有一次我為客戶寫英文稿，傳給對方看稿時被說「The company has a long history (該公司歷史悠久)」有錯，因為公司(company)沒有生命，不是人，不能擁有(has)歷史(history)。我除了納悶之餘，心想她這想法是怎麼來的？怎麼跟她溝通才好？
向客戶提出證據
當時我跟客戶解釋英文文法並沒有這種規定，但她打死不信，說她學的文法都是這樣教的。我先向她禮貌性打個圓場，說我們這邊先查證確認一下，請她稍等。還好我手上有不少英美專業作者投稿給我的文章，裡面就有查到美國作者確實有在寫「The company has……(該公司有…)」這種句子。這是證據一。
為了讓證據更充足，我又調了歐美主流新聞報導的連結出來給她。雖然我忘了當時我調哪則新聞出來，但現在再用Google搜尋，還是能找到一大票的鐵證，這是證據二。
The company (GameStop) has a solid business in allowing customers to trade in old games that keeps people coming into its stores.
GameStop公司有一項穩固的事業，讓顧客將手上的舊遊戲折舊換新，藉此持續吸引人們來店(消費)。
What Is GameStop, the Company, Really Worth? Does It Matter? (Published 2021)
The frenzy for the troubled retailer’s stock has been a head-scratcher for the analysts who try to determine a company’s value.
The company has several projects in various stages of development and production.
該公司有幾項各個開發製作階段的專案。
NEON and CNN FILMS’ Short Film “APOLLO 11: QUARANTINE”, FROM TODD DOUGLAS MILLER AND THE AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKERS OF “APOLLO 11”, to be Released Exclusively with IMAX® – Jan 29th
To Feature Never-Before-Seen Footage Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxMqsAbAAvY NEON announced today that Apollo 11: Quarantine, the new short film from director/producer Todd Douglas Miller (Apollo 11, Dinosaur 13), will be released exclusively in IMAX® beginning January 29th in sel…
But the company has a long history…
然而該公司有著悠久的歷史…
The tough little bottles crucial to fighting Covid
Vials made of extremely tough glass are being made by the million to hold Covid vaccines.
The company has a human rights policy posted on its website.
該公司有個人權政策，張貼發佈在網站。
Colorado produce company to pay $500,000 to settle sexual harassment claims
A family-owned produce company in Eaton has agreed to pay $500,000 to five complainants, and other aggrieved individuals, who claimed they suffered sexual harassment during their employment.
當然我還調了字典出來，這是證據三：
The car has power brakes.
這台車有動力剎車。
April has 30 days.
四月有三十天。
Definition of HAVE
to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement; to hold in one’s use, service, regard, or at one’s disposal; to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole… See the full definition
看到這裡會知道，連車子都可以有動力剎車，連四月都值得擁有三十天，公司不能擁有任何人事物嗎？另外，世界上無人不曉的紐約時報和CNN文稿都有這種用法了，應該不用再懷疑了。最後，那位客戶也接受了。
順帶一提，「四月的銷售」叫「April’s sales」，「今年的營業額」叫「this year’s revenues」，「公司的聲譽」叫「the company’s reputation」。這些無生命的主詞都可以有所有格(‘s，等於中文「的」)。
痾…主詞沒生命，不是人，不能講have/has，
那我要怎麼講英文啊！客戶的文法觀念是誰灌輸的？
跟客戶談完後，我心想她的想法是從哪來的？我回想起以前就學時，英文老師好像有這樣教過，這才發現，原來這想法是從我就學時代就有人教過了，但我當時覺得老師那樣教很莫名其妙又不合人類大腦邏輯，畢竟我在影視媒體上聽到的英文就不是那樣。老實說，我真不知道這套我們自己發明的想法到底是怎麼形成的，但我可以確定的是，傳授這套想法的人，大概還沒觀察到外國人實際生活中用到的英文。
這故事告訴我們課本和老師教的內容很重要沒錯，但老師也非萬能，而且外文每天都在變化。我們還是要從影視或生活中去汲取活生生的外文，才不會跟外國人活在不同的平行世界。
沒有自己查證，其實難以得知學校外文課教的內容是否都全然正確。畢竟教的人，寫教材的人不一定全都是道地的外國人。
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想把英語或日語說得更道地嗎？關鍵是你的「語感力」。很少人能詳盡解釋單字與句子背後的語感，那種老外特有的「神邏輯」。沒那套邏輯，就會講出自以為懂但老外一頭霧水的外文，導致誤會爭執，這在職場商談溝通上很危險。 我是譯難忘，是外文新聞工作者，透過審稿、翻譯、客戶會談採訪、海外參展，接觸過各種天馬行空的英日文。我的特色是用淺顯文字，把外國人說話邏輯講給你懂，邀你跟我一起雕琢你的語感力。外語不求人，手把手教你自學！
