避免使用阳性泛指指示两种性别。
阳性泛指是指在涉及两种性别的情形时,仅使用代词“他”。当涉及“他”或“她”时,应避免只使用“他”。向两种性别致意时要敏感,因为任何一般读者群都可能有50%的女性。避免使用阳性泛指不仅可避免性别敏感问题,也是公平公正的。
从女性的角度思考下面的句子。
原句
现在的首席执行官必须八面玲珑。他必须既要有事业心和公德心,还要有环保意识和进取精神。
(Today's chief executive must be extremely well rounded.He must be not only corporate and civic minded but also environmentally focused and entrepreneurially spirited.)
针对这句话主要有两种修改方式:用“他或她”替换“他”,或改用复数形式“他们”重组句子。
较好
现在的首席执行官必须八面玲珑。他或她必须既要有事业心和公德心,还要有环保意识和进取精神。
(Today's chief executive must be extremely well rounded.He or she must be not only corporate and civic minded but also environmentally focused and entrepreneurially spirited.)
较好
现在的首席执行官们必须八面玲珑。他们必须既要有事业心和公德心,还要有环保意识和进取精神。
(Today's chief executive must be extremely well rounded.They must be not only corporate and civic minded but also environmentally focused and entrepreneurially spirited.)
我们还必须注意和替换表示阳性泛指的词语。以下列出部分这类词语:
阳性泛指 较好
ad man(广告人) advertising executive(广告人)
anchorman(主持人) anchor(主持人)
chairman(主席) chair/chairperson(主席)
Englishman(英格兰人) the English(英格兰人)
fireman(消防员) firefighter(消防员)
man-hours(小工时) work-hours/person-hours(小工时)
mankind(人类) humans/humankind/humanity(人类)
policeman(警察) police officer(警察)
postman, mailman(邮递员) mail carrier/postal agent(邮递员)
salesman(推销员) salesperson/sales representative(推销员、销售代表)
self-made man(白手起家的人) self-made person(白手起家的人)
businessman(商人) businessperson(商人)
member of congress/senator/
congressman(议员) representative(议员、参议员、代表)
spokesman(发言人) spokesperson(发言人)
landlord(地主) land owner(地主)
layman(外行) layperson(外行)
man-made(人造的) synthetic/artificial(人造的)
workman(工人) worker(工人)
有时候需要替换阴性泛指:
阴性泛指 较好
housewife(家庭主妇) homemaker(家庭主妇/夫)
maid/cleaning lady domestic/housekeeper(佣人、管家)
(仆人、清洁女工)
maiden name(婚前姓) birth name/former name
(本姓、原姓)
secretary(秘书) office assistant(办公室助手)
stewardess(空姐) flight attendant(空乘人员)