12 Recommendations to Help you Submit a Conventional and Acceptable Paper Tip 6: The ideal voice for a paper: third-person and active 12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧之六：論文的理想語氣：「第三人稱」與「主動」
教授學者們通常會規範寫作標準，制定如何撰寫碩博士論文與學術文章以及格式要求。學術界所評定的標準植基於以何種撰寫方式會被認可，何種撰寫方式則會被拒絕。本專欄提出「12個獲得學術認可的論文撰寫技巧」，幫助你寫出符合規範與認可標準的文章。
The community of scholars has rules that govern how dissertations, theses and other academic papers are composed and formatted. Academic convention has established what is acceptable and what is not. Following is one of 12 recommendations to help you submit a conventional and acceptable paper.
Tip 6 – The ideal voice for a paper: third-person and active
技巧六：論文的理想語氣：「第三人稱」與「主動」
Having resolved to write purposefully and to employ a writing style that emphasizes clear and vital language, the author of an academic paper next must address the mechanics of the language. One of these issues is choosing the appropriate “voice” to communicate the substance of the paper. This is essential. Finding its “voice” is central to a paper’s function and effectiveness.
下了決心要寫出目標明確、有重點、有活力的文章後，身為論文作者下一步要面對的就是，語言的處理技巧，其一就是，必須用適當「語氣」傳達文章內容。這個原則相當重要，能否運用適當的語氣，關係到文章的作用與表達的效果。
A letter to a friend is written in casual language, while a scholarship application is formal and respectful. But an academic paper is authoritative. A paper advances an original or unusual idea in a one-on-one forum; advancement depends largely upon the perceived authority of the person voicing the idea. If the written voice resonates with convincing force, it can prevail.
寫給朋友的信箋，遣詞可較為隨意；獎學金申請函，則需正式且恭敬。談到學術論文，則語氣必須夠權威。論文是在一對一的版面上傳達原創或獨特的想法，其成效取決於作者的論述語氣是否具權威性。如果寫作的文字充滿說服力，內容自然會被接受。
The best way to convey clout is to write the paper from a third-person point of view. This means a writer should not use “I” or “you” or “we” sentence structures, which are perfect for ordinary conversation and quite imperfect for scholarly presentation. Employing the less intimate third-person objective voice lets the collected persuasive material speak for itself.
要讓文句切中要點，最好的方法就是用第三人稱寫作。換句話說，不要採用“I”、 “you” 、 “we”開頭的句子。這些句子用在一般對話中似無不妥，但用在學術表達則顯得有失穩當。第三人稱句子讀起來少了親近、也較客觀，更能突顯文章的整體論述。
The third-person perspective also conveys authority because it increases the “distance” between an author and the subject of a paper. The writer disappears when “I” is dropped from the text. Similarly, the reader is not dragged into it when “you” is absent. The resulting vacuum is filled by the influential “voices” of footnoted experts, laboratory data, and recorded experience.
第三人稱口吻也較具權威，因為作者與主題間的距離，在第三人稱下會顯得更遠。少了主詞“I”之後，作者會從文章中消失；同樣地，沒有了“you”，讀者也不會被拖進文字裡。填補空缺的將是更具說服力的「聲音」，像是鑽研考據的專家、實驗數據、經驗記錄等。
The other voice rule in writing a paper is to use active language—though not always. Passive sentence construction does maintain desired “distance.” (Example: “The test was repeated four times,” rather than “I repeated the test four times.”) However, an active voice propels a paper. (“Four tests produced identical results.”) Don’t be lulled and dulled by “distance” considerations.
論文語氣的另一個規則，就是使用主動句—不過並非必然。被動句的確可以創造出理想的距離（如「實驗重複了四次」就比「我做了四次實驗」來得好）；但主動語氣可以推動文章的起伏與節奏（如「四次實驗的結果相同」）。所以，不要為了創造距離，讓文章變得拖沓呆滯。
After the writer of an academic paper has exhaustively searched sources and validated a thesis, presenting it in a chatty, overly personal and unprofessional voice is such a wasted opportunity. The mechanics of effective presentation are not difficult to employ. Keep objective distance between writer and subject. Let the facts speak for themselves. Actively make the case.
已經盡己所能搜尋參考資料，用盡心力證明自己的論點，若是以閒話家常的態度與不專業的語氣來呈現作品，著實浪費了先前付出的諸多努力。想要有效地表達想法其實不難，只要掌握以下重點：保持作者與讀者間的客觀距離，讓事實昭然若揭，用主動句堅定立場。
The community of scholars has rules that govern how dissertations, theses and other academic papers are composed and formatted. Academic convention has established what is acceptable and what is not. Following is one of 12 recommendations to help you submit a conventional and acceptable paper.
Tip 6 – The ideal voice for a paper: third-person and active
技巧六：論文的理想語氣：「第三人稱」與「主動」
Having resolved to write purposefully and to employ a writing style that emphasizes clear and vital language, the author of an academic paper next must address the mechanics of the language. One of these issues is choosing the appropriate “voice” to communicate the substance of the paper. This is essential. Finding its “voice” is central to a paper’s function and effectiveness.
下了決心要寫出目標明確、有重點、有活力的文章後，身為論文作者下一步要面對的就是，語言的處理技巧，其一就是，必須用適當「語氣」傳達文章內容。這個原則相當重要，能否運用適當的語氣，關係到文章的作用與表達的效果。
A letter to a friend is written in casual language, while a scholarship application is formal and respectful. But an academic paper is authoritative. A paper advances an original or unusual idea in a one-on-one forum; advancement depends largely upon the perceived authority of the person voicing the idea. If the written voice resonates with convincing force, it can prevail.
寫給朋友的信箋，遣詞可較為隨意；獎學金申請函，則需正式且恭敬。談到學術論文，則語氣必須夠權威。論文是在一對一的版面上傳達原創或獨特的想法，其成效取決於作者的論述語氣是否具權威性。如果寫作的文字充滿說服力，內容自然會被接受。
The best way to convey clout is to write the paper from a third-person point of view. This means a writer should not use “I” or “you” or “we” sentence structures, which are perfect for ordinary conversation and quite imperfect for scholarly presentation. Employing the less intimate third-person objective voice lets the collected persuasive material speak for itself.
要讓文句切中要點，最好的方法就是用第三人稱寫作。換句話說，不要採用“I”、 “you” 、 “we”開頭的句子。這些句子用在一般對話中似無不妥，但用在學術表達則顯得有失穩當。第三人稱句子讀起來少了親近、也較客觀，更能突顯文章的整體論述。
The third-person perspective also conveys authority because it increases the “distance” between an author and the subject of a paper. The writer disappears when “I” is dropped from the text. Similarly, the reader is not dragged into it when “you” is absent. The resulting vacuum is filled by the influential “voices” of footnoted experts, laboratory data, and recorded experience.
第三人稱口吻也較具權威，因為作者與主題間的距離，在第三人稱下會顯得更遠。少了主詞“I”之後，作者會從文章中消失；同樣地，沒有了“you”，讀者也不會被拖進文字裡。填補空缺的將是更具說服力的「聲音」，像是鑽研考據的專家、實驗數據、經驗記錄等。
The other voice rule in writing a paper is to use active language—though not always. Passive sentence construction does maintain desired “distance.” (Example: “The test was repeated four times,” rather than “I repeated the test four times.”) However, an active voice propels a paper. (“Four tests produced identical results.”) Don’t be lulled and dulled by “distance” considerations.
論文語氣的另一個規則，就是使用主動句—不過並非必然。被動句的確可以創造出理想的距離（如「實驗重複了四次」就比「我做了四次實驗」來得好）；但主動語氣可以推動文章的起伏與節奏（如「四次實驗的結果相同」）。所以，不要為了創造距離，讓文章變得拖沓呆滯。
After the writer of an academic paper has exhaustively searched sources and validated a thesis, presenting it in a chatty, overly personal and unprofessional voice is such a wasted opportunity. The mechanics of effective presentation are not difficult to employ. Keep objective distance between writer and subject. Let the facts speak for themselves. Actively make the case.
已經盡己所能搜尋參考資料，用盡心力證明自己的論點，若是以閒話家常的態度與不專業的語氣來呈現作品，著實浪費了先前付出的諸多努力。想要有效地表達想法其實不難，只要掌握以下重點：保持作者與讀者間的客觀距離，讓事實昭然若揭，用主動句堅定立場。
Posted at 2012-09-14 11:10:49
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