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美國人寫作的三個重要原則

nod32 發表於: 2011-5-17 15:39 來源: ADJ網路控股集團


由於美國人生活繁忙、緊張,講求快速,時間就是金錢,所以近年來許多美國大學也在推行日常生活的講和寫,不用難字,不寫長句,不含偏見的「三不」。 也就是說,盡量使用簡短易懂的白話英語(論壇) (Plain English),寫得愈白愈好,用字愈少愈妙,使別人可以一目了然,充分了解。 這不但可節省「思索」時間,也可避免對方的誤解。 還有,老外為了族群和諧相處,也不使用帶有偏見的字眼。 以下即為一些例子,以供讀者參考。

1. 尤其在商業上,報章雜誌或公文書信上,盡量不用難字(big word) 或過時的字眼(old-fashioned word);

例如:

Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure of higher learning.

(許多人認為道德教育是高等知識的基礎) (如果用foundation 或basis 代替infrastructure 就更明白)


Three hundred acres of land is the parameter of our university,s expansion (growth). (三百英畝的土地是本大學發展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter,會更簡單易懂。)

This news has been disseminated all over the US (這消息已散佈到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更簡單?) (動詞時態是:spread, spread, spread)

The president of this college is not diminutive in size. (這大學的校長個子不小) (假如用small代替diminutive,不更明白嗎?)


I have to elucidate this document to my staff. (我要向我的員工解釋這份文件) (如用explain代替elucidate,也許更明白。)

Mr. A will endeavor to be a physician. (A 先生想嘗試當個醫生) (如果用try代替endeavor,會更淺白。) (endeavour = endeavor)

We hope to visualize world peace in the future. (我們希望將來看到世界和平)(如果用see代替visualize,也許更簡單!)


The charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善機構要求我們一年一度樂捐)(假如用ask 代替solicit,更淺白易懂。)(solicitation是名詞)

We don't know what may transpire when we have a new boss. (當新老闆來後,我們不知會有什麼發生。) (如果用happen代替transpire,也許更明白。)

Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter. (前面提過的事,請儘速辦理。)(如果用previous 代替古字aforementioned 不是更明白?)


這就像美國大文豪馬克吐溫Mark Twain 也曾說過:「我不願在字典裡找長字或難字,我絕不用『metropolis』這個字,因為我同樣可以用『city』這個字來代替」。 羅斯福總統為了強調美國政府不會遺忘那些窮人,在一篇講詞裡用了這麼一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」後來被人批評咬文嚼字,賣弄文筆。 如果用淺白易懂的字眼寫成:「We are going to make this country in which no one is left out.」或「We are trying to make everyone equal.」也許更簡單明白!


2. 老外也主張不寫嚕囌或絢麗的字眼(flowery or wordy),句子應該越短越好,一句能用兩個字,絕不多加一個。

例如:

At this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (現在我們應該為我們的目標團結一致)(如果說:Now, we should pull……更簡單。因為at this point in time = now)

Despite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (雖然我的英語不好,但我不灰心。) (如果說:Although my English is not…… 就更簡短。因為despite the fact tha t= although = Though)

I am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生應該辭職) (假如說:I think Mr. Lee should……不是更簡單嗎?因為I am of the opinion = I think)

He quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由於生病而辭職) (若說:He quitted the job because he was sick. 更簡單。因為due to the fact that = because)

In the majority of cases,he likes to ride bike to the office.(他通常喜歡騎單車到辦公室) (如果說:Usually, he likes to ride…… 更簡單。因為in the majority of cases = usually)


She shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜歡茶而不是咖啡) (若說:She prefers tea rather……更簡短清楚,因為show a preference for = prefer)

I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)


如果只說:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更簡單嗎? 因為bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最後面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意義的重複或用字的多餘(redundant);


例如:

The consensus(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大家認為我們必須立即行動)(of opinion 可以省去,因為consensus 的意思,就是大家的意見。)

The letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信顯示問題尚未解決)(continue to 是多餘的字,因為remain 已經有continue 的含意。所以句子就成為:The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.)


He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演說裡做出結論) (final 是多餘的字,因為conclusion 已經含有final 的意思。)

He has had m​​any years of (actual) experience in business。 (他有多年經商的經驗) (actual 也是多餘的字,因為experience 已有actual 的意味)

We assembled (together) all the parts for our radio.(我們裝​​好收音機的零件)(因為assemble 本身就有together 的意思,所以together 是多餘的)

Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多餘的字,因為enclosed 就有herewith 的意思)(即:附上會議報告,請查收)


寫到這裡,想起一位深受美國人民愛戴,一向主張不寫長句、不嚕囌的美國已故參議員Stephen Young,他每次受邀參加會議、演講、宴會時,他的回信只有三個字「我會到」(I'll be there)……。 也有人打趣的說:「講演或寫作的句子,就像穿迷你裙,愈短愈好。」(Like wearing mini-skirt, sentences in speech or writing should be the shorter, the better.)


此外還有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。


3. 老外為了族群和諧相處,除不用歧視或偏見的字眼外,連男女性別,也要避免區別,以示「平等」。


例如:

Mankind are considered the smartest animals in the world。 (人類是世上最聰明的動物)= Man is the smartest animal……。 (如果改為:Human beings are considered the smartest animals…… 就能包括男女。所以mankind = man = human beings) (注意:mankind 後面動詞要用多數,而man 的後面動詞,則用單數)

Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (發展這裡的經濟,似乎缺乏人力資源。)(如果說:Labor power seems not strong enough… 也就沒有「男性主義」的感覺。可見manpower = labor power = work force = human resources)


This small company hired a cleaning woman yesterday.(這個小公司昨天請來一名清潔女工)(如果說:This small company hired an office cleaner…也就沒有男女之分了)

He (she) has been a committee chairman (chairwoman) since 1998. (自從1998年他就是委員會主席) (假如把chairman或chairwoman改為chairperson或chair,就沒有男女之分。) (如指討論會的主持人,也可稱為mode​​rator 或coordinator。)


Many businessmen (businesswomen) feel their jobs are very stressful.(許多商人覺得工作壓力很大)(如果把businessmen (businesswomen) 改為business people 或business executives 或business managers 就可包括男女了)(凡是單數man 或woman ,其多數都是men 或women。)


Policemen (policewomen) should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察對人民應該有禮貌)(假如把policemen 或policewomen 改為police officers 就可避免男女性別)

Congressmen (congresswomen) should speak up for their constitutes. (國會議員應該為其選民說話)(constitute = voter) (我們也可以把congressmen 或congresswomen 改為members of congress 或congressional representatives)

Stewardesses for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(國際航線的空中小姐有時會有時差疲憊的現象)(如把stewardess 改為flight attendant,就能包括男女空中服務員。)


同理,我們可以把salesman 或saleswoman 改為salesperson;把mailman 改為mail carrier 或postal worker;把foreman 改為supervisor 等等。

當然,一些帶有種族偏見的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或slur),也要盡量避免使用,以免鬧出麻煩。 例如:

對黑人不要用Negro,更不能用Nigger(用Black 還可以),禮貌的說法是Afro-American 或African-American;

對白人不要用Honky(這是黑人罵白人的用字),正確用法是Caucasian,或white people;


對猶太人不要用Hymies,應該叫Jewish 或Jewish people;

對越南人不要用Gook,要用Vietnamese;

至於墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括Puerto Rico,正確的用法多是Hispanics 或Latins,不過據說西班牙人為了維護自己的文化,倒喜歡別人稱為Spaniard。

還有黑白結婚的孩子,也不可稱為Oreo(Oreo 餅乾外面是巧克力,裡面是白奶油)。


有偏見的老外,不叫華人為Chinese,而叫Chink 或Chinaman(從前還叫「Yellow Peril」,即黃禍)。 遇到這種事,怎麼辦呢? 我建議:「君子不與小人鬥」,最好是「不理」(ignore)或「走開」(walk away)。 不過老外與你談話時,如果使用這些不禮貌的字眼,那麼你就可以說:「For your information,the word you just used is derogatory(或inappropriate)to describe someone of my race.」(只想讓你知道:你剛剛所用的字,來描寫我的族群,是很不合適的)。 這時,你也可說一句「拜拜」了。