標準英文被稱為RP (Received Pronunciation)，能說一口標準的RP，是一件極有面子的事情。英國的貴族階層所說的英文，被稱為「Upper RP」，聽起來大概是《唐頓莊園》裡的感覺，高大上得不得了。不過，在「Upper RP」的上面，還有更高一級的英文，那就是女王英文了。理論上說，女王的英文就是英文的典範，最典範的英文就被為「Queen's English」。
但是女王也會犯錯哦~~~今天，就來一起來看看女王聖誕致辭的英文會有什麼問題呢！
女王好像很喜歡使用「which」，比如：
1. The problems which face mankind often seem to defy solution. (1964)
2. It was the human conflicts and the wanton acts of crime and terror against fellow human beings which have so appalled us all. (2001)
在上面的兩句話中，限制性定語從句的關係連接詞應該用「that」，而不該用」which」。
2.使用不恰當的句子副詞。女王經常使用句子副詞，如：
1. Frankly I do not myself feel at all like my great Tudor forebear. (1953)
2. Naturally I see more such people in Britain. (1985)
句子副詞從14世紀開始在英文中使用，最近一百來年越來越流行。然後，很多英文語法家對這種用法非常反感。他們認為，副詞就該行使副詞的作用，修飾形容詞，不該修飾一個整句話。
英語中被經常使用的句子副詞包括：actually, apparently, basically, briefly, certainly, clearly, conceivably, confidentially, curiously, evidently, fortunately, hopefully, however, ideally, incidentally, indeed, interestingly, ironically, naturally, predictably, presumably, regrettably, seriously, surprisingly, thankfully, theoretically, therefore, truthfully, ultimately, wisely.
尤其當你把一個副詞轉換成它的形容詞的形式，使用」It is … that」覺得彆扭的時候，就更不應該來使用這個句子副詞。
3.用錯「Each other」。==
女王在致辭中，這樣說：
1. The march of history stops while we listen to each other. (1955)
2. I hope we will all help each other to have a happy Christmas. (1987)
語法家認為：「each other」僅僅用於兩個人之間，如果想表達一堆人之間，應該使用「one another」。
4.亂用反身代詞。有時，女王會獨立使用反身代詞，如：
1. For my husband and myself and for our children, the year that is passing has added to our store of happy memories. (1955)
2. I am sure that many of you, like myself, have been impressed by the courage they show. (1981)
5.用錯「Among」和「Between」。女王喜歡在應該使用「among」的地方使用「between」：
1. Co-operation between Commonwealth countries grows every year. (1960)
2. May the New Year bring reconciliation between all people. (1976)
6.該用「whether」的地方用「If 」。Some people are uncertain which star to follow, or if any star is worth following at all. (1962)
7.句子不該以連接詞開頭。1. And further north still live the Eskimos. (1970)
2. So take heart from the Christmas message and be happy. (1975)
3. But to look back in that way is to look down a blind alley. (1996)
8.用錯被動語態。1. There is nothing in heaven and earth that cannot be achieved by faith and by love and service to one’s neighbour. (1961)
2. The results of their kindness will be appreciated by young people. (1977)
9.「From」怎麼沒跟著」Different」?跟著「different」的介詞該是「from」，而不是「to」，但女王用錯了：
The world was a very different place to the one we live in today. (1991)
10.「Might have」 還是 「May have」?在該用「may have」的地方，女王用了「might have」。看下面這句話：
Many of you might have felt a twinge of sadness as we in Britain bade them farewell. (1997)
11.用錯「Anticipate」。「anticipate」表示「對未來要發生的某種預測」，女王本意是「expect」，但去錯用了「anticipate」：
King James may not have anticipated quite how important sport and games where to become in promoting harmony. (2010)
12.「Forcibly」 or 「Forcefully」？「forcibly」意思是「強行地」，有違法別人意志的意思；「forcefully」意思是「強有力地」，兩個詞有很大的區別。女王竟然把」forcibly」當成「forcefully」給用了。
1.What struck me more forcibly than his physical courage was the fact that he made no reference to his own illness. (1992)
2.In talking to the veterans, I was forcibly reminded of the detachment with which those personally unaffected by violence can view its effect on others. (1995)
13.「Quicker」是形容詞，不是副詞！女王說：
Time is moving on rather quicker than we expected. (1987)
正確的用法應該是：
Time is moving on rather more quickly than we expected.
14.永遠不要分割不定式，最後的一個也不能分割。… the right of citizens to assemble, and to speak and argue. (1964)
… the freedom to travel and learn. (1998)
英文語法規定：不定式永遠都不能分割，最後的一個也不能。可女王就有把最後的一個不定式的」to」個去掉的習慣。
正確是用法因該是：
… the right of citizens to assemble, to speak, and to argue.
… the freedom to travel and to learn.
15.不定代詞要用「One」，而非「You」。在正式的英文文體裡，當你並非指定任何人，只是泛談的話，最好用「one」，而非隨意用「you」來指定。
看女王的這兩句話：
1.We all need the kind of security that one gets from a happy and united family. (1958)
2.It is no easy task to care for and bring up children, whatever your circumstances —whether you are famous or quite unknown.
就第二句話而言，更好的修改可能應該是：
It is no easy task to care for and bring up children, in whatever circumstances —whether one is famous or quite unknown.
女王的聖誕致辭雖然有這樣或那樣的問題，但在我看來，每個都堪稱典範：用詞恰當而不賣弄，語氣親切又帶有君王的威嚴，每一篇都值得我們揣摩學習。
給大家舉一個例子，在1965年，女王的致辭裡有「helping the poor」這樣簡單直接的表達，而在2009年，同樣表達「幫助窮人」，她用了「ease the burden of deprivation and disadvantage」。中國有「弱勢群體」一說，女王的後一句話中的」deprivation and disadvantage」不正是「弱勢群體」最恰當的英文對應嗎！
據說，女王的聖誕致辭均出自她自己之手，非秘書幫忙。之所以如此，因為女王不僅是名義上的政治首腦，更是英國國教（Church of England）的領袖，在聖誕這天親自執筆並祝福她的子民，是她最為君主的責任。
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