|
余 功
今天介紹的E字首經典名著有點特別，因為它並非文學作品，也並非科學、哲學等專門學科的巨著，而是一本教導我們如何寫作的佳作。這類題材的指南多不勝數，而它居然可以鶴立雞群，自1918年出版至今依然大受歡迎，實在厲害。這本細小巨著是《英文寫作指南》（The Elements of Style，另譯《文體指要》），初版作者是美國紐約州康奈爾大學（Cornell University）英文系教授斯特倫克（William Strunk, Jr，1869-1946），後來由美國作家懷特（EB White，1899-1985）修訂再版，因此它經常叫作Strunk and White。
簡潔文字 充滿活力
香港人經常不懂得長話短說，我們看看作者在Omit needless words（刪除多餘字詞）一節中的忠告：
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell（若要文字充滿活力，必須簡潔。圖畫不應有不必要的線條，機器不應有不必要的零件；同樣道理，句子不應包含不必要的字詞，段落不應包含不必要的句子。這並非要求作者句句皆短，或不可詳述細節，而只能概述主題，但每個字都要言之有物）。
用字反覆 沉悶乏味
當中並舉出例子，先是說得太多話的反面教材：
Macbeth was very ambitious. This led him to wish to become king of Scotland. The witches told him that this wish of his would come true. The king of Scotland at this time was Duncan. Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth murdered Duncan. He was thus enabled to succeed Duncan as king（麥克白野心很大。他因而想成為蘇格蘭國王。女巫們對他說，他這個願望將會成真。那時蘇格蘭國王是丹肯。受到妻子慫恿，麥克白殺死丹肯。他因而得以繼承丹肯，成為國王）。
精煉修改 言簡意賅
然後是改正後的精煉版本：
Encouraged by his wife, Macbeth achieved his ambition and realized the prediction of the witches by murdering Duncan and becoming king of Scotland in his place（受到妻子慫恿，麥克白殺死丹肯，繼承他成為蘇格蘭國王，既滿足了自己的野心，也令女巫們的預言成真）。
想讀此書的話，不用買，網上有免費版呢。(逢周五見報)
|
