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写作技巧:如何避免写作中的“he”和“she”
日期:2012-12-04 11:08

(单词翻译:单击)

几十年来,尽管非性别歧视语还没有达到非用不可的程度,但它毕竟已进入日常生活当中。随便翻开一张英美的报纸,或看一眼五花八门的宣传广告,就会发现supervisor(工头,领班)替代了原来的foreman,sales rep,sales associate或seller(推销员)取代了常用词salesman,等等。那么在日常的英语公文写作当中,我们又该如何避免产生性别歧视呢?牢记下面几点,确保你不犯错哦!


1. 尽量不要用通性代词he,除了明确地指代一个男性人物时,都要设法避免使用这个词。可以根据语境需要,选用下列替换方式:


1)采用复数形式。


Sexist: When bathing a baby, never leave him unattended.


Revised: When bathing babies, never leave them unattended.


给婴儿洗澡时,一定要时刻在他们旁边照管。


2)用we/us/our改写原句。


Sexist: From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.


Revised: From each of us according to our abilities, to each of us according to our needs.


各尽所能,按需分配。


3)改用第二人称。


Sexist: No man knows his true character until he has run out of gas, purchased something on an installment plan and raised an adolescent.


Revised: You don't know what your true character is until you have run out of gas, purchased something on the installment plan and raised an adolescent.


只有当汽车没油、分期付款购物和抚养青春期的孩子时,人的本来品性才会显露出来。


4)改用被动语态。


Sexist: One who, when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both.


Revised: One who, when given the choice of two evils, chooses both.


当面对两种罪恶要做出选择的时候就两个都选。


5)完全省略代词。


Sexist: What does a person thinks of after he becomes a deportee?


Revised: What does a person thinks of after becoming a deportee?


一个人被驱逐之后会作何感想呢?


6)用冠词替代。


Sexist: Can a critic give his opinion of...?


Revised: Can a critic give an opinion of...?


评论家能评论...吗?


7)用someone,one,the one,no one等替代。


Sexist: He who can take advice is sometimes superior to he who can give it.


Revised: Someone who can take advice is sometimes superior to the one who can give it.


接受忠告者有时胜过发出忠告者。


8)使用he and she或his and her,但使用的次数不宜太多。she/he仅可用于备忘录(memos)、便条(notes),或者非正式的交谈之中。


9)用名词或上下文中用过的同义词替换。


Sexist: To find a friend one must close one eye - to keep him, two.


Revised: To find a friend, one must close one eye - to keep one, two.


想找朋友,就得睁一只眼,闭一只眼;想留住朋友,就得双眼都闭上。


2. 尽量使用那些包括两性在内的词,即无性别之分的词(gender-free words)。


例如:child,teacher,officer(警官),people,worker,immigrant(移民),voter(投票者,选民),coach(教练),church member(教友),sales rep(推销员),grand parent(外/祖父或祖母),leader,evening student,employee (雇员),test taker (考生,应试者),engineer,customers(顾客),dealer(交易者,商人),clerk(职员,办事员),civilian(平民),scientist,operator(接线员,办事员),patriot(爱国者),person,planner(策划者,计划者),politician(政客),producer(生产者、制造者),tutor(家庭教师,导师),reporter,writer,chief executive(首席行政长官),everybody,expert等。


3. 写信时,如果不知道收信人的性别,最好不要使用传统的Dear Sir和Dear Madam。可以选用下列之一:


1) Dear Friends of the Library(亲爱的图书馆的朋友们)


2)Dear Sir/Madam, (亲爱的女士们及先生们)


3) Dear Personnel Officer(亲爱的人事处长)


4)Dear Committee Member(亲爱的委员)


5)Dear Citizen(亲爱的公民)


6)Dear Customer(亲爱的顾客)


7) Dear Councilor(亲爱的参议员/顾问)


8)Dear Agent(亲爱的代理)


9)Dear Director(亲爱的厂长/局长/主任)


10) To Whom it May Concern(致有关人士)


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重点单词
  • votern. 投票人,选举人
  • employeen. 雇员
  • politiciann. 政治家,政客
  • adolescentadj. 青春期的,青少年的 n. 青少年
  • plannern. 计划者,规划师
  • directorn. 董事,经理,主管,指导者,导演
  • patriotn. 爱国者
  • tutorn. 家庭教师,导师 v. 当家庭教师,当导师,指导
  • personneln. 职员,人事部门
  • civilianadj. 平民的 n. 罗马法专家,平民