04/02/2013
4種常見歧義句,如何避免?
巫婆變美女,又可以由美女變巫婆!是在說神乎其技的化妝術嗎﹖不,是那幅經典的模稜兩可圖。美女的頸是巫婆的嘴和下巴,美女的下巴是巫婆的鼻子,而美女的耳朵則是巫婆的眼睛。英文句子也可能出現模稜兩可的情況,即是有歧義(ambiguity),一句句子有兩個或以上的意思。句子出現歧義,或妨礙傳遞你的本意。
重要文件如合約、建議書等尤其要小心。以下是幾個可能產生歧義的原因:
1. 沒有定義縮寫
撰寫公文時,千萬不要假定讀者一定知道縮寫代表甚麼。我曾在一份列有本地和外國院校的名單看到OU,以為是The Open University of Hong Kong,後來發現是英國的The Open University。應該先寫全寫,緊隨括起縮寫,其後文章就可以用縮寫了。例如,The Open University, UK (OU)。
2. 代名詞的指示對象不清
Kitty and Flora attended the meeting at ABC Company and she presented a new product. 代名詞she指Kitty還是Flora﹖假設是Kitty,這句須改為Kitty and Flora attended the meeting at ABC Company and Kitty presented a new product.
3. 一詞多義
很多英文單字有多個解釋。例如,This document was found by the secretary.第一眼看,人的本能注意力定必先集中在動作found和人the secretary,於是這樣理解句子:「秘書找到這文件」。不過,by除了解「經由」,亦可以解「在旁邊」。這句理解為「在秘書旁找到這文件」也合理。
另外,每人對抽象字眼的理解不同,有需要時,應具體闡述。例如,Medical certificate is required for prolonged sick leave. 多長的病假才應界定為prolong﹖大病一星期不算長,小病兩日都嫌多。可這樣重寫以釐清歧義:Medical certificate is required for sick leave of three days or more.
4. 修飾範圍的遠近
這個最有趣,大家看看以下例子,試試能否看出兩個解釋。
A-The office should install more advanced computers.
B-The supervisor said on Monday he would give a presentation.
C-The old man was served hospitably by the waiter wearing in suit.
揭曉:
A
a) more “advanced computers”?
b) “more advanced” computers?
B
a) “The supervisor said on Monday”?
b) “on Monday he would give a presentation”?
C
a) “The old man wearing in suit”?
b) “the waiter wearing in suit”?
修飾範圍愈近愈清楚,應盡量將修飾語放近被修飾的名詞。以上的句子這樣寫可免歧義:
A
這句的修飾語位置並無不妥,語境大概可以釐清歧義。若不能,可以考慮這樣修改:
a) The office should increase its quantity of advanced computers.
b) The office should update its computer models.
B
a) The supervisor said he would give a presentation on Monday.
b) The supervisor said on Monday that he would give a presentation.
C
a) The old man wearing in suit was served hospitably by the waiter.
b) The waiter wearing in suit served the old man hospitably.
要判斷句子是否夠清晰,需要看在某特定語境下,句子是否仍可能有歧義。
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