ラジオ英会話 Lesson 223 同意の定型表現③ 言質をとられない同意
レッスンのポイント
今回は「完全な同意を避ける」。賛成・反対と割り切れないケースもあるときの言い回しです。
Today’s dialog
大学生のジェシカとアルバートがピーコック教授の最新刊について話しています。
Albert: Well, I finally finished reading Professor Peacock’s latest book.
Jessica: What did you think?
Albert: I believed about 25 percent of what he wrote. The majority of the book is pure fiction.
Jessica: Why do you say that?
Albert: He jumps to too many conclusions. And there’s no evidence for his theories.
Jessica: I think I agree with most of what you’re saying.
Albert: So, why are you such a big fan of his books?
Jessica: I like his writing style.
WORDS & PHRASES
latest 最新の
majority of ~ ~の大半
jump to a conclusion 結論を急ぐ
evidence: 証拠
writing style 文章のスタイル、文体
英訳練習
本日のテキストを英訳してみましょう。文章をクリックすると英文例が表示されます。
Well, I finally finished reading Professor Peacock’s latest book.
What did you think?
I believed about 25 percent of what he wrote. The majority of the book is pure fiction.
Why do you say that?
He jumps to too many conclusions. And there’s no evidence for his theories.
I think I agree with most of what you’re saying.
So, why are you such a big fan of his books?
I like his writing style.
CHECK YOUR GRAMMAR! ~文法のポイントを確認しましょう~
①目的語で動詞-ing 形しか許さない動詞
I finally finished reading Professor Peacock’s latest book.
②wh 節
I believed about 25 percent of what he wrote.
BUILD UP YOUR VOCABULARY~語彙のハートを身につけましょう~
I think I agree with most of what you’re saying.
「ある程度同意なんだけど、でも完全に同意したと思われても困る」、そうしたケースはよくありますね。このキーセンテンスは「同意」を表してはいますが、完全な同意と受け取られないようにさまざまな工夫がなされています。
まずは I think。「思います」は日本語でも断言を避けるポピュラーな言い回しですね。次に most(ほとんど)。wh 節 what you’re saying(あなたの言っていること)に most of をつけることによって、同意していない部分があることをにおわせているのです。
We have no other option but to agree to all their demands.
Hmm… I think I agree with the main thrust of your opinion.
I suppose [that’s true / you’re right].
You’re probably right.
EXPRESS YOURSELF IN ENGLISH! ~英語で表現しましょう~
I think I agree with most of what you’re saying. However, in my opinion, the situation is a bit more complicated.
complicated は「複雑な」。
I suppose you have a point there, but we need to look at the bigger picture.
have a point は「一理ある・的確である複雑な」。big picture は「(問題などの)全体像・対局」。
What you say is probably right, but it’s a bit off the point.