美国人的写作原则(一)
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 infrastructure 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 parameter of our university%26#39;%26#39;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 disseminated 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 diminutive 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 elucidate 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。)
(endeavour = endeavor)
We hope to visualize 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!)
We don%26#39;%26#39;t 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。)
(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!
美国人的写作原则(一)
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 infrastructure 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 parameter of our university%26#39;%26#39;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 disseminated 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 diminutive 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 elucidate 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。)
(endeavour = endeavor)
We hope to visualize 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!)
We don%26#39;%26#39;t 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。)
(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!
