accept my apology / I'm sorry but I have another meeting at... (o'clock) (so...) (I'll ping you an email.)
We have a lot to get through today (so...)
•The NO NOs
什麼話題要避免？一般私人事情也不應該在Small Talk當中提及。
例如，對方跟你說公司要跟其他財團合併或收購，那便不需要問及是否工作穩定、薪金狀況等等。
再舉例，對方跟你說父母離異或是離婚，那便不需要再問及私人的感情事或是家庭關係。
避免敏感話題，例如跟政治、宗教及種族有關的也建議盡可能避免；Small Talk大前提是整個對話氣氛應該是和諧輕鬆的。
Sometimes, it's the little things that matter in life.
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 Miss Carol
Email：[email protected]
