如何清晰地溝通：英語精讀講義

You are the only you that's existed in all of human history. 講解

在整個人類歷史上，你是獨一無二的。

Your experiences are yours and yours alone. 片語搭配

你的經歷只屬於你一個人。

Some of those experiences have taught you things that are absolutely worth sharing with an audience. 文法

其中有些經歷教會了你一些絕對值得與聽眾分享的東西。

And that's what we're here to learn how to do. 表達脈絡

而這正是我們在這裡要學習如何去做的。

Once you've found an idea that you're excited to share with an audience, 講解

一旦你找到了一個讓你興奮地想與聽眾分享的想法，

you're ready to start putting a talk together. 片語動詞

你就可以開始準備一場演講了。

The purpose of a talk is to say something meaningful, 文法

演講的目的是傳達一些有意義的東西，

but many talks never quite do that. 用詞

但許多演講卻未能做到這一點。

The number one reason this happens is that a speaker does not have a proper plan for the talk as a whole. 片語搭配

發生這種情況的首要原因是，演講者對整個演講沒有一個恰當的計畫。

They may have planned what to say point by point or sentence by sentence, 片語搭配

他們可能已經計畫好了要逐點或逐句說什麼，

but did not plan how everything in the talk would link up to deliver a meaningful message. 講解

但沒有計畫演講中的一切應如何聯繫起來，以傳遞有意義的訊息。

There's a helpful word that people use to analyze plays,

有一個很有用的詞，人們常用來分析戲劇、

movies, and novels.

電影和小說。

It applies to talks too. 用詞

它同樣適用於演講。

The word is throughline. 文化背景

這個詞就是「主線」。

The throughline of a talk is the main idea that ties together everything the speaker presents. 片語動詞

演講的主線是把演講者展示的所有內容聯繫在一起的核心理念。

Every talk should have a throughline.

每場演講都應該有一條主線。

That doesn't mean a talk must only cover one topic or only tell a single story or proceed in only one direction. 表達脈絡

這並不意味著演講只能涵蓋一個主題，或者只講一個故事，又或者只朝著一個方向進行。

It just means that everything in the talk should connect to support the main idea.

它只是意味著演講中的一切都應該聯繫起來，以支撐這個核心理念。

Here's the start of a talk without a throughline.

這是一場沒有主線的演講的開頭：

I want to share with you some experiences I had during my recent trip to Cape Town 語氣意圖

我想和大家分享我在最近去開普敦旅行時的一些經歷，

and then make a few observations about life on the road. 慣用語

然後談談關於在路上的生活的一些觀察。

Now here's the start of a talk where the throughline is made clear from the start. 片語搭配

現在，這是一場主線從一開始就很明確的演講的開頭：

On my recent trip to Cape Town,

在我最近去開普敦的旅行中，

I learned something new about strangers,

我對陌生人有了一些新的認識：

when you can trust them and when you definitely can't. 文法

什麼時候你可以信任他們，什麼時候你絕對不能。

Let me share with you two very different experiences I had.

讓我和大家分享兩段非常不同的經歷。

The version without a throughline might work for your family, 用詞

沒有主線的版本可能適合講給你的家人聽，

but the version with a throughline is more exciting for a general audience. 用詞

但有主線的版本對普通聽眾來說更吸引人。

Here are the throughlines of some popular TED Talks.

以下是一些受歡迎的 TED 演講的主線：

More choice actually makes us less happy. 文法

更多的選擇實際上讓我們更不快樂。

Vulnerability is something to be treasured, 文法

脆弱是應該被珍視的，

not hidden from.

而不是避之不及的。

Let's bring on a quiet revolution, 片語動詞

讓我們帶來一場安靜的革命，

a world redesigned for introverts.

一個為內向者重新設計的世界。

A history of the universe in 18 minutes shows a journey from chaos to order. 片語搭配

在18分鐘內講述宇宙的歷史，展示了從混沌到秩序的旅程。

Terrible city flags can reveal surprising design secrets.

糟糕的城市旗幟可以揭示令人驚訝的設計秘密。

A ski trek to the South Pole threatened my life and changed my sense of purpose. 片語搭配

一次去南極的滑雪之旅威脅到了我的生命，並改變了我的目標感。

Remember lesson one,

還記得第一課嗎？

when we compared a talk to a journey that a speaker and an audience go on together? 表達脈絡

當時我們把演講比作演講者和聽眾一起踏上的旅程。

If a talk is a journey, 文法

如果演講是一次旅程，

then the throughline is the path that journey takes.

那麼主線就是那次旅程所走的路線。

Following the path of a throughline makes sure there are no impossible leaps. 講解

沿著主線的路線走，可以確保沒有不可能的跳躍。

By the end of the talk, 片語搭配

在演講結束時，

the speaker and the audience have arrived together at a satisfying destination. 慣用語

演講者和聽眾會一起到達一個令人滿意的終點。

So how do you figure out your throughline? 片語動詞

那麼，如何弄清楚你的主線呢？

Pick an idea that can be properly explored in the time you have to give your talk.

選擇一個在你演講時間內可以被充分探討的觀點。

Then make sure everything you include in your talk links back to this main idea. 片語動詞

然後確保你在演講中包含的一切都能連結回這個核心理念。

Creating a great talk that fits into a limited period of time can be hard work, 片語搭配

要在有限的時間內創作出精彩的演講是一項艱鉅的工作，

but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about it. 講解

但這有正確的方法和錯誤的方法。

The wrong way is to include all the points you think you need,

錯誤的方法是把你認為需要的所有要點都包括進去，

but cover them as briefly as possible, 片語搭配

但盡可能簡略地涵蓋它們，

maybe skipping out on details or examples. 片語動詞

也許會跳過細節或例子。

You can create a short script this way with every topic you want to cover included in summary form. 片語搭配

你可以用這種方式寫一份簡短的講稿，把你想要涵蓋的每一個主題都以摘要的形式包括進去。

You may even think there's a throughline connecting it all together.

你甚至可能認為有一條主線把它們都連接了起來。

But throughlines that connect a great many things don't often work.

但是連接一大堆事物的主線通常行不通。

If you rush through many different topics without exploring them deeply, 片語動詞

如果你匆忙地掠過許多不同的主題而沒有深入探討它們，

your points won't land with any force. 慣用語

你的觀點就不會有任何說服力。

It's a simple equation.

這是一個簡單的方程式：

Overstuffed equals under-explained. 表達脈絡

內容過載等於解釋不足。

To say something meaningful in a talk,

要在演講中傳達有意義的東西，

you have to take the time to do at least two things. 片語搭配

你必須花時間做至少兩件事。

First, you have to show why what you have to say matters. 表達脈絡

首先，你必須說明為什麼你要說的話很重要。

What is the question you're trying to answer? 表達脈絡

你想試圖回答什麼問題？

What's the problem you're trying to solve?

你想試圖解決什麼問題？

What's the experience you're trying to share?

你想試圖分享什麼經歷？

Second, you have to flesh out each point you make with real examples, 講解

其次，你必須用真實的例子、

stories, and facts.

故事和事實來充實你提出的每一個觀點。

This is how an idea that's important to you can be built in someone else's mind. 慣用語

只有這樣，對你來說重要的想法才能建立在別人的腦海中。

To give a really good talk,

為了發表一場真正優秀的演講，

you may have to cut back on how many topics you want to cover 片語動詞

你可能不得不減少你想涵蓋的主題數量，

and instead focus on a single connected thread, 表達脈絡

轉而專注於一條單一連貫的線索，

a throughline,

即一條主線，

that you have time to present thoroughly and completely.

並且你有時間去徹底且完整地展示它。

This is the right way to make a great talk fit into a limited amount of time.

這就是讓精彩演講適合有限時間的正確方法。

You may make fewer points than you would without a throughline,

你可能提出的要點比沒有主線時要少，

but the points you do make will have more of an impact. 講解

但你所提出的要點會產生更大的影響。

Less can be more. 慣用語

少即是多。

Choosing a throughline will help you determine which topics to include in your talk 文法

選擇一條主線將幫助你決定在演講中應包含哪些主題，

and which to leave out.

以及該去掉哪些。

It will help you filter out anything that doesn't connect to your main idea. 片語動詞

它會幫助你過濾掉任何與你的核心理念不相關的東西。

If you're having trouble focusing your throughline, 片語搭配

如果你在聚焦主線時遇到困難，

a good exercise is to try to say it in no more than 15 words. 片語搭配

一個很好的練習是嘗試用不超過15個字來表達它。

What is the precise idea you want to build inside your listeners? 慣用語

你想在聽眾心中建立的確切理念是什麼？

What do you want them to take away from your talk? 片語動詞

你想讓他們從你的演講中帶走什麼？

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you're working out your throughline. 片語動詞

以下是在你構思主線時需要問自己的一些問題：

Is this a topic that means something to me? 片語搭配

這是一個對我有意義的主題嗎？

Does it inspire curiosity?

它能激發好奇心嗎？

Does it offer the audience a new way of looking at something? 片語搭配

它能為聽眾提供一種看待事物的新方式嗎？

Is my talk a gift? 慣用語

我的演講是一份禮物嗎？

Does it ask a question?

它提出問題了嗎？

Is the information fresh or unexpected in some way?

這些資訊在某種程度上是新鮮的還是出乎意料的？

Can I truly explain the topic in the time I have,

我能否在擁有的時間內真正解釋清楚這個主題，

complete with necessary examples? 片語搭配

並配以必要的例子？

Do I know enough about the topic

我對這個主題了解得夠多嗎，

or do I need to do some research?

還是我需要做些研究？

Does this topic connect to my experience?

這個主題與我的經歷有聯繫嗎？

What are the 15 words that capture my talk? 用詞

概括我演講的那15個字是什麼？

Would those 15 words make someone interested to hear my talk? 文法

這15個字會讓別人有興趣聽我的演講嗎？

A speaking coach named Abigail Tenembaum recommends testing your throughline out on someone. 片語動詞

一位名叫艾比蓋兒·泰南鮑姆的演講教練建議找個人測試你的主線。

Saying everything you'd like to include in your talk out loud

大聲說出你想在演講中包含的所有內容，

will help you notice which bits are clear, 表達脈絡

這將幫助你注意到哪些部分很清晰，

which bits could use more explanation, 用詞

哪些部分需要更多解釋，

and which bits should be cut in order for your central message to land more powerfully. 講解

以及哪些部分應該被刪減，以便你的核心訊息能夠更有力地傳遞出去。

Once you have your throughline,

一旦你有了你的主線，

you're ready to plan what you'll attach to it. 片語動詞

你就準備好計畫將要在它上面附加什麼了。

Whether your time limit is 2 minutes, 文法

無論你的時間限制是2分鐘、

18 minutes, or an hour,

18分鐘，還是一個小時，

remember,

請記住，

only cover as much as you have time to really explore in depth. 講解

只涵蓋你有時間真正深入探討的內容。

Next up,

接下來，

choose your presentation plan.

選擇你的展示計畫。

We'll help you come up with the plan that works for you with this video. 片語動詞

本影片將幫助你制定適合你的計畫。