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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# l9 A2 f" S6 {9 q1. 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:+ V0 t z1 r6 |( U1 o5 \4 l
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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): X& r* ~2 e7 k
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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。)
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- ~( `( x/ S4 ZThis 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)( A- X1 [" h" l& Q/ Q+ f! h
* R$ H: X& ~: [3 q# s6 LThe 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?)* f# l9 U/ E3 f, C( u
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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。)' T. G. z1 N" w" J. t- a
* Y$ x/ v& U8 C0 I3 X# _3 uMr. 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)7 j6 j8 a. @4 @8 s) _7 ` f8 s
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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!& e- ^' w; ], j. k$ u' C% y
: P7 d: Y& |3 a% x6 ^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:5 U+ [ p5 P2 ~# K( R: O1 J
* D) N' {+ L n* ?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), u( q# `" r. w. X
6 b: y8 U9 M* z l( i6 bDespite 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)8 q$ b1 C) F, R( f$ X# ]: L
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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)/ b z' R6 b+ z Y5 V l1 T/ S
" D) I2 L8 w& ?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)" X" Q' d$ n8 W, Z; F' L3 k4 ~3 w
" _" p' `2 I0 M/ e6 f: PIn 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)$ W$ h* {- C; [4 S
; M6 B3 C) K v' @. S. B4 w' AShe 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)( t7 S8 D2 M& J
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)
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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:: `# I. u" g; X3 U! U
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- D, m; y+ B) v* a3. 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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" _8 `$ m# B% F$ @& V$ kMankind 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)" T0 l* S* V+ n1 \$ B
7 T' n, }) E5 [3 WManpower 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)0 k$ U2 a5 E% y5 T; ~' L6 H
# t( n+ e9 D/ a$ E+ O9 ^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)
) V" ^7 P: w! P6 B b/ |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:9 M& A* ?' u3 Z1 P5 k% t
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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;
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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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