因为美国生活活繁忙、紧张,讲求迅速,时间就是资金,所以近年来很多美国大学也在推行平时生活的讲和写,不需要难字,不写长句,不含偏见的「三不」。也就是说,尽可能用简短易懂的白话英语 ,写得愈白愈好,用字愈少愈妙,使其他人可以一清二楚,充分知道。这不但可节省「思索」时间,也可防止他们的误解。还有,老外为了族群和谐相处,也不用带有偏见的字眼。以下即为一些例子,以供读者参考。
1. 特别在商业上,报章杂志或公文信件上,尽可能不需要难字 或过时的字眼 ; 比如:
Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure1 of higher learning.
Three hundred acres of land is the parameter2 of our university,s expansion .
This news has been dis百度竞价推广inated3 all over the U.S.
The president of this college is not diminutive4 in size.
I have to elucidate5 this document to my staff.
Mr. A will endeavor to be a physician.
We hope to visualize6 world peace in the future. (假如用see代替visualize,或许更简单!)
The charitable organization solicits7 for our annual donation. (倘若用 ask 代替 solicit,更浅白易懂。)
We don't know what may transpire8 when we have a new boss.
Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter.
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。)
He quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick.
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang.
假如只说:I will tell Mr. Wang . 不是更简单吗?由于 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) ; 同理,也要防止意义的重复或用字的多余 ; 比如:
The consensus9(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大伙觉得大家需要立即行动) conclusion in his speech.(他在演说里做出结论) experience in business。(他有多年经商的经验) all the parts for our radio.(大家装好收音机的零件) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,由于 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)
写到这里,想起一位深受美国人民爱戴,一向倡导不写长句、不噜苏的美国已经过世参议员 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」(I'll be there)。也有人打趣的说:「讲演或写作的句子,就像穿超短裙,愈短愈好。」(Like wearing mini-skirt, sentences in speech or writing should be the shorter, the better.)
除此之外还有: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,除不需要歧视或偏见的字眼外,连男女人别,也要防止不同,以示「平等」。 比如:
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。 has been a committee chairman since 1998.
Many businessmen feel their jobs are very stressful.(很多商人感觉工作重压非常大) 改为 business people 或 business executives 或 business managers 就可包含男女了)
Policemen should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察对人民应该有礼貌) should speak up for their constitutes. (国会议员应该为其选民说话) (大家也可以把 congressmen 或 congresswomen 改为 members of congress 或 congressional representatives)
Stewardesses14 for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(国际航线的空中小姐有时会有时差疲惫的现象)(如把 stewardess13 改为 flight attendant,就能包含男女空中员工。)
同理,大家可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改为 salesperson15;把 mailman 改为 mail carrier 或 postal16 worker;把 foreman 改为 supervisor17 等等。
当然,一些带有种族偏见的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要尽可能防止用,以免闹出麻烦。比如:
对黑人不要用 Negro,更不可以用 Nigger(用 Black 还可以),礼貌的说法是 Afro-American 或 African-American;
对白人不要用 Honky(这是黑人骂白人的用字),正确使用方法是 Caucasian,或 white people;
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;
至于墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包含 Puerto Rico,正确的使用方法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不过据了解西班牙人为了维护我们的文化,倒喜欢其他人称为 Spaniard。
还有黑白结婚的孩子,也不可称为 Oreo(Oreo 饼乾外面是巧克力,里面是白奶油)。
有偏见的老外,不叫华人为 Chinese,而叫 Chink 或 Chinaman(以前还叫「Yellow Peril」,即黄祸)。遇见这种事,如何解决呢?我建议:「君子不与小人斗」,最好是「不理」(ignore)或「走开」(walk away)。不过老外与你谈话时,假如用这类不礼貌的字眼,那样你就能说:「For your information,the word you just used is derogatory(或 inappropriate)to describe someone of my race.」(只想叫你了解:你刚刚所用的字,来描写我的族群,是非常不适合的)。这个时候,你也可说一句「拜拜」了。