発表（その4）

Presentations (part 4)

新人技師：質問の意味がわからなかったときはどうしたらいいのでしょうか？

英文編集者：質問の意味がわからなかったときの便利な答えかたがたくさんあります．いくつか言ってみましょう．“Could you please repeat your question？”ところで，こういう場合，どちらかというと，“Once more, please”という英語を使うのは変だと思います．たぶん、日本人の学生は英語の授業で先生からそれを学んでいるのかもしれません．ただ，もしあなたが英語の先生ならば，授業でそれを使うことには差し支えありません．“I don't know”と言うこともできます．もし，非常に長々と聞いてくる人がいて，そして質問の部分がどれなのかわからなければ，“What is your question, please？”と聞いてもかまいません．場合によったら，これは少し失礼かもしれません．ただ自分自身に何か言いたいというだけで，質問をしてくるかもしれない人も何人かいるということを，頭の中に入れておくことです．ただ自分自身のしゃべる声が好きだというだけで，質問をしてくる人もいないわけではありません．

“I'd like to discuss that with you after the session, if possible”と言うのもいいです．

Junior technologist: What should I say when I don't understand the question?

English editor : There are a number of convenient things① to say when you don't understand. Let me mention some of them. “Could you please repeat your question?” By the way, I think that “Once more, please” is rather strange English to use in these circumstances. Maybe Japanese students of English learn it from their English teachers in class. It is only suitable for use if you are the teacher in a language class. You can say,② “I don't know.” If the person is very long-winded,③ and you don't know which part was the question, you can ask “What is your question, please?” This is a little rude, perhaps. Don't forget that some people may ask a question just because④ they have something to say themselves. A few people ask questions just because they like the sound of their own voices. You can say, “I'd like to discuss that with you after the session, if possible.”