四步把握雅思寫作考試G類書信語氣
書信是G類小作文的唯一形式，但根據(jù)其內(nèi)容可以分為多種類別：如投訴信、詢問信、求職信、友情信、道歉信、建議信、邀請(qǐng)信、感謝信等。要寫好英文書信，使用哪種語氣十分重要，這可以準(zhǔn)確地反映出寫信人和收信人之間的關(guān)系。總的來說，相對(duì)正式的信件要給人一種謙恭有禮、積極合作的態(tài)度，不那么正式的信件如友情信之類應(yīng)以友好自然的措辭拉近彼此的距離。
由于G類考生相對(duì)于A類考生人數(shù)較少，考生對(duì)于書信寫作的重視不夠，在G類分?jǐn)?shù)要求日漸水漲船高的今天，考生尤其要注意書信寫作中極為重要的一點(diǎn)，就是語氣的把握。本文中，雅思專家寫作組的專家將從四個(gè)方面對(duì)于如何選擇合適的語氣和措辭進(jìn)行說明。
一、審題把握
把握好G類書信語氣的第一步，就是要弄清寫信的要求和背景。雅思書信寫作題目就是由背景信息和寫作任務(wù)兩個(gè)部分構(gòu)成的，我們可以將其分成私人信件和事務(wù)性信件兩種類型。寫給親朋好友的信可以歸為前者，如友情信，請(qǐng)看下面這個(gè)例子：
09.01.15
You are going to have a business trip and arrange your friend to look after your children. Write a letter to the friend. You should:
1. Tell him/her which kind of food your children like and dislike
2. Tell him/her which kinds of activities your children can attend
3. Tell him/her the time you will pick up your children.
根據(jù)背景分析，這封書信是寫給朋友請(qǐng)求幫助在自己出差期間照管孩子的，顯而易見，這是一封私人信件，由于對(duì)方是摯友，寫信的語氣可以比較輕松和隨意，在說明詳細(xì)內(nèi)容時(shí)，措辭不必講究但要禮貌。
再來看一個(gè)例子：
09.02.07
Your friends have been out on holiday and ask you to stay at their house. However, there is a problem with a piece of equipment in the kitchen. Write a letter to them. In your letter, you should:
1. Describe your feeling at their home
2. Describe what the problem is
3. Describe what action you have done to solve the problem
這是一封抱怨信，寫信人在朋友度假期間幫朋友看管房屋，在信中向朋友說明廚房用具的問題，這并非商務(wù)場(chǎng)合和正式交涉，切不可義正詞嚴(yán)。
09.09.05
You are living in an English-speaking country and the restaurant near you is making a lot of noise everyday. Write a letter to the restaurant owner. In your letter, you should
1. say how you are disturbed by noise
2. give some suggestions to fix the problem
3. tell the owner further action will be taken if this problem remains unsolved.
這封信同屬抱怨信，我們來比較一下它與上一封信的區(qū)別，這封信是寫給餐館經(jīng)理的，說明對(duì)于餐館噪聲的不滿，收信人與寫信人并不熟悉甚至從未謀面，過于熟絡(luò)的語氣和措辭，或者在朋友之間使用的抱怨性較強(qiáng)的詞匯都應(yīng)盡量避免。
雅思專家將常見的書信分為以下幾類：詢問信、建議信和求職信一般較為正式;友情信屬于非正式信件;投訴信、道歉信、邀請(qǐng)信、感謝信的語氣要根據(jù)具體情況而定?？忌枰⒁忸}目所描述的背景和對(duì)收信人的設(shè)定，分清寫信對(duì)象，準(zhǔn)確而恰當(dāng)?shù)匕盐疹}目要求，走好G類書信第一步。
二、信頭稱呼
所謂稱呼是指寫信人對(duì)收信人的稱呼用語，一般用“dear”開頭，在稱呼后可以用逗號(hào)(英式)或是冒號(hào)“美式”。
1. 如果是寫給親戚或是關(guān)系密切的朋友，我們習(xí)慣于在“Dear”后加上對(duì)其的稱呼或是名字(given name)。如：Dear mother或者是Dear Emma;
2. 如果是寫給一家公司或者不知道具體職銜的人，可以用Dear Sir or Madam或To Whom It May Concern;
3. 如果知道具體職銜但不知其姓氏，可以以其職位稱呼，如Dear Chief Accountant;
4. 如果寫信人知道收信人的姓名和性別，但關(guān)系不夠密切，只屬于一般往來，Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss Wang會(huì)顯得友好卻不隨便;
5. 另外，也可以用學(xué)位及職稱加上姓氏或者全名，如Dear Dr. Will Smith, Dear Prof. (Professor) Jane Austin。
三、語氣斟酌
正文作為整個(gè)信件內(nèi)容最重要的部分，所選用的詞匯和句式無不體現(xiàn)著寫信人的態(tài)度和語氣，應(yīng)該根據(jù)不同的信件內(nèi)容進(jìn)行挑選和斟酌。
1)投訴信
投訴信的收信對(duì)象可以是比較熟悉的人，如抱怨鄰居寵物過于吵鬧，也可以是針對(duì)公司甚至不熟悉的機(jī)構(gòu)或者某個(gè)事件而寫的，如對(duì)社區(qū)體育設(shè)施的拆除表達(dá)不滿。
You heard that a sports center would be closed. Write a letter to the manager. In this letter, you should:
1. Tell how you heard about the news.
2. Say what your opinion is about it.
3. Explain how it impacts your life.
由于對(duì)象是某運(yùn)動(dòng)中心經(jīng)理，措辭方面就應(yīng)該較為禮貌，以下的詞句是可以選取作為陳述問題的句型：
I am writing to you to complain about...
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
There are some problems with … that I wish to bring to attention.
值得注意的是，也完全沒有必要像公文那么正式，只要言語恰當(dāng)就可以。在敘述問題時(shí)可以多以客觀性描述為主，輔以主觀的感受，顯得更有說服力，如：
I found …
I feel quite disappointed that…
在結(jié)尾部分說明期望時(shí)，也可以搭配同樣的語氣：
I hope that the authorities concerned will consider my suggestions and improve the situation as best as they can.
I sincerely hope that it will review its management system, with the view to providing, better service to the public.
We trust that you will now consider this matter seriously and make an effort to prevent the recurrence of this kind.
如果是針對(duì)鄰居再三出現(xiàn)的已經(jīng)提醒過很多次的問題，我們可以措辭更為非正式一些，如I can hardly bear /tolerate /put up with it any more. 但也不意味著可以出現(xiàn)“guy”等過于口語風(fēng)格化的語句。
2)工作申請(qǐng)信
G類考生許多都是有工作經(jīng)驗(yàn)的人，或者曾經(jīng)有過寫工作申請(qǐng)的經(jīng)歷，由于收信人多是公司或者經(jīng)理級(jí)的人，言辭之間應(yīng)該以正式語氣為主：
I wish to apply for the position of…which you advertised in…
I am very interested in exploring the possibility of obtaining a position as … with your company.
結(jié)尾部分在闡述希望約見進(jìn)行面試時(shí)，也選取一些較為緩和語氣的動(dòng)詞如“hope”來表達(dá)：
I am available for an interview every afternoon. Please contact me at…
I hope that after reviewing my enclosed resume you will kindly give me an interview so that I can elaborate on my studies and working experience.
I hope you would consider my application favorably and grant me an interview.
3)道歉信
這類信件的語氣要視收信人是誰而定，但中國(guó)有句老話說得好“禮多人不怪”，至始至終保持一個(gè)歉意的態(tài)度是這類信件要注意的細(xì)節(jié)：
Your neighbors have recently written to you to complain about the noises from your flat/ house.
Write a letter to your neighbor. In your letter
1. explain the reasons for the noise
2. apologize
3. describe what action you will take
對(duì)方是熟識(shí)的鄰居，即便如此，來自于寫信人公寓的噪聲對(duì)其干擾仍然是不可原諒的，對(duì)于對(duì)方的抱怨信，盡管我們可以選取熟絡(luò)的語言來致歉，但語氣和態(tài)度仍然需要誠(chéng)懇，如
I am really sorry for the noises from my flat/house.
I hope you can accept my apologies.
I am trying to …
I promise…
這樣的語句會(huì)讓收信人覺得寫信人是極有誠(chéng)意解決這件事情的，起到了積極致歉的效果。
其他可供參考的語句有：
I am awfully/terribly sorry for what I have done.
I feel very guilty for what I have done to you.
I am afraid what I have done has caused many inconveniences to you.
Please accept my most cordial and humblest apologies for…once more.
I will try my utmost not to make such a stupid mistake again.
I am so sorry to have put you to so much trouble.
4)建議信
雅思專家分析認(rèn)為，首先考生們要分清楚建議信和抱怨信有著本質(zhì)的區(qū)別，前者著重在于給出一些中肯的建議，語氣是可以商榷溝通的，相對(duì)比較緩和，而抱怨信的目的是為了說明問題并得到對(duì)方的回復(fù)和解決，而且這一問題常常給寫信人帶來生活上較大的不便。建議信的重點(diǎn)在于在肯定原有成績(jī)的基礎(chǔ)上，盡量選取較為“樂觀、積極”的詞語表達(dá)自己對(duì)信中所述問題的興趣甚至是參與愿望。如：
I am delighted to learn …
In my point of view, it would be better to…
I am very interested in …
I am ready to offer the information needed.
請(qǐng)看下面這個(gè)例子：
You are a member of a sports club in an old building. Now all the members are asked to provide suggestions to the manager of the club about the improvement of the club building. Write a letter to offer some suggestions. In your letter, you should say:
1. Why the club is important to you?
2. What your suggestions are
3. What benefits the members can obtain after improvement.
寫信人被要求向一家體育俱樂部的經(jīng)理提出俱樂部設(shè)施的升級(jí)建議，一些有建設(shè)性的中肯建議再通過積極參與的態(tài)度表現(xiàn)出來，會(huì)更容易被接納。
5)感謝信
在寫感謝信時(shí)，分清收信人尤為重要，本是親密的多年好友，如果用詞過于客氣和莊重會(huì)讓人覺得矯情，對(duì)于較為陌生的收信人，如下的表達(dá)就比較合適：
I take this opportunity to express to you my deep appreciation for the kind assistance you rendered me.
I wish there were a better word than “thanks” to express my appreciation for you generous help.
My appreciation to you for your generous help is beyond words. I wish I could repay it one day.
Please accept my most cordial thanks for your timely help, which I will always remember.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind help.
6)詢問信
在詢問時(shí)，一些常見的客套表達(dá)是必要的：
I would like to obtain some information about…
I would like some detailed information on / about...
I am writing to you in the hope that I may obtain...
I wonder if …
另外一處體現(xiàn)禮貌原則的部分是在結(jié)尾對(duì)于收信人將要提供的幫助給予感謝。
I would be much obliged to you if you could let me know …
Your prompt and favorable attention to my inquiry would be highly appreciated.
I am looking forward to a favorable reply at your earliest convenience.
四、收尾落款
簽名處的落款也有一定的要求，如果在稱呼處用的是“Dear Mr.”等，我們習(xí)慣在此處用“Yours sincerely”，如果是稱呼“Dear Sir or Madam”, 我們就會(huì)用“Yours faithfully”結(jié)尾。如果和收信人關(guān)系較為親密，Yours, With love等甚至直接留下名字都是可以接受的。
雅思專家提醒考生要特別注意的是，英語語法上的錯(cuò)誤，會(huì)影響考官對(duì)主要信息的理解，其語言使用不當(dāng)，表達(dá)意思含糊不清，是沒有辦法表達(dá)正確的語氣表現(xiàn)適當(dāng)?shù)奈捏w的。在下筆之前先構(gòu)建好基本結(jié)構(gòu)選擇好適當(dāng)語氣，平時(shí)盡量多審題多練習(xí)，提高實(shí)際英語運(yùn)用能力。
