英國皇室在你印象里是什么感覺?高貴?神秘?還是奢華?在英國這個“紳士”為關(guān)鍵詞的國家,他們在語言上的表達(dá)總給人以謙卑與驕傲共存的錯覺。每一年的圣誕跨年,英國女王伊麗莎白都會在電視上對全英國與世界各地的人們發(fā)表講話,并送上來自英國皇室的新年祝福。標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的英式口音讓人聽著也是一種享受,但是你知道嗎?其實很多常用單詞作為英國皇室來說是禁止的!為了保持大英帝國的傳統(tǒng)與驕傲,英國皇室在說話措辭方面可以說是嚴(yán)格到“封建了”。

 

  社會人類學(xué)家凱特•??怂箤τ跏矣谜Z習(xí)慣進行了研究。她發(fā)現(xiàn),哪怕只是在措辭上,王室成員也有很多講究之處,和普通人的習(xí)慣大不相同。


  Specifically, there are certain words Kate, Will, the Queen, Prince Charles and co. NEVER use - and here they are.

 

  具體來說,威廉、凱特、女王、查爾斯王儲和其他王室成員是絕對不會使用某些單詞的。以下就是這些單詞:

 

  1. Pardon:對不起


  We'd always thought 'pardon' was more polite than the alternatives.


  相比之下,我們一直認(rèn)為“pardon(對不起)”是一種比較禮貌的說法。


  Not being royal, however, we were wrong.


  然而,我們錯了。對于王室來說并非如此。


  'Pardon' is forbidden to use.


  “Pardon”是禁用詞。


  Instead, if you haven't heard what the Duke of Edinburgh has just said to you, you should say 'sorry?' or even 'sorry, what?'


  如果你沒聽清愛丁堡公爵菲利普親王對你說的話,你應(yīng)該用“sorry”或“sorry, what”來代替“pardon”。

 

  2. Toilet:廁所


  The word 'toilet' may be a more palatable term than 'bog' or 'loo', but it's the latter which is used whenever a member of the House of Windsor needs to relieve themselves.


  與“bog”、“loo”相比,“toilet”用來表示廁所或許是一種比較禮貌的說法。但溫莎家族需要方便時使用的是“loo”這個單詞。


  'Toilet' is French by origin, so is apparently avoided.


  避免使用“toilet”是因為這個單詞源自法語。

 

  3. Perfume:香水


  Complimenting someone on how they smell is a tricky one. It's a fine line between coming across simply as nice, or just plain creepy.


  贊美一個人的體香是非常需要技巧的。讓對方感到“友好”還是“詭異”的差別只在一線之間。


  Unfortunately, the Royal's preferred word for perfume won't help.


  不幸的是,王室在這方面的措辭毫無幫助。


  The Royals don't wear perfume. They wear scent.


  他們不會用“perfume”,而是用“scent”表示擦香水。

 

  4. Tea:晚餐


  According to Kate Fox, one surefire way of outing yourself as being decidedly un-royal is to refer to your evening meal as 'tea'.


  據(jù)凱特•??怂狗Q,如果你用“tea”這個單詞表示晚餐,那么無疑是在宣布你絕不是王室成員。


  If you do want to convince her you're blue blooded, invite the Queen around for 'dinner' or 'supper'.


  如果你想讓女王相信你出身貴族,那么邀請她共進晚餐時用“dinner”或者“supper”。

 

  5. Lounge:客廳

 

  The palaces have many rooms, but not one of them is a lounge, nor a living room.


  王宮里有許多房間,但是沒有一間房叫做“lounge(客廳)”或“living room”。


  This isn't because the Royals aren't permitted a space to watch Hollyoaks or play Cards Against Humanity.


  這倒不是因為王室成員沒有地方看肥皂劇《圣橡鎮(zhèn)少年》或者玩紙牌游戲。


  Instead, it's because they retire to either a 'drawing room' or 'sitting room'.


  而是因為他們將休息的地方稱為“drawing room(休息室)”或“sitting room”。

 

  6. Posh:優(yōu)雅的

 

  The first rule of being posh? You never refer to someone - or yourself - as being posh.


  舉止優(yōu)雅的第一準(zhǔn)則是什么?永遠(yuǎn)不要用“posh(談吐高雅的)”形容自己或別人。


  According to Kate, you're 'smart'.


  凱特稱,你可以選擇“smart”替代。