英文片語 “Kind of / Sort of” 到底表示什麼意義？

在非正式的英文場合中，常會聽到老美使用 “kind of / sort of” 這類不太營養的詞語，西方稱這種詞為 “filler” (填塞詞)。”kind of /sort of” 有時意思很明確，有時卻又很模糊，端看說話者當時的口氣與上下文的對應關係。版主今天收到公司老美總裁的季報演講稿，內容是老總與主持人的訪談記錄，版主發現老美很愛用隨口丟出 “kind of /sort of” 這種片語來混時間 (想不出該說什麼) 或者刻意傳達模糊的印象。網友請見下例：

Yeah, I think it’s a good idea. Those things could be the stories driving the company’s culture. You know, sending in your best stories or anying that you find interesting that relates to what’s marketable. What I think what we are trying to do now is put the downturn kind of behind us, and I think we’re kind of digging out.

Demetri Martin 是 Comedy Central 的脫口秀演員，他曾經說過一個段子，譏諷 “kind of / sort of” 已經被許多老美用爛了，箇中意思已變成漿糊一樣模糊不清。

A harmless thing to say, sort of. It’s just a filler, sort of. It doesn’t really mean anything; but after certain things, sort of means everything. Like after, “I love you,” or “You’re going to live.”

I love you, sort of.

下面是 “Urban Dictionary” 網友對於 “kind of / sort of” 的定義：

• He’s kind of sweet. (He’s not sweet at all.)
• He’s kind of smelly. (He’s got bad odor, but we’ll deal.)
• He’s kind of amazing. (Oh my god, I’m obsessed with everything about him.)

網友看到了嗎？英文的意思有很多種，可表示「有點」、「完全」，甚至是「完全否定」(He’s kind of sweet. = He’s not sweet at all.) 。解讀這種意思模糊的英文詞語要特別留意。

翻查《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》，正統的定義有幾項：

1. 有點；稍微；有幾分 (slightly, to some extent)
   I’m not sure why, but I feel kind of sorry for him. (不知道為什麼，我對他感到有點抱歉。)
   “Is she interested?” “Well, kind of.” (她有興趣嗎？嗯，好像有。)
2. 說明某件事情不是真的或者品質不好 (indicate that something is not genuine or of good quality)
   I had a kind of holidy in the summer, but I couldn’t relax.
   (我算是放了暑假，但我卻沒有放鬆心情休假。)
3. 表示模糊 (suggest vagueness)
   She gave a kind of /sort of  smile and left the room.
   (她像是笑了一下，然後離開房間。)
4. 想不出恰當的詞或不知下面該怎麼說時用 (used when you cannot think of a good word to use to describe sth, or what to say next)
   We’re sort of like doing it the wrong way.
   (我們的方法好像有點不對。)

稍微歸納一下口語的用法：

** 如果網友說話沒有十足把握時，就用 sort of 或 kind of 來緩和語氣。
A: Are there many people coming to John’s part? (有很多人會去參加 John 的派對嗎？)
B: Well, sort of. I know he invited a lot, but I don’t know how many will show up.
(嗯，不太清楚耶。我知道他邀請了很多人，但不知道有多少人會出席。)

** 不好意思當面回絕對方或者潑冷水，網友可以用 sort of 來表示「不贊同」。
A. Aren’t you interested in classical guitar music? I just created a blog about how to play the classical guitar.
(你不喜歡古典吉他音樂嗎？我剛弄了一個部落格來教人如何彈古典吉他。)
B. Well, sort of.
(嗯，我不那麼感興趣。)

** 不想以完全正面的方式回應對方的問題時，網友可以用 sort of 來表示「某種程度是對的 (某種程度是這樣沒錯的)」。
A. Do you like what you’re doing in school?
(你喜歡學校的課業活動嗎？)
B. Sort of.
(嗯，還好 / 一半一半。)

說了這麼多，網友會問：版主你到底想說什麼啊？Good question! I have no idea of what I’m trying to say, sort of.