2012年10月24日星期三

古德明: The fact that




問:麥美倫出版社的修辭學發凡The Elements of Style說,the fact that一詞絕對不宜使用,但英國作家羅素筆下,常見the fact that這句式。先生對這個詞的用法有什麼意見?

答:以「the fact that+子句(clause)」作主詞(subject)或受詞(object),句子一般會頗為累贅,的確是可免則免。請看以下兩句:(1The fact that he was ill affected his work(他的病,影響了他的工作)。(2I was informed of the fact that he was ill(我獲悉他病了)。這兩句,改為His illness affected his work以及I was informed of his illness會好得多。而這樣的the fact that句式,十九可以改寫。

不過,天下萬事,往往沒有絕對法則可循,例外總是難免,尤其是寫作。韋氏英文用法詞典Webster's Dictionary of English Usage談到the fact that,就指出這個詞常受批評,「但不一定是多餘的,有時可收加強語氣、方便文句轉折等修辭之效」。詞典還收錄了些「改不得」的例句,現錄其一於後:Our newfound fascination with China should not blind us to the fact that American relations with Japan are much more important to US security(我們最近對中國大感興趣,但不應因此而無視一件事實:美日關係,對美國安全來說,重要得多)。這一句見於一九七一年十一月《哈潑斯》月刊(Harper's),四十年後的今天重讀,情況似乎絲毫未變。