“简洁”的反面是“罗嗦”。好文章要简洁,不应罗唆。下列两个句子中,(a) 属罗唆型,(b) 是简洁体:
(1) a. The stranger was conveyed to his place of residence in an intoxicated condition.
b. The stranger was carried home drunk.
(2) a. No one sees the necessity for a meeting now.
b. No one feels it necessary to meet now.
用词要怎样才算是简洁呢?下面是三个可以遵循的原则:
1. 删除掉不必要的字眼,如:
(3) The downpour, which started last night, has come to a stop now.
这里的形容词从句“which ...... night”可有可无,无比有好,最好去掉,然后再把句子简化如下:“Last night’s downpour has stopped now.”
(4) It happened that Mr. Yap was elected to the position of Chairman of the well-established Singapore Literature Society that existed in this country.
这个句子内容简单,但却有24个字,其中有个主句和两个从句,显然(口罗)唆复杂了些,可以简化如下:
“Mr. Yap was elected Chairman of this country’s well-established Singapore Literature Society.”