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,使別人可以一目瞭然,充分瞭解。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。
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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:
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4 P# t, v2 W. @; wMany 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)
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8 J$ b) a$ x9 I a, F$ rThree 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。)
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This news has been disseminated all over the U.S. (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)
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. Q( T9 g& S/ m) _9 M1 GThe 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?)
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- Y0 ]- B) x, {% CI 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。)
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3 r, m5 @& W* |8 f3 j' yMr. 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)
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# r* b; j. ~+ t3 @8 l$ V% m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!% [: ], Q9 y% p' \9 E) H; v
* p" R. o/ E9 h! n: S( {0 q% ?' _' Q G2. 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:& n8 I- J- V1 y+ O C
' I( L6 W( u8 O( Y |+ JAt 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)# b$ s& n* ?2 | S
+ M, G6 y4 q8 C0 h( g+ a7 v1 YDespite 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)6 I+ q1 X ~9 Q8 f" v/ T! `9 ^5 m
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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)
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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)
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$ p3 m1 ?6 m2 S+ {2 a* q* oIn 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)
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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)
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1 L6 ~/ H7 `/ S9 ]I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 Z2 `1 M' |1 Z+ V+ H* v1 T
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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:1 t' w% _$ p( B! j
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' N& T- D. J' V o3. 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:
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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)# s# ?2 r! @5 L- l4 i2 D; j
( U1 {) P0 F1 P% u$ aManpower 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)
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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)' r8 B ]/ G8 e7 N
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:" u' F$ Y4 Q% v, s) Q3 ?5 i
/ n4 J+ J0 C+ e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;5 Z+ G+ `# h% R( e; |- f, h- L5 E! z
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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; |
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