《美国人写作三个重要原则》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国人写作三个重要原则（8页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、美国人写作的三个重要原则 作者: . | 发布日期: 3/20/2011 7:30:26 AM | 分享到： 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
2、-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，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。
3、)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
4、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！）The charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善机构要求我们一年一度乐捐)（假如用 ask 代替 soli
5、cit，更浅白易懂。）(solicitation是名词)We dont 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m
6、etropolis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
7、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despit
8、e the fact tha t= 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
9、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 = pr
10、efer)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 consensus（of opinion）is that we have to act right awa
11、y.（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 remains unsolved.）He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.（他在演说里做出结论
12、） (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 fin
13、d 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（Ill 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 bett
14、er.）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
15、 = 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 = labor power = work force = human resources）This small company hired a cleaning woman yes
16、terday.（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 coordinator。)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)
