英式辩论

英式辩论(British Parliamentary Debate)是个非常有趣的英语辩论活动.这种辩论形式在英国,爱尔兰,南非,澳大利亚,印度等国家的高校及学术教育机构非常流行.到底什么叫做"英式辩论'?它和其他形式的英语辩论有何不同? 顾名思义,英式辩论之所以被称为,"British Parliamentary Debate"肯定是和英国议会辩论有某种相似之处的,这种相似表现在无论是从辩者的人员安排,辩论秩序,辩论形式,甚至辩者称谓,还是从其辩论内容的宽泛性和自由度来说,一场典型精彩的英式辩论总是让人联想起真正的英国议会辩论,回想一下神色坚毅的铁娘子撒切尔夫人在议会中面对反对派的起哄,是如何沉着镇定,针锋相对,口若悬河地驳斥反对派言论的,多多反复观摩研究撒切尔夫人在英国议会的精彩辩论表现我们就可以明白何为真正的英式辩论了.英式辩论通常由4个小组(factions)共8名辩者组成;每组2人; 其组织结构为: 正方有2组4人;反方有2组4人,他们的正式称谓是: 1.Opening Government (First Faction) - a: Prime Minister b: Deputy Prime Minister 2. Opening Opposition (Second Faction)- a: Leader of the Opposition b: Deputy Leader of the Opposition 3. Closing
Government (Third Faction) - a:Member for the Government b: Government Whip 4.Closing Opposition (Fourth Faction) -a: Member of the Opposition b: Opposition Whip 从发言的顺序看, 他们的排列依此是: 1. Prime Minister;2.Leader of the Opposition; 3.Deputy Minister; 4. Deputy Leader of the Opposition; 5. Member for the Government; 6. Member of the Opposition; 7. Government Whip; 8. Opposition Whip. 按辩论规则, 每人的发言时间是7分钟(也有的是5分钟), 每人发言的第一分钟和最后一分钟被称之为"protected minute" 意思是在这开始和结尾的两分钟里发言人的演讲是不能被打断的. 辩论之所以叫辩论,就是说演讲者并不是一人独自在那里唱独角戏,除了刚才所说的两那两分钟"被保护时间"外,在其他的发言时间内对手都可以随时站起身来,高喊一声"Points of Information",(POIs必须高声喊这句,不能说别的),表示你有问题需要马上打断发言者并向他质问.这时,发言者有权利来决定是让你问还是不让你问;如果发言者愿意暂时停下话头,让你打断他,他可以说,"Yes, Please." 如果发言者此时正在兴头上,不愿意被你打断演讲,他就会说,"No."值此你也就只好乖乖坐下,等一会儿再起立坚持叫"Points of Information". 一个发言者不能总是对对方质问者说不,因为辩论之所以叫辩论就是难能可贵在你冲我突,刀来剑往;将来兵挡,水来土淹.如果没有坚定的陈述,激情的质问,机智的反驳则辩论就会完全失去它应有的启迪思考辩明是非的魅力了. 现在来看看辩论的内容,8个辩论者究竟需要说些啥呢?我们知道最开始的正反4人他们是属于Opening Factions; 他们4人需要做的是以下4项基本内容: A. Define the motion of the debate; B. Present their case; C. Respond to arguments of the opposing first faction; D. Maintain their relevance during the debate. 正反方后4人属于Closing Factions; 他们需要做的也是4点: A. Introduce a case extension; B. Establish and maintain their relevance early in the debate; C. Respond to the arguments of the first factions; 4. Respond to the case extension of the opposing second faction. 这些基本任务圈定了所有8位辩论者的工作范围,无论辩论的题目是什么,围绕题目的辩论路径必须得遵循以上的ABCD,不得越轨. 正反双方最后的两位辩手(Whip)的工作很重要,他们俩须完成辩论的扫尾工作,具体任务是:1.Respond to both opposing factions arguments;2.Should briefly sum up their opening factions case; 3. Should offer a conclusion of their own factions case extension. 每次辩论的辩题不能提前设置, 在所有辩手聚齐后,大家共同协商决定一个辩题并随意组对(choice of the motion and random picking of the teams)准备开始辩论.准备时间是15分钟,2人一组,各自商量自己的发言内容. 辩论的题目(motion)是五花八门,可涉及社会生活的方方面面,但是需要注意题目的挑选一定是可辩论的题目(debatable),比如"Man should not be politicians any more," 或"Jobs should be firstly given to locals rather than immigrants,"或,"Can an economy succeed without a big manufacturing base?,"等等.  可爱的苏格兰小伙子Andy及其志同道合者如今在北京创建了一个这样小型的英式辩论(www.beijingdebate.com),如果诸君有兴趣不妨亲临参身其中,品尝一下英式辩论这道大餐的滋味.