How to Give Directions如何给人指路

徐晨晓

无论你是要告诉别人如何去你的家或指引陌生人去某个地方，你都应该知道如何给他们指路。你要以他人最容易理解的方式去指路，你还必须与对方有效地沟通，选择最合适的路线，以帮助人们顺利到达目的地。

Guiding Them by Landmarks1 and Drive Times

通过地标和时长来指路

1. Picture yourself going along the route2 with them.

Most people follow directions best when theyre given in “route perspective3，” which focuses on describing what youll see along the way and the travel time between these landmarks. If you were in the car or walking alongside the person， think of how youd point out the route （“Turn right at the big church over here， and then well go that way for about five minutes...”） and use that to guide how you give the directions.

1. 想象自己和他们一起走这条路。

大多数人在“路线视角”指向时最容易找到方向。路线视角指向主要是描述沿途所看到的东西以及这些地标之间所需的时长。如果你和对方一起乘车，或者一起走，想想你要怎么指出路线（“在这座大教堂右转，然后我们走大约五分钟……”），然后用这种方式来指路。

2. Tell the person about important and hard-to-miss landmarks.

Landmarks will give the person an idea of the progress theyre making. Theyll also let the person know if theyre still on the path you advised them to take. So， for instance， “Go this way for a couple minutes until the old post office with the big metal dome4 is on your left； then turn left and go for about 5 minutes until you see a McDonalds...”

2. 告诉人们重要且不易错过的地标。

地标会使人了解他们目前的进度，也会让他们知道自己是否还在你给他们指的那条路上。因此，可以向这样指路：“这样走几分钟，直到在你的左边看到有金属大圆顶的旧邮局；然后左转，走大约5分钟，直到你看到一个麦当劳……”

3. Specify5 whether something is on the left or right of the road.

Dont take for granted6 that the person knows what side of the road a turn， a landmark， or their destination will be on. To avoid getting the person lost， always specify which side of the street they need to either turn on or look for a landmark on.

3. 详细说明有什么在道路的左边或右边。

不要想当然地认为对方知道拐弯、地标或他们的目的地在路的哪一边。为了避免让人找不着北，要为他们指明他们需要在道路的哪一边转弯或寻找地标。

4. Provide travel time estimates7 for the whole trip and each component8 of it.

Specify the how much time the whole trip will take. In addition， specify how much time certain segments of the trip will take. This will give the person an idea of when they need to be ready to take a turn， etc. For example， “The whole trip takes about 10 minutes. Youll turn left here and go for about 3 minutes until...”

4. 告知整个路程和每段路程預计需要的时长。

说清楚整个路程要花多少时间。另外，详细说明其中某段路程要花费的时间。这会让人对什么时候需要转弯等心中有数。例如：“整个行程大约需要10分钟。你从这里向左拐然后走大约3分钟，直到……”

Mapping Out Distances and Compass9 Directions

在地图上标出距离和方向

1. Create a mental map of the route， and share it.

Some people are better at reading maps than others， and these people tend to also do better when given directions that are the verbal10 equivalent11 of looking at a map—called “survey perspective.” These are the kind of people who are good at “getting their bearings” and telling which way north is without a compass， and have a good “feel” for estimating that they just drove for two miles. In this case， your directions will sound like the following： “Drive north for a little over 3 miles （4.8 km）， then head east on Church Street...”

1. 构建大脑中的地图，然后分享它。

有些人比别人更擅长看地图，而这些人在指路时言语上往往也做得更好，就像看着地图一样，这就是所谓的“俯瞰视角”。这些人不易迷失方向，不用指南针就能分辨哪边朝北，并能很好地“凭感觉”估计他们车刚开了两英里。在這种情况下，你可以像这样指路：“驱车北上3英里（4.8公里），然后朝教堂街东头走……”

2. Specify distance from point to point.

Include units of distance in every step of your directions. For example， specify how many miles or kilometers the person will stay on a specific road before turning or getting to their destination. City blocks and highway exits are also acceptable units of distance to use， even though the exact distance between them varies. For example， “Go two blocks north， then get on the freeway and head west to the fourth exit...” A rough12 estimate is better than not giving any sense of the distance from one point to another.

2. 详细说明点与点之间的距离。

你指的路的每一步骤都应包括距离单位。例如，向人详细说明在转弯或到达目的地之前应该在某条道路上前行多少英里或公里。城市的街区和高速公路出口也是可接受的距离单位，尽管它们之间的确切距离不同，例如：“向北走两个街区，然后上高速公路，向西到第四个出口……”粗略的估计总比不说明从一点到另一点的距离要好。

3. Refer to the cardinal13 directions.

While its always a good idea to mention whether something is on the right or left， you should also provide cardinal directions （north， south， east and west） when you explain a route to someone in survey perspective. And even people who do better with route perspective （following landmarks） often have a vehicle or smartphone equipped with a digital compass， and many road signs indicate a cardinal direction. So “Turn right at the light onto 5th street and go south for half a mile， then merge14 onto route 35...”

3. 说明基本方向。

说明什么在左边或右边始终是个好主意，但当你从俯瞰视角向某人解释的路线时，你也应该说明基本的方向（东、西、南、北）。即使是更擅长路线视角（按照地标寻路）的人通常也会在车辆上或智能手机上配备有数字指南针，并且有许多道路标志也会指示基本方向。所以，可以指路说：“在交通灯处右转上第五大街，然后向南走半英里，上35号公路……”

4. Draw a map.

If youre having trouble verbally communicating directions to someone who understands directions better in map format， just sketch15 out the route for them. Youll also be able to include details， such as the location of landmarks， on your map. The map doesnt need to be to scale16， but you should use a general map orientation （that is， with north to the top）.

4. 画地图。

如果你在同一个更容易看懂地图的人口头沟通方面有困难，只要为他们画出路线就行了。你画的图上还可以包含详细信息，例如，地标的位置。地图不需要比例精准，但你应该使用一般的地图定位（即上指北）。

Choosing the Right Route to Describe

选择正确的路线

1. Explain the route based on where the person is coming from.

Before you start giving directions， you need to ask the person where exactly theyre coming from. This is important， as the specifics of your directions will depend on which way they are headed.

1. 根据人来的方向来说明路线。

在你开始指路之前，你要问对方到底是从哪边来的。这很重要，因为你指路的细节将取决于他们朝着哪个方向走。

2. Give the simplest route.

While it may seem tempting to give someone directions to your favorite shortcut， this could wind up doing more harm than good. Instead， give the simplest directions that are least likely to confuse the person. This way， youll minimize the chance that the person youre giving directions to will get lost. When considering the simplest route， choose routes with less turns， even if they take a bit longer， focus on routes where the person can stay on one road for a long time， and pick routes that avoid confusing intersections， roundabouts17， or bypasses.

2. 給出最简单的路线。

虽然你可能禁不住想向某人介绍你最喜欢的捷径，但是这可能弊大于利。相反，给出最最简单的路线最不会让人迷惑。这样，你就可以最大限度地减少对方迷路的机会。在考虑最简单的路线时，哪怕路长一点，也要少走弯路；选择能在同一条路上走较长时间的路线；选择路线时还应避开令人迷惑的交叉口，绕来绕去的路或支路。

3. Share the safest route.

If there are several routes available and some of them are particularly dangerous， give the safest route. As someone who is not familiar with the area， the person youre advising wont know the dangers theyll be driving through. Whether its treacherous18 terrain19， narrow roads， or high crime neighborhoods， take threats to the persons safety into account. Dont suggest routes you havent taken. Otherwise， you may wind up giving incorrect directions that could get the person lost.

3. 分享最安全的路线。

如果有几种可选择的路线，而其中一些特别危险，那就应给出最安全的路线。由于不熟悉这个区域，对方不会知道他们将要经历的危险。无论是险恶的地形，狭窄的道路，还是高犯罪率的社区，都要考虑到对人身安全的威胁。不要建议对方走你没有走过的路线。否则，你可能会指条错误的路，可能会让人迷路。

4. Warn the person about confusing parts of the route.

If there is a particularly tricky20 part of the route youre providing， tell the person in detail. Some points of confusion could include： roads that merge with little notice， turns that are very slight， roundabouts.

4. 提醒对方路线中令人迷惑的部分。

如果你所提供的路线中有特别棘手的部分，请详细告诉对方。令人迷惑的地方可能包括：不经意就合并为一的道路、有轻微转向的路以及环形交叉口。

Communicating Effectively

有效地沟通

1. Speak slowly and clearly.

When giving directions， dont rush. Pronounce clearly every word you say. If you dont speak slowly and clearly， the person may get confused or may miss an important piece of information.

1. 慢慢地说清楚。

指路时，不要着急。说清楚每个字的发音。如果你不说得慢一点，清晰一点，对方可能会有疑惑，或者漏掉什么重要的信息。

2. Avoid using words， phrases， or names that only locals will know.

Use the names of roads as theyre marked on street signs and road maps. Avoid using road names only used by locals. In addition， dont refer to peoples homes as landmarks. Any examples you use should be ones that can be recognizable to someone from outside your community. Dont assume the person knows anything about the area. Give directions as if the person knows nothing of local landmarks， main roads， or even the names of roads.

2. 不要使用只有當地人知道的词、短语或名字。

使用街道标志和路线图上标明的道路名称。不要去使用只有当地人才用的道路名称。此外，不要把人们的家当作地标。你所例举的一切都应该是来自社区以外的人能够识别的。不要认为对方熟悉这个地区的一切。指路时，应假设对方对当地的地标、主要道路甚至道路名称一无所知。

3. Ask the person if they have any questions.

Be direct and ask “Do you have any questions about the route？” Asking will allow the person to clarify any part of the route they might not fully understand. Suggest that the person summarize the directions youve just given to them. This way， youll be able to make sure that they understood you completely. Then， if they did misunderstand or mishear you， youll be able to correct them.

3. 询问对方是否有任何疑问。

直接问“关于路线你还有什么问题吗？”这样可以让对方弄清楚他们可能没完全理解的任何地方。建议对方总结一下你刚才指的路。这样，你就能确定他们是不是完全理解你了。如果他们有理解错误或听错了的地方，你就能纠正他们。

Notes：

1. landmark n. 陆标；地标

2. route n. 路线；航线；通道

3. perspective n. 观点；远景；透视图

4. dome n. 圆屋顶

5. specify vt. 指定；详细说明；列举

6. take for granted 认为……理所应当

7. estimate v. 估计，估价 n. 估计，估价

8. component n. 成分；组件

9. compass n. 指南针，罗盘

10. verbal adj. 口头的；言语的

11. equivalent n. 等价物，相等物

12. rough adj. 粗略的

13. cardinal adj. 主要的，基本的

14. merge vt. 使合并；吞没 vi. 合并；融合

15. sketch vt.& vi. 画素描或速写

16. scale n. 规模；比例 to scale 按规定比例

17. roundabout n. 迂回路线；环状交叉路口

18. treacherous adj. 危险的

19. terrain n. 地形；领域；地带

20. tricky adj. 棘手的