会说话,对于很多人而言,并不是一件困难的事情。但是一些特定的场合和时间,说出恰当、得体的话语,也并非一件容易的事情。曾经担任过纽约市市长的埃尔·史密斯对此深有体会。他在任期间,第一次去视察纽约的新监狱,监狱长盛情邀请他为囚犯即兴讲几句话。毫无思想准备的史密斯盛情难却,开口便对囚犯们讲道:“我的公民同胞们——”话一出口他便觉得有些不妥。他弄不清楚这些囚犯是否被剥夺了公民身份,于是他立即改口道:“我的罪犯朋友们……”他的话语立即引来哄堂大笑。史密斯窘迫得汗珠都冒了出来,他结结巴巴地开始了他的第三次开场白:“能在这里见到你们,我感到非常高兴。”史密斯在监狱的讲话成为当时的一个笑柄,每 To speak, for many people, is not a difficult thing. But for some specific occasions and times, it is not an easy task to say proper and appropriate discourse. Elsie Smith, the former mayor of New York City, has a deep understanding of this. During his term of office, for the first time, he visited New York’s new prison, where he cordially invited him to give the prisoner a few words to improvise. Smith, who was unprepared, said nothing but opening words to the prisoners: “My citizens, my fellow citizens,” he feels a bit wrong as soon as he exits. He wondered if the prisoners were deprived of their citizenship, so he immediately changed his voice: “My criminals friends ...” His words immediately led to laughter. Smith embarrassed sweat come out, he stammered to start his third opening: “I am very pleased to see you here. ” Smith’s speech in prison became a joke at the time ,each