卡耐基演講·一、充分準備好自己要說的話

介紹辭雖然很短，幾乎不超過一分鐘，但需要仔細準備。首先，要搜集事實，這可以三個內容為中心：講演人的題目，他探討這個題目的資格和他的名字。有時也有第四個內容——講演的題目是多么的有趣。Even though the introductory talk is short, hardly ever exceeding one minute, it demands careful preparation. First, you must gather your facts. These will center around three items: the subject of the speaker's talk, his qualifications to speak on that subject, and his name. Often a fourth item will become apparent-why the subject chosen by the speaker is of special interest to the audience.

一定要確切地知道準確的講題，并知道講演者會怎樣去發(fā)揮。最尷尬的事莫過于講演者對介紹的內容產生了異議，并演說其中某部分與他的立場不一致。如果了解了講演人的題目，并且不對內容胡亂臆測，這種情形就是可以避免的。但是，介紹人的責任卻是要準確地介紹講題，并指出它是聽眾很關心的，所以，如果有可能，就設法直接從講演者身上取得資料。如果需要借助第三者，比如說節(jié)目主持人，就應該設法獲得書面資料，并在會議前向講演者人查證。Be certain that you know the correct title of the talk and something about the speaker's development of the subject matter. There is nothing more embarrassing than for the speaker to take exception to the introduction by disclaiming part of it as untrue of his stand on the subject. This can be obviated by making sure you know what the speaker's subject is and refraining from trying to predict what he will say. But your duty as introducer demands that you give the title of the speaker's talk correctly and point out its relevancy to the audience's interests. If at all possible, try to get this information directly from the speaker. If you have to rely on a third party, a program chairman, for instance, try to get the information in writing and check with the speaker just before the meeting.

不過，或許大部分的準備都是在取得講演人資格的資料方面。如果你的講演人聞名全國或名震一方，你便可以從《世界名人錄》或類似書籍中獲知精確的資料；如果是地方性的人物，可求助于他的公共關系或人事部門，或者去拜訪他的親密朋友或家人以查對資料。最重要的，就是要把對方的個人資料弄準確，而講演者周圍的人是樂于提供材料的。But perhaps most of your preparation will involve getting the facts on the speaker's qualifications. In some cases you will be able to get an accurate listing from who's who or a comparable work, if your speaker is nationally or regionally well known. On the local level you can appeal to the public relations or personnel office of the concern where he works, or in some cases verify your facts by calling a close friend or a member of his family. The main idea is to get your biographical facts correct. People close to your speaker will be glad to furnish you with material.

當然，敘述太多也會讓人厭煩。如果你指出某人是博士了，還提他的學士、碩士學位就是多余。同樣，最好是指出對方最高和最近的職務，而不要牽扯出一大堆他大學畢業(yè)后就擔任過的那些職位。最緊要的是，對方事業(yè)中較次要的成就可略過，但一定不能疏忽了他最杰出的成就。Of course, too many facts will become boring, especially when one degree implies the speaker's acquisition of lesser degrees. To say that a man received a B.S. and an M.A degree is superfluous when you indicate that he is a Doctor of Philosophy. Likewise, it is best to indicate the highest and most recent offices a man has held rather than to string out a catalogue of the positions he has held since leaving college. Above all, do not pass over the most distinguished achievements of a man's career instead of the less important.

例如，我聽過一位知名的演講家——他應該還可以更知名的——介紹愛爾蘭詩人W.B.葉慈。葉慈將要朗誦自己的詩。三年前，葉慈獲得了諾貝爾文學獎，這是頒給文人的最高榮譽，但我相信聽眾中知道該獎并了解其重要性的人，不到十分之一?？墒菬o論如何，這兩件事都應該提一提，就算別的什么都不說。但是主持人說了什么呢？他完全忽略了這些事，反而離題去談神話和希臘詩歌。For example, I heard a wellknown speaker-a man who ought to have known better-introduce the Irish poet W. B. Yeats. Yeats was to read his own poetry. Three years prior to that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, the highest distinction that can be bestowed upon a man of letters. I am confident that not ten per cent of that particular audience knew of the award or its significance. Both ought, by all means, to have been mentioned. They ought to have been announced even if nothing else were said. But what did the chairman do? He utterly ignored these facts, and wandered off into talking about mythology and Greek poetry.

此外，最重要的是，要確定演講人的名字，并馬上讓自己熟悉發(fā)音。約翰·馬森·柏朗說，人家曾把他介紹成約翰·柏朗·馬森，甚至約翰·史密斯·馬森！很有名的加拿大幽默家史蒂芬·李科克，在他那篇輕快的散文《今晚我們相聚》中，講了一則人家對他的介紹辭：Above all, be certain of the speaker's name and begin at once to familiarize yourself with its pronunciation. John Mason Brown says that he has been introduced as John Brown Mason and even John Smith Mason. In his delightful essay, "We Have with Us Tonight" Stephen Leacock, the distinguished Canadian humorist, tells of one introduction he received in which the introducer said:

“我們大家都興奮地期待李洛德先生的光臨。我們從他的著作里似乎已經(jīng)像個老朋友似的認識他了。事實上，我想我并不夸張，我告訴李洛德先生，他的大名在本地早已經(jīng)家喻戶曉。我個人感到非常非常的榮幸，能向各位介紹——李洛德先生。”There are many of us who have awaited Mr. Learoyd's coming with the most pleasant anticipations. We seemed from his books to know him already as an old friend. In fact I do not think I exaggerate when I tell Mr. Learoyd that his name in our city has long been a household word. I have very, very great pleasure in introducing to you-Mr. Learoyd.

搜尋資料的主要目的是要明確地介紹，而介紹辭必須明確，才能達到目的——提高聽眾的注意力并讓他們接納講演人的講演。準備不足的主持人，常常會講出這樣含混而令人昏昏欲睡的話來：The main purpose of your research is to be specific, for only by being specific will the introduction achieve its purpose-to heighten the audience's attention and make it receptive to the speaker's talk. The chairman who comes to a meeting poorly prepared usually comes up with something as vague and soporific as this:

“我們的講演人聲名遠揚，被一致認為是——是他講題的權威。我們很想聆聽他對這個題目的高見，因為他來自一個——一個極遠的地方。本人感到極大的榮幸向各位介紹，現(xiàn)在且讓我們看看——噢，在這里——布萊克先生?！監(jiān)ur speaker is everywhere recognized as an authority on,-on his subject. We are interested in hearing what he has to say on this subject, because he comes from a,-a great distance. It gives me great pleasure to present, let's see now,-oh, here it is, - Mr. Blank.

稍稍花點時間準備，我們就可避免給講演者和聽眾雙方都造成惡劣的印象。By taking a little time to prepare we can avoid the sad impression such an introduction makes upon both speaker and audience.