学术英语写作的语言特征
(续《浅说学术英语写作》)
二、学术英语写作的语言特征
1. 客观性
前面简要说明了学术英语写作基本特征,即结构性、论述性、分析性和清晰性。其实这些特性也相应体现了学术写作的合理公正、非情绪化、非个人化的客观本质。这是因为学术写作需要论述或论证,需要建立在证据的基础上,需要作者提供据以论述或论证的信息、资料和事实,而不需要作者自己牵涉其中,即读者关注的是作者用什么和如何进行论述或论证而不是作者的所思所想。
那么,作为体现学术写作客观本质的语言也应该是客观的,就是说,用于写作中的英语表达应该是公允、准确、可测和符合实际,排除偏颇、偏见、模糊和扩张不实等的语言。例如应该使用精确和惯用专业术语,避免模糊性、比喻性的表述;应该使用第三人称,避免第一和第二人称。客观性的基本要求是用相应的适当的语言形式来展现论述或论证的根据或依据,
而不能展示作者的个人观点和态度。
2. 正式性
正式性是指在写作中使用适当的、准确的、书面的和规范的语言来表达复杂思想和推理论证,包括词汇和语法,如,音节比较多、拉丁词根和名词化的词汇,语法关系比较复杂的句式,避免使用口语、俚语、简写、缩略语等。
3. 准确性
在学术写作过程中准确使用词汇、语法、拼写和标点等,遵循写作规范,可以体现写作的权威性和高效性,力争简洁明了,力避冗余。试比较下面的两个句子:
a. Smith also believed this to be true, but took into consideration the fact that some managers also preferred to have long meetings that took all day.
b. Smith agreed, but considered the fact that some managers preferred to have longer, all-day meetings.
4. 复杂性
学术写作的复杂性体现在词汇的凝练、多样化、名词化结构和语法的复杂化,如,从句比较多,被动态比较多等。试比较下面的的两个句子:
a. Becau the technology has improved it’s less risky than it ud to be when you install them at the same time, and it doesn’t cost so much either.
b. Improvements in technology have reduced the risks and high costs associated with simultaneous installation.
5. 模糊性
模糊性是指通过比较谨慎的表达方式传递信息和事实以及作者的学识,避免展示个人态度和掺杂个人观点,给读者留有思考和验证的余地,有助于作者尽可能进行准确公允的陈述。试看如下词汇和表达方式:
Introductory verbs: em, tend, look licad组怎么分解
ke, appear to be, think, believe, doubt, be sure, indicate, suggest
Certain lexical verbs: believe, assume, suggest
Certain modal verbs: will, must, would, may, might, could
Adverbs of frequency: often, sometimes, usually,certainly, definitely, clearly, probably, possibly, perhaps, conceivably
Certain lexical verbs: believe, assume, suggest
Certain modal verbs: will, must, would, may, might,
Modal adjectives: certain, definite, clear, probable, possible
Modal nouns: assumption, possibility, probability
That claus: It could be the ca that… /It might be suggested that….