很多人都會覺得在台灣沒有英文環境，例如沒有機會遇到外國人，跟他們聊天等等，
但當路上看到外國人迎面而來的時候，有幾次我們真的有勇氣，上前熱心指路，甚至是推薦景點及必吃小吃呢?
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Psychologically speaking giving good directions is a particularly difficult task.
The reason we find it hard to give good directions is because of the “curse of knowledge”,
a psychological quirk that once we have learnt something,
we find it hard to appreciate how the world looks to someone who doesn’t know it yet.[1]
為甚麼有時候問了路，好像還是覺得很沒有方向感呢?
研究指出，我們對一件事越是熟悉了解，我們越難讓還一無所知的人看見你腦中世界的全貌。
所以不難理解，有時即便是用中文溝通，都還是會有這個問題
這裡有一個很有趣的用法 --- “curse of knowledge”
維基百科翻為”知識的詛咒”，是一種認知偏差，形容專家常以術語交談，但是喪失與非專業人士溝通的能力。
這也是我們常說真正的專家，不是會賣弄學問，而是懂得把複雜的專業知識講的老嫗能解的人吧!
The researchers found that people described landmarks that were easier to see early in the sentence
before they mentioned the hard-to-find target.
For example, “Next to the sphinx, Waldo is holding a vase,” is more effective than the more linguistically
common phrase, “Waldo is holding a vase next to the sphinx.” [2]
另外研究也指出，最有效的指路方法就是要提到明確的地標，有時候可能是一家有名的店(例如肉眼看的到的招牌)，
或是向上文提及的sphinx人面獅身像，又或是一大排的計程車候客處等等。還有一點很重要，就是語序的問題，
把重點(明顯的地標)放在前面，不要放在句子後面，例如要找威力在哪裡，
用「在人面獅身旁邊，威力握著一個花瓶」會比「威力握著一個花瓶，在人面獅身旁邊」還要清楚
這其實跟中西方在語言邏輯上的差異也有關係, 例如華人很喜歡把重點放在後面，營造一個請請期待的感覺;
而西方人通常喜歡把重點放在句首(重點論述thesis statement)，讓要閱讀的人在一開始就清楚這段文章的重點在哪, 然後在詳讀內文(支持語句supporting sentence)
以下為節錄自網路文章[3]的英文指路/問路技巧:
How you can ask for directions 如何開口問路呢
"Excuse me. How do I get to (the railway station) please?"
請問我要如何到達(火車站)呢?
"Excuse me. Where's the nearest (post office) please?"
請問最近的(郵局)在哪呢?
"Excuse me. I'm looking for the Number 6 bus stop."
不好意思，我在找6號公車的站牌，請問在哪裡呢?
Giving directions 指路的人通常會給你一些指示如下:
"It's about five minutes from here."
距離這邊大概五分鐘的距離喔
"It's about a ten-minute walk."
大概要走10分鐘
"It's easier if I can show you on the map..."
有地圖嗎? 如果有地圖我指給你看會更好找
Specific instructions 明確地點的指路用法
"Go straight at the light until you get to the crossroad."
(Light紅綠燈 = traffic light; crossroad十字路 = where two roads cross)
從紅路燈那往前直走，走到十字路那邊就是了
"Go across the roundabout."
(Roundabout圓環 = where all the cars go around a circle in the middle of the road)
穿過那個圓環
"Take the first turn left / right."
(Turn 轉彎處= road that goes left or right)
在第一個轉彎處左/右轉
"You'll see / You'll come to a (bank). Then ..."
你會看到(銀行)，接下來…
"Don't take the first road."
看到第一條路，先不要管他(不要轉彎之類的)
Use prepositions with direction 關於方向的相關介係詞
Go past 經過/走過 = continue past something so that it is now behind you
Go across穿過/走到對面(例如過馬路) = cross something, like a road or crossroads
Go along沿著 = continue down a road
Go straight on直走 = don't turn left or right
Go up 往上(坡)走= walk / drive up a hill
Go down往下(坡) = walk or drive down a hill or a road
Go through 穿越(隧道之類) = pass through something, such as a tunnel or a town
Go out of出去/離開(一個室內空間, 例如火車站) = exit (i.e. a railway station)
It's in front of you就在你前方 = you can see it facing you
It's opposite the bank在銀行對面 = it faces the bank
It's on the corner在轉角處 = it's where two roads meet at a 90° angle
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Resource:
[1] Why is it so hard to give good directions?
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121106-why-we-are-so-bad-with-directions
[2] Linguists Determine the Best Way to Give Directions
http://mentalfloss.com/article/72325/best-way-give-directions-according-linguists
[3] Useful English Phrases for Giving Directions
http://www.english-at-home.com/phrases-for-giving-directions
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