由于美国人生活繁忙、紧张,讲求快速,时间就是金钱,所以近年来许多美国大学也在推行日常生活的讲和写,不用难字,不写长句,不含偏见的「三不」。也就是说,尽量使用简短易懂的白话英语 (Plain English),写得愈白愈好,用字愈少愈妙,使别人可以一目了然,充分了解。这不但可节省「思索」时间,也可避免对方的误解。还有,老外为了族群和谐相处,也不使用带有偏见的字眼。以下即为一些例子,以供读者参考。
1、尤其在商业上,报章杂志或公文书信上,尽量不用难字 (big word) 或过时的字眼 (old-fashioned word);
» 例如:Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure1 of higher learning. (许多人认为道德教育是高等知识的基础) (如果用 foundation 或 basis 代替 infrastructure 就更明白)
» Three hundred acres of land is the parameter2 of our university,s expansion (growth). (三百英亩的土地是本大学发展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter,会更简单易懂。)
» This news has been disseminated3 all over the U.S. (这消息已散布到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更简单?) (动词时态是:spread, spread, spread)
» The president of this college is not diminutive4 in size. (这大学的校长个子不小) (假如用small代替diminutive,不更明白吗?)
» I have to elucidate5 this document to my staff. (我要向我的员工解释这份文件) (如用explain代替elucidate,也许更明白。)
» Mr. A will endeavor to be a physician. (A 先生想尝试当个医生) (如果用try代替endeavor,会更浅白。) (endeavor = try)
» We hope to visualize6 world peace in the future. (我们希望将来看到世界和平)(如果用see代替visualize,也许更简单!)
» The charitable organization solicits7 for our annual donation. (慈善机构要求我们一年一度乐捐)(假如用 ask 代替 solicit,更浅白易懂。)(solicitation是名词)
» We don't know what may transpire8 when we have a new boss. (当新老板来后,我们不知会有什么发生。) (如果用happen代替transpire,也许更明白。)
» Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter. (前面提过的事,请尽速办理。)(如果用 previous 代替古字 aforementioned 不是更明白?)
»这就像美国大文豪马克吐温 Mark Twain 也曾说过:「我不愿在字典里找长字或难字,我绝不用『metropolis』这个字,因为我同样可以用『city』这个字来代替」。罗斯福总统为了强调美国政府不会遗忘那些穷人,在一篇讲词里用了这么一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」后来被人批评咬文嚼字,卖弄文笔。如果用浅白易懂的字眼写成:「We are going to make this country in which no one is left out.」或「We are trying to make everyone equal.」也许更简单明白!
2、老外也主张不写噜苏或绚丽的字眼(flowery or wordy),句子应该越短越好,一句能用两个字,绝不多加一个。 例如:
» At this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (现在我们应该为我们的目标团结一致)(如果说:Now, we should pull……更简单。因为 at this point in time = now)
» Despite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (虽然我的英语不好,但我不灰心。) (如果说:Although my English is not…… 就更简短。因为despite the fact that= although = Though)
» I am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生应该辞职) (假如说:I think Mr. Lee should……不是更简单吗?因为I am of the opinion = I think)
» He quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由于生病而辞职) (若说:He quitted the job because he was sick. 更简单。因为 due to the fact that = because)
» In the majority of cases, he likes to ride bike to the office.(他通常喜欢骑单车到办公室) (如果说:Usually, he likes to ride…… 更简单。因为 in the majority of cases = usually)
» She shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜欢茶而不是咖啡) (若说:She prefers tea rather……更简短清楚,因为 show a preference for = prefer)
» I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)
如果只说:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更简单吗?因为 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意义的重复或用字的多余 (redundant); 例如:
» The consensus9(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大家认为我们必须立即行动)(of opinion 可以省去,因为 consensus 的意思,就是大家的意见。)
» The letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信显示问题尚未解决)(continue to 是多余的字,因为 remain 已经有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成为:The letter shows that the problem remains10 unsolved.)
» He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演说里做出结论) (final 是多余的字,因为 conclusion 已经含有 final 的意思。)
» He has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年经商的经验) (actual 也是多余的字,因为 experience 已有 actual 的意味)
» We assembled (together) all the parts for our radio.(我们装好收音机的零件)(因为 assemble 本身就有 together 的意思,所以 together 是多余的)
» Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,因为 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上会议报告,请查收)
»写到这里,想起一位深受美国人民爱戴,一向主张不写长句、不噜苏的美国已故参议员 Stephen Young,他每次受邀参加会议、演讲、宴会时,他的回信只有三个字「我会到」(I'll be there)……。也有人打趣的说:「讲演或写作的句子,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.)
此外还有:in reference to = about; draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。
3、老外为了族群和谐相处,除不用歧视或偏见的字眼外,连男女性别,也要避免区别,以示「平等」。 例如:
» Mankind are considered the smartest animals in the world。(人类是世上最聪明的动物)= Man is the smartest animal……。 (如果改为:Human beings are considered the smartest animals…… 就能包括男女。所以 mankind = man = human beings) (注意:mankind 后面动词要用多数,而 man 的后面动词,则用单数)
» Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (发展这里的经济,似乎缺乏人力资源。)(如果说:Labor power seems not strong enough… 也就没有「男性主义」的感觉。可见 manpower = labor11 power = work force = human resources)
» This small company hired a cleaning woman yesterday.(这个小公司昨天请来一名清洁女工)(如果说:This small company hired an office cleaner…也就没有男女之分了)
» He (she) has been a committee chairman (chairwoman) since 1998. (自从1998年他就是委员会主席) (假如把chairman或chairwoman改为chairperson或chair,就没有男女之分。) (如指讨论会的主持人,也可称为 moderator 或 coordinator12。)
» Many businessmen (businesswomen) feel their jobs are very stressful.(许多商人觉得工作压力很大)(如果把 businessmen (businesswomen) 改为 business people 或 business executives 或 business managers 就可包括男女了)(凡是单数 man 或 woman,其多数都是 men 或 women。)
» Policemen (policewomen) should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察对人民应该有礼貌)(假如把 policemen 或 policewomen 改为 police officers 就可避免男女性别)
» Congressmen (congresswomen) should speak up for their constitutes. (国会议员应该为其选民说话)(constitute = voter) (我们也可以把 congressmen 或 congresswomen 改为 members of congress 或 congressional representatives)
» Stewardesses14 for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(国际航线的空中小姐有时会有时差疲惫的现象)(如把 stewardess13 改为 flight attendant,就能包括男女空中服务员。)
同理,我们可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改为 salesperson15;把 mailman 改为 mail carrier 或 postal16 worker;把 foreman 改为 supervisor17 等等。
»当然,一些带有种族偏见的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要尽量避免使用,以免闹出麻烦。例如:
»对黑人不要用 Negro,更不能用 Nigger(用 Black 还可以),礼貌的说法是 Afro-American 或 African-American;
»对白人不要用 Honky(这是黑人骂白人的用字),正确用法是 Caucasian,或 white people;
»对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;
»对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;
»至于墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括 Puerto Rico,正确的用法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不过据说西班牙人为了维护自己的文化,倒喜欢别人称为 Spaniard。
»还有黑白结婚的孩子,也不可称为 Oreo(Oreo 饼乾外面是巧克力,里面是白奶油)。
»有偏见的老外,不叫华人为 Chinese,而叫 Chink 或 Chinaman(从前还叫「Yellow Peril」,即黄祸)。
»遇到这种事,怎么办呢?我建议:「君子不与小人斗」,最好是「不理」(ignore)或「走开」(walk away)。不过老外与你谈话时,如果使用这些不礼貌的字眼,那么你就可以说:「For your information, the word you just used is derogatory(或 inappropriate)to describe someone of my race.」(只想让你知道:你刚刚所用的字,来描写我的族群,是很不合适的)。这时,你也可说一句「拜拜」了。
1 infrastructure UbBz5
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施
参考例句:
We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设,发展各类群众文化。
2 parameter eK4xZ
n.参数,参量
参考例句:
It is the parameter of distribution.这就是分布参数。
One parameter which always comes into play is the national economy.国民经济是一个经常起作用的参量。
3 disseminated c76621f548f3088ff302305f50de1f16
散布,传播( disseminate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。
Berkovitz had contracted polio after ingesting a vaccine disseminated under federal supervision. 伯考维茨在接种了在联邦监督下分发的牛痘疫苗后传染上脊髓灰质炎。
4 diminutive tlWzb
adj.小巧可爱的,小的
参考例句:
Despite its diminutive size,the car is quite comfortable.尽管这辆车很小,但相当舒服。
She has diminutive hands for an adult.作为一个成年人,她的手显得非常小。
5 elucidate GjSzd
v.阐明,说明
参考例句:
The note help to elucidate the most difficult parts of the text.这些注释有助于弄清文中最难懂的部分。
This guide will elucidate these differences and how to exploit them.这篇指导将会阐述这些不同点以及如何正确利用它们。
6 visualize yeJzsZ
vt.使看得见,使具体化,想象,设想
参考例句:
I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人,但他的样子我想不起来了。
She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。
7 solicits 9cf2b44c11f1dc2fe4814e3f61a7f84d
恳请
参考例句:
They were planning to solicit funds from a number of organizations. 他们正计划向一些机构募集资金。
May I solicit your advice on a matter of some importance? 我有一件要事可以请教你吗? 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 transpire dqayZ
v.(使)蒸发,(使)排出 ;泄露,公开
参考例句:
We do not know what may transpire when we have a new boss.当新老板来后,我们不知会有什么发生。
When lack of water,commonly plants would transpire as a way for cool.在缺乏水分时,植物一般用蒸发作为降温的手段。
9 consensus epMzA
n.(意见等的)一致,一致同意,共识
参考例句:
Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗?
What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么?
10 remains 1kMzTy
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
11 labor P9Tzs
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
12 coordinator Gvazk6
n.协调人
参考例句:
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下,负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室?
13 stewardess BUkzw
n.空中小姐,女乘务员
参考例句:
Please show your ticket to the stewardess when you board the plane.登机时请向空中小姐出示机票。
The stewardess hurried the passengers onto the plane.空中小姐催乘客赶快登机。
14 stewardesses 1d7231e44b525dfb926043ab47aac26c
(飞机上的)女服务员,空中小姐( stewardess的名词复数 )
参考例句:
If you need help, stewardesses will be pleased to help you. 如果你需要帮忙的话,空中小姐会很高兴为你效劳。
Stewardesses on planes should be employed for their ability, not for their looks. 应该根据能力而不是容貌来录用飞机上的女服务员。
15 salesperson 7Yoxa
n.售货员,营业员,店员
参考例句:
A salesperson works in a shop.售货员在商店工作。
Vanessa is a salesperson in a woman's wear department.凡妮莎是女装部的售货员。
16 postal EP0xt
adj.邮政的,邮局的
参考例句:
A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。
17 supervisor RrZwv
n.监督人,管理人,检查员,督学,主管,导师
参考例句:
Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说,我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。
更多信息请查看英语写作技巧