美國(guó)人的寫作習(xí)慣

由于美國(guó)人生活繁忙、緊張，講求快速，時(shí)間就是金錢，所以近年來許多美國(guó)大學(xué)也在推行日常生活的講和寫，不用難字，不寫長(zhǎng)句，不含偏見的「三不」。也就是說，盡量使用簡(jiǎn)短易懂的白話英語(yǔ) (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(shí)間，也可避免對(duì)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(bào)章雜志或公文書信上，盡量不用難字 (big word) 或過時(shí)的字眼 (old-fashioned word); 例如：Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure of higher learning. (許多人認(rèn)為道德教育是高等知識(shí)的基礎(chǔ)) (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(xué)發(fā)展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter，會(huì)更簡(jiǎn)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(jiǎn)單？) (動(dòng)詞時(shí)態(tài)是：spread, spread, spread)

The president of this college is not diminutive in size. (這大學(xué)的校長(zhǎng)個(gè)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(dāng)個(gè)醫(yī)生) (如果用try代替endeavor，會(huì)更淺白。) (endeavour = endeavor)

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(jiǎn)單！）

The charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善機(jī)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(dāng)新老板來后，我們不知會(huì)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(qǐng)盡速辦理。）(如果用 previous 代替古字 aforementioned 不是更明白？）

這就像美國(guó)大文豪馬克吐溫 Mark Twain 也曾說過：「我不愿在字典里找長(zhǎng)字或難字，我絕不用『metropolis』這個(gè)字，因?yàn)槲彝瑯涌梢杂谩篶ity』這個(gè)字來代替」。羅斯�？偨y(tǒng)為了強(qiáng)調(diào)美國(guó)政府不會(huì)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(píng)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(jiǎn)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(yīng)該越短越好，一句能用兩個(gè)字，絕不多加一個(gè)。 例如：At this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (現(xiàn)在我們應(yīng)該為我們的目標(biāo)團(tuán)結(jié)一致）(如果說：Now, we should pull……更簡(jiǎn)單。因?yàn)?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(yǔ)不好，但我不灰心。) (如果說：Although my English is not…… 就更簡(jiǎn)短。因?yàn)閐espite the fact tha t= although = Though）

I am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生應(yīng)該辭職) (假如說：I think Mr. Lee should……不是更簡(jiǎn)單嗎？因?yàn)镮 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(jiǎn)單。因?yàn)?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(jiǎn)單。因?yàn)?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(jiǎn)短清楚，因?yàn)?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(jiǎn)單嗎？因?yàn)?bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform)

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