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)