Simon Greenall先生纪念专题(二):斯人虽已逝,音容犹在心
2018/09/14
万事无不尽,徒令存者伤。在Simon Greenall先生长达几十年的英语教材出版生涯中,曾与超过40个国家的出版社合作出版英语教材,他曾说外研社是他合作时间最长的、非常重要的伙伴,而对于他在这里的中国朋友们而言,Simon既是他们重要的工作伙伴,也是让他们受益匪浅的师长,更是他们珍视的友人。
斯人虽已逝,音容犹在心。
I am totally unprepared and saddened by the passing away of Simon Greenall. I worked together with him for several years on compiling New Standard College English. I have been greatly impressed by his commitment and dedication to textbook writing and also been deeply moved by his great passion for improving English language teaching in China. His death is not only a great loss to English textbook writing but also to English language education innovation in China. I want to express my condolence to his family and friends. I am sure he will be forever remembered by English teachers and learners in China.
——《新标准大学英语》主编,北京外国语大学文秋芳教授
To Dear Simon
You are a nice friend to talk to, to gossip with, a friend with whom to share happy moments of family and complain about heavy load of work, a friend who never fails to send me happy birthday messages every year … Your messages hold so dear memories of you, and of us together.
You are a nice writer to work with. You taught me the first lessons of textbook writing, editing and designing. You helped me to keep track of hundreds of documents and email messages about NSCE(New Standard College English). You showed me how to coordinate all resources to promote the project through long-distance communication and with intercultural awareness. You are always supportive, committed, and dedicated.
It’s a great privilege to have worked so closely with you. May you rest in peace and I miss you loads.
——Gao
——外研社高英分社资深编辑 ,《新标准大学英语(第二版)》项目负责人 高颖
缘于《新标准大学英语》,得以与Simon先生有零星交往。Simon先生对待工作严肃、认真、执着。Simon先生有着英国人特有的风度,待人温文尔雅,和声细语。Simon先生幽默风趣,这体现在他的文章里,更体现在日常闲聊中。Simon先生有一点敏感,一些无意的言语可能会让他受到“伤害”;Simon先生有一抹童真,记得他获得OBE(Officer of the Order of the British Empire)后来中国,路上偶遇,他从怀中小心翼翼取出勋章示我,绘声绘色描述受女王接见的情景,那份骄傲和喜悦,宛如孩童受到嘉奖。Simon先生是个有趣的人。我们怀念他。
——外研社高英分社资深编辑 秦学信
我经常在脑海中勾画Simon在回复我们的编校咨询问题时的表情:说“This is perfect English!”时肯定是有点愤怒又拽拽的,说“It is a DCT (Developing critical thinking) question.”时应该是有点烦躁又无可奈何的,说“The picture is really ugly.”时估计是满脸嫌弃又不可思议的(怎么找到这么丑的图片的?)……我也时常在心中描绘他在写文章时的心情:写Leisure inactivity时会不会乐得在沙发上打滚?写Duelling by folk dance时会不会有点小窃喜自己高明的伏笔?很庆幸Simon的挑剔,唯有如此我们才得以成长;很喜欢Simon的鲜活,各种音容笑貌深刻印在脑海。我感觉Simon并没有离开我们,他只是换了一个地方用他特有的挑剔和幽默继续指导我们。
——外研社高英分社资深编辑,《新标准大学英语》、《新视界大学英语》责任编辑 胡春玲
好久没有想起过Simon了。昨天下午,突然莫名想起他,想着上一次见面,是跟他在香格里拉喝酒,他每次来总会点哈尔滨啤酒。还想说下次他来,带他去我最近挖掘出的一个啤酒吧,他应该会喜欢。
然后,昨天晚上,猝不及防,就听到了他过世的噩耗。
太过……突然。又……仿佛有心电感应般的预兆。
我跟Simon相识的年头没有别的同事长,没有《新标准》那段很传奇的友谊。我们俩,相遇在另一个小而美的点上。我在外研社第一次负责策划的教材——《大学英语文化口语教程》(Culturally Speaking),就是和Simon合作的。记得第一次见他是在2013年冬日,寒夜中大家和他K歌,然后,近20多年我唯一一次的发烧降临了,烧到骨头疼的我当时对这次合作开始打鼓。
事实证明,我的提前打鼓是杞人忧天。在合作中,虽然邮件中我们撕过很多次,但我也很多+1次地感叹:啊Simon这里写得好好,不愧是大牌的作者啊!反正最后,在互撕、互相理解、合作圆满后,我们算是撕成了某种比较合拍的忘年交,互相enjoy对方的英国怪咖/中国怪咖式幽默,互相真诚地关心对方(我关心他的身体他的花园,他关心我的感情生活 ),每次见面都亮着眼睛八卦,叽叽喳喳地讨论一切话题,配着啤酒。
香格里拉的啤酒后,居然就是永远的再见了。
我特别特别可爱的老朋友Simon,永远都会记得你在邮件里生气地回复我:I yield to your wishes,然后还暗藏玄机地附上表情让我read beyond the line。
我特别特别可爱的老朋友Simon,I will always yield to you。
Best,
Xiaoxi
——《大学英语文化口语教程》项目负责人 陈晓曦