由于美國人生活繁忙、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 (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(jié)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(yè)上,報章雜志或公文書信上,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(fā)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 U.S. (這消息已散布到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更簡單?) (動詞時態(tài)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(yī)生) (如果用try代替endeavor,會更淺白。) (endeavor = try)
» 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(gòu)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. (當新老板來后,我們不知會有什么發(fā)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,請盡速辦理。)(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:「我不愿在字典里找長字或難字,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??偨y(tǒng)為了強調(diào)美國政府不會遺忘那些窮人,在一篇講詞里用了這么一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」后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、老外也主張不寫嚕蘇或絢麗的字眼(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(xiàn)在我們應該為我們的目標團結(jié)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 that= 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. (他由于生病而辭職) (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) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意義的重復或用字的多余 (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 是多余的字,因為 remain 已經(jīng)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.(他在演說里做出結(jié)論) (final 是多余的字,因為 conclusion 已經(jīng)含有 final 的意思。)
» He has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年經(jīng)商的經(jīng)驗) (actual 也是多余的字,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 是多余的)
» Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,因為 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上會議報告,請查收)
»寫到這里,想起一位深受美國人民愛戴,一向主張不寫長句、不嚕蘇的美國已故參議員 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?qū)懽鞯木渥?,就像穿迷你裙,愈短愈好?!梗↙ike 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(qū)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 后面動詞要用多數(shù),而 man 的后面動詞,則用單數(shù))
» Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (發(fā)展這里的經(jīng)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??梢?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 moderator 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(shù) man 或 woman,其多數(shù)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(xiàn)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*人不要用 Hymies,應該叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;
»對越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;
»至于墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括 Puerto Rico,正確的用法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不過據(jù)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(jié)婚的孩子,也不可稱為 Oreo(Oreo 餅乾外面是巧克力,里面是白奶油)。
»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,怎么辦呢?我建議:「君子不與小人斗」,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,那么你就可以說:「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。
1、尤其在商業(yè)上,報章雜志或公文書信上,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(fā)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 U.S. (這消息已散布到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更簡單?) (動詞時態(tài)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(yī)生) (如果用try代替endeavor,會更淺白。) (endeavor = try)
» 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(gòu)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. (當新老板來后,我們不知會有什么發(fā)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,請盡速辦理。)(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:「我不愿在字典里找長字或難字,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??偨y(tǒng)為了強調(diào)美國政府不會遺忘那些窮人,在一篇講詞里用了這么一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」后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、老外也主張不寫嚕蘇或絢麗的字眼(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(xiàn)在我們應該為我們的目標團結(jié)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 that= 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. (他由于生病而辭職) (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) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意義的重復或用字的多余 (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 是多余的字,因為 remain 已經(jīng)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.(他在演說里做出結(jié)論) (final 是多余的字,因為 conclusion 已經(jīng)含有 final 的意思。)
» He has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年經(jīng)商的經(jīng)驗) (actual 也是多余的字,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 是多余的)
» Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,因為 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上會議報告,請查收)
»寫到這里,想起一位深受美國人民愛戴,一向主張不寫長句、不嚕蘇的美國已故參議員 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?qū)懽鞯木渥?,就像穿迷你裙,愈短愈好?!梗↙ike 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(qū)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 后面動詞要用多數(shù),而 man 的后面動詞,則用單數(shù))
» Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (發(fā)展這里的經(jīng)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??梢?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 moderator 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(shù) man 或 woman,其多數(shù)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(xiàn)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*人不要用 Hymies,應該叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;
»對越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;
»至于墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括 Puerto Rico,正確的用法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不過據(jù)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(jié)婚的孩子,也不可稱為 Oreo(Oreo 餅乾外面是巧克力,里面是白奶油)。
»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,怎么辦呢?我建議:「君子不與小人斗」,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,那么你就可以說:「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。