For your information!

 


最近,一位 subscriber 問我有關「for your information」(很多時以簡寫「FYI」出現)的「語氣」問題。這個問題我覺得幾有趣。


書寫時,「for your information」這個介詞組多數會與伴隨著一些資訊:


例:Here’s a recap of the meeting, FYI


例:This is our overall price list for your information.


這句話的意思其實相當中性,只是表示所提供的資訊與接收者相關或對接收者有用。


但同時,我理解 subscriber 為何會這樣問。因為在不同的語境下,這句話的語氣對接受者而言似乎很見外,甚至有時可能會顯得有點「passive-aggressive」(可想成是用中性的 expression 來暗示不友善的情感)。


這句話有時會令人感到冷漠或少許無禮,主要是因為它只表明寫這句話的人有資料要提供(例如附件檔案或文章等),但卻沒連帶任何意見或評論。彷彿作者除了附上一堆實際資訊外,完全沒興趣或時間去提供任何進一步幫助。


例如:


A: 

Dear B,

Did you go to the info session yesterday? Did they mention the date for the retreat? 


B:

This is the info pack from yesterday, FYI.



像這樣的場景中(當然也要視乎他們對彼此的熟絡程度),A可能會覺得B有點冷漠無禮,因為B甚至都不肯花一丁點時間去告訴 A 公司旅行的日期,而只是附上整個相關活動的文件。


這樣使用「FYI」,所傳達的語氣可能類似於「我太忙了,無法回答你的問題」,或「這問題浪費我時間」。


在其他語境中,這句話甚至可能會暗示攻擊性:


例:

A:

Dear B,

The data from this week are back to normal, right?


B:

Hi,

FYI - here is the data set from this week.


在這個虛擬情景中,不管那些「data」是否回復正常了,B也顯得對A有點無禮,甚至略帶攻擊。因為B不選擇直接回答A的問題,反而是叫A自己查看附件。


如果數據真已回復正常,B 的回應就似乎是在對A說:「是喔,當然是回復正常了,難道你看不出來嗎?」


相反,如果數據未恢復,B 所呈現出的語氣感覺便更無禮了:「沒有,它們未回復正常。這麼愚蠢的問題簡直在浪費我時間。」


因此,我們要特別注意這句經常用在商務通訊的話語,根據語境的不同,它可能會傳遞出不一樣的語氣。下次你使用它時,記得確保自己正傳遞出最適當的語氣。(當然,如果真認為有需要,你也可以巧妙地用它來暗示不滿或攻擊性。哈哈~)


無論如何,「for your information」也一個中性的詞組。既然你察覺到它可能傳遞的不同語氣,下次看到或用到它時,更注意一點就是了。


______________

For your information! 


A subscriber to the newsletter recently asked me about the “tone” of the expression “for your information” (often appearing as the acronym FYI).


This prepositional phrase usually appears together with a piece of “information” in writing, like: 


e.g. Here’s a recap of the meeting, FYI


e.g. This is our overall price list for your information


The meaning of the phrase is actually quite neutral. It simply suggests that the information being presented is relevant to the recipient.


At the same time, I understood the subscriber’s question because, depending on the context, the phrase can come across as distant or even a bit passive aggressive in tone to the recipient.


The main reason why this phrase can seem “cold” or slightly “rude”  sometimes is because it suggests that the writer is giving the information – e.g. an attached document, an article etc. – without any personal commentary, as if he/she is not interested in giving or too busy to give any further help beyond just attaching the factual information. 


E.g. 


A: 

Dear B,

Did you go to the info session yesterday? Did they mention the date for the retreat? 


B:

This is the info pack from yesterday, FYI.



In a scenario like this (but of course, depending on how well they know each other), A might feel that B is slightly rude because B does not take the short amount of time needed to tell A the date of the retreat and instead just attaches the entire document from the event. 


The tone conveyed from this use of FYI might be something like “I am too busy to answer your question” or “this question is wasting my time.”


In other contexts, the phrase might even convey a slightly passive–aggressive tone: 


E.g. 

A:

Dear B,

The data from this week are back to normal, right?


B:

Hi,

FYI - here is the data set from this week.


In this imaginary scenario, no matter whether the “data” are back to normal or not, B could seem a bit rude or passive-aggressive to A. This is because, instead of answering A’s question directly, B is attaching something and telling A to look at it himself/herself. 


If the data set confirms what A asked, then the tone conveyed could be something like: “yes, of course they are back to normal - can’t you see?”


If the data set shows that A is wrong, and that it is not back to normal, then the tone conveyed could be even ruder: “no, it’s not back to normal. Your question was stupid and not worth my time.” 


So, be aware that this phrase, so often used in business correspondence, could convey different tones when used in different contexts. Make sure that you are conveying the right tone for your purpose when you use it next time! (Of course, you could also use it deliberately to show passive aggression if the context calls for it, haha.)


At the end of the day, “for your information” could also just be used as a neutral phrase. As long as you are aware of the tones it could convey, you can pay more attention when you see or use it next time. 



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