《新编英语教程》6.10-Straight-A-Illiteracy

Unit10Straight-AIlliteracyJamesP.DegnanTheAuthor’sMessageMakeyouwritingclean,clearandconcisebyavoidinghigh-sounding,elevatedlanguage.CriteriaofGoodWritingAccuracyBrevityClarityQuotationsonconcisenessIwriteasIwalkbecauseIwanttogetsomewhere,andIwriteasstraightasIcanbecausethatisthebestwaytogetthere.--H.G.Wells(1866-1946)H.G.Wells(1866-1946)literaryoutputvastandextremelyvariedperhapsbestrememberedforhisscientificromances,amongtheearliestproductsofthenewgenreofsciencefiction.(e.g.TheTimeMachine,TheFirstMenintheMoon.AModernUtopia)IhavemadethisletterlongerthanusualbecauseIlackthetimetomakeitshorter.–Pascal(ProvincialLetters(1657)BlaisePascal(1623-62)Frenchmathematician,physicist,andmoralistasgiftedinscienceasinlettersliteraryfamerestingontwoworks,ProvincialLetters(1656-7)(LesProvinciales)Inordertospeakshortonanysubject,thinklong.Brackenbridge(ModernChivalry,1792)HughHenryBrackenbridge(1748-1816)Americannovelist,poet,lawyerModernChivalry(1792,satiricalnovel,publishedininstallmentfrom1792-1815,givingagooddescriptionofmenandmannersduringtheearlydaysoftheAmericanrepublicandmanifestingBrackenbridgeallegiancetotherobusttraditionoftheEnglishnovelinSmollettandFielding)“IfI’dhadmoretime,I’dhavewrittenashorterbook.”MarkTwainThemoreyousay,thelesspeopleremember.Thefewerthewords,thegreatertheprofit.Fenelon(1651-1725)(Frenchtheologianandeducator)TheAuthor’sMessageMakeyouwritingclean,clearandconcisebyavoidinghigh-sounding,elevatedlanguage.ProfessionalViewsofGoodStylePoliticsandtheEnglishLanguage--GeorgeOrwellSpecimensofbadwritingIamnot,indeed,surewhetheritisnottruetosaythattheMiltonwhoonceseemednotunlikeaseventeenth-centuryShelleyhadnotbecome,outofanexperienceevermorebitterineachyear,morealientothefounderofthatJesuitsectwhichnothingcouldinducehimtotolerate.–ProfessorHaroldLaski(EssayinFreedomofExpression)SpecimensofbadwritingIfanewspiritistobeinfusedintothisoldcountry,thereisonethornyandcontentiousreformwhichmustbetackled,andthatisthehumanizationandgalvanizationoftheB.B.C.Timidityherewillbespeakcankerandatrophyofthesoul.TheheartofBritainmaybesoundandofstrongbeat,forinstance,buttheBritishlion’sroaratpresentislikethatofBottominShakespeare’sMidsummerNight’sDream–asgentleasanysuckingdove.…--LetterinTribune1.Avoidhackneyedmetaphorsasbusyasabeebyleapsandboundsasclearascrystalfacethemusicplaywithfireascoolasacucumber…etc.2.Avoidclichéslastbutnotleastluckydog,nopain;nogainapieceofcakefromthebottomofmyheartfromeverywalkoflifetheothersideofthecoinfewandfarbetween…etc.3.Avoidhigh-soundingwordsBecarefulaboutwordsthatsoundgrandbuthavevaguemeanings.Avoidelevatedlanguageifyoucansaythesamethingclearlyandplainlywithoutit.-endeavor(attempt,try)-repercussions(results/effects)-transmit(send)-materialize(happen,occur)-terminate(end)…etc.4.Becarefulwhenusingjargons.priorto(before)asper(accordingto)tofacilitatetheavailabilityoffunds(tohelpgetmoney)5.GuardagainstlazywordinessItisbelievedbyanumberofpersonsinthiscountrythattheyoungpeopleoftodaydonotassumeasmuchresponsibilitytowardsocietyasitmightbehopedthattheywould.(33words)Todaymanybelievethatouryoungpeopleassumetoolittleresponsibilitytowardsociety.(13words)6.Avoidold-fashionedexpressionsComparethefollowingpairsofexpressionsARCHAICSIMPLEThisistoacknowledgereceiptofyourletterThankyouforyourletter…Weareinreceiptofyourchequefor…Wereceivedyourchequefor…WearecreditingyouraccountasperinstructionAsyouinstructed,wearecrediting…(or:Accordingtoyourwishes,we…YouwillhearfromusatanearlydateIwillwriteyousoonabout…Attachedheretoistheagreementforyoursignature.Enclosedistheagreementfor…(or:Pleasefindenclosedtheagreement…)ARCHAICIbegyourindulgenceinthismatter.SIMPLEIhopeyouwillgiveanextension.Duetothefactthat…Because….Iamtakingthelibertyofsendingyou…Iamsendingyou…ThewriterwishestoacknowledgereceiptofthebookThankyouforsendingmethebook.WebegtoacknowledgereceiptofyourfavourThankyourforyourletterof…LanguagepointsTheyliketobeflatteredandmadeafussof.(喜欢受人呵护)-tofussoversb./sth.:topaytoomuchattentionorworryaboutthemtoomuche.g.Shewasinclinedtofussoverherhealth.Afussypersonisonewhomakesalotofadoaboutunimportantthings.overpopulate:tohavetoolargeapopulation;(text)theirnumberisverylarge.plight:difficultsituation,fullofproblemse.g.theplightofthehandicappedThechildrenwereinasorryplight;tired,lost,andhungry.asoftenasnot:inroughlyhalftheinstances多半/往往atleasthalfthetime;frequentlyinterrogate:questionsb.closely,thoroughly,formallypry:trytofindoutaboutsb.else’privateaffairse.g.I’mnottryingtopry.Don’tgopryingintomyaffairs.probe:askquestions;makeinquiriesinto;trytofindoute.g.toprobeforinformationtoprobethemysteriesoftheuniverseexogenous:growingororiginatingfromoutsideTheperiodicsentencewhenmostpeopleareworkingharderforless;whenotherscannotworkatall;whenthecostofhealthcaredevastatesfamiliesandthreatenstobankruptmanyofourenterprises,greatandsmall;whenfearofcrimerobslaw-abidingcitizensoftheirfreedom;andwhenmillionsofpoorchildrencannotevenimaginetheliveswearecallingthemtolea