简直不敢相信自己的眼睛，一贯期待外国人道歉的我国（参见中外交往中的“道歉”翻译学）居然向外国人道歉了！

5月29日，在残奥会部长接待日活动中，美联社记者曾就该问题向北京奥组委残奥会部部长张秋平提问。该记者表示，在从北京奥组委官方网站下载的奥运志愿者读本的相关内容中，有些涉及残疾人的语言表达不当，伤害到了残疾人。张秋平表示，北京奥组委各个相关部门已经掌握了相关情况，并全面收回所发放的读本，同时要求编写者重新编写相关内容。张秋平说：“对于志愿者读本中出现的措辞问题，并非有意。奥组委在得知情况后，进行了严肃处理。”

《北京奥运会志愿者读本》到底对残疾人的心理说了什么话以至于要撤回并致歉呢？各大媒体在报道这个消息时均语焉不详。我们可以理解官方不愿扩大负面影响的良好愿望，但是如果我们不知道错在哪里，难免再次犯错。所以，我今天就披露一些遭到外国人批评的“对残疾人的心理描述”，恕不翻译（哪位网友有中文原文请贴在评论栏内），各位读者自己做判断：

The guide says that "paralympic athletes and disabled spectators are a special group. They have unique personalities and ways of thinking."

To handle the "Optically Disabled," the guide offers the following: "Often the optically disabled are introverted. They have deep and implicit feelings and seldom show strong emotions. ... Remember, when you communicate with optically disabled people, try not to use the world 'blind' when you meet for the first time."

On the "Physically Disabled," the guide suggests: "Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy. They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanisms from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability.

"For example, some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial and introspective; they usually do not volunteer to contact people. They can be stubborn and controlling; they may be sensitive and struggle with trust issues. Sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called 'crippled' or 'paralyzed'."

The guide says volunteers should "not fuss or show unusual curiosity, and never stare at their disfigurement." It also advises volunteer to steer away from words like "cripple or lame, even if you are just joking."

The volunteer manual is also loaded with behaviour tips, reminding that "volunteers are ambassadors ... and will mirror and reflect China." The manual gives volunteers detailed suggesting on shaking hands, sitting, standing, and handling emergencies.

On shaking hands, the manual say: "Stretch forward the right arm naturally with a 60-degree angle between the body and arm. Palm should be up ... thumb is separated from the other four fingers; naturally hold the other's hand slightly for 3-5 seconds."

北京奥组委从善如流，有不妥之处就改正，爽快道歉，为一个开放的中国树立了一个好榜样，是真正成熟自信的大国心态。不过，对于相关的责任人就不要“严肃处理”了吧，实际上以中国人的标准，上述对残疾人心理的描述实际上还应该算是一个进步呢。

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请参阅更多翟华文章——

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更多中西文化文章请参见翟华的《东方文化西方语》http://blog.sina.com.cn/zhaihua
转载、约稿请电邮  huazhai@yahoo.com

北京奥运会志愿者读本

第一责任说明：魏娜主编
其它责任说明：北京奥运会志愿者工作协调小组办公室编撰
个人名称：魏娜
责任方式：主编
出版者名称：中国人民大学出版社
出版日期：2006