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　　言語應對，也是古人很注重的啓蒙教育。除了恭敬外，談吐也要大方，音調更應高低適中；尤其要避免用尖銳拔高的音調講話，令人感覺你在賣弄本事或爭論。

　　In ancient times, people considered proper manners in speaking and interacting with others an important part of a child”s education. In addition to being respectful, we should speak with others in a forthright manner. We should use a moderate tone of voice, and avoid speaking in a sharp, high-pitched voice, which gives people the feeling that we are showing off or arguing.

　　與任何人交談 ，若是一個勁兒地高談闊論或喧嘩嘻笑，都會予人狂妄之感；反之，若是一味嗫嗫嚅嚅、嘀嘀咕咕，又會令人看輕和不耐；至于談話中，不時左顧右盼，更顯出輕浮和無知。何況是在尊長前呢？但是如果尊長的聽力不好，就必須大聲講話，但不要流于尖銳。

　　If we keep talking and laughing and making a lot of noise, people will feel we are hyperactive. On the other hand, if we always mumble and whisper, others will feel contempt and impatience. We should not be looking here and there as we speak, because that gives the impression of being frivolous and scatter-brained. How much the less should we do these things in the presence of our elders! If our elders are hard of hearing, we should speak loudly, but not sharply.

　　聲調之外，還要記得配合以適當的禮儀。長輩問話時，我們如果仍坐著不起身，長輩勢必得彎腰低頭；這樣子，不但談話效果不佳，長輩也會感覺累，這也是不恭敬，不懂事理。

　　In addition to modulating the tone of voice, we ought to show the proper courtesy. If we remain seated when our elders ask us a question, they will be forced to bend down to speak to us. Not only is that a poor posture for speaking, but it will tire them out; that shows a lack of respect and understanding on our part.

　　所謂“趨”，是很快地小步向前走。你可能想：晉見長輩要這麼走法，豈不是太矯揉造作了嗎

　　這聽起來確是奇怪 ，其實那只是真誠恭謹心的自然流露。

　　When we are going to meet our elder, we should approach quickly with small steps. It might seem affected, but actually it”s a way of showing our earnest reverence.

　　古時候的中國，民風醇厚，大部分人對父母師長 ，都有一種孺慕的心態；不但樂于效勞，亦且樂見長輩。因此晉見長輩時，生怕讓長輩久等，想快，又怕大步走或跑步會驚動長輩，所以“其進也趨趨”；告退離去時，雖然依戀不舍，想留，又怕太煩擾長輩，所以“其行也遲遲”：舉止進退，總是這樣子小心翼翼，合情又合理。所謂“發乎情，止乎禮”，這哪裏是膚淺冒失的人可以了解的呢？又哪裏是虛僞拘泥的人可以學步的呢？

　　In ancient China, when the moral culture was well-developed, most people would regard their teachers and elders as fondly as they would their own parents. Not only were they eager to serve them, but they were delighted to see them. When they had an appointment with an elder, they didn”t want to keep their elder waiting, so they would go quickly. Yet they feared that if they took large strides or ran up to their elder, they would startle him, so they approached with quick, light steps. When it was time to leave, they could hardly bear to go, but they didn”t want to bother their elder too long, so they departed with reluctant steps. They were that cautious in every move they made, always observing courtesy and reason. They acted from their hearts, but restrained themselves with propriety. How could those who are shallow and rash understand this

　　 How could those who are phony or rigid learn this

　　我們人外在的一舉一動 ，都是內在感情的反應和表達；當內在感情的反應和表達太過或不足時，就必須用禮儀來糾正和約束，使舉止在合情之余，亦能合理，所以說“禮者，理也”。但是如果一味拘守禮儀，流于形式，已缺乏那份真摯的情感，那倒又不如有真情感而不懂禮儀的人了！

　　Our every gesture and move is a response to and an expression of our inner feelings. If those responses and expressions are excessive or deficient, they must be restrained or corrected by the rules of propriety. Then our actions will accord with courtesy as well as with reason. Propriety is itself defined as reason. However, if we adhere too rigidly to the rules of propriety and get caught up in the external form, while lacking true feeling, we are even worse than the person who has true feeling but isn”t familiar with the rules of propriety.

　　有很多家庭或學校的規矩也很嚴謹，父母師長要求孩子要做個有教養的紳士淑女；但仔細考察，你可能發覺，其實很多紳士淑女不但虛僞，而且自私自利。如何教導孩子們合情又合理，那就須要從倫理教育著手；而倫理教育，不但要開始得愈早愈好，更要父母師長以身作則。

　　There are many strict households and schools where parents and teachers expect children to behave like well-brought-up "gentlemen and ladies." But if you observe these children closely, you might find that many of…

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