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Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問
【學術專欄】
TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: I am a slow, slow writer, or so people tell me. I admit I take longer than most people to complete a paper. It is because I try to choose each word rather than just to fill up a page with them. Isn’t it virtuous to select words carefully?
我寫論文的速度非常非常慢，至少其他人是這樣說的。我寫論文的時間確實比其他人久，但這是因為我仔細選擇每個詞彙，而非只是用詞彙塞滿頁面。仔細挑選詞彙應該是種優點吧？
An old maxim is, “Moderation in everything.” I don’t believe in it. (Is it better to swallow moderate amounts of water while swimming, or none?) But the saying does address the issue of being inflexible to the point of becoming an extremist. Most of us know where the line generally falls between being faithful to a principle and being obsessed by it. It really is a question of judgment. In regard to writing, while word choice indeed is a key ingredient in effective written communication, words ultimately must be chosen reasonably fast or nothing gets expressed.
有句古老的格言說：「凡事都要適量」，我並不同意（游泳時喝到「適量」的水就不是好事吧？）不過談到因為僵化而走極端，這句話說得倒也有道理。我們大多都知道遵守原則與過分執著的分界，重點在於你必須有判斷能力。在寫作方面，雖然遣詞用字對於有效的書面溝通的確很重要，但是最終選擇詞彙的速度還是必須合理，否則什麼都無法表達。
So, you are exactly right to care about each word. Such dedication is one mark of a good writer. If you are as careful in your research and attribution, you undoubtedly are producing scholarly papers to be admired. However, another virtue a writer should cultivate is efficiency. With notable exceptions, successful writers learn to write with certain dispatch, marshaling their thoughts and effectively matching the thoughts to words—and completing the creative exercise within a reasonable timeframe. This economy allows them to write at length in an allotted time.
所以，你注重每個詞彙的確很正確，這是好作家該有的特質，如果你在研究與推論時也一樣仔細，必定能寫出值得一讀的學術論文。不過，寫作時也該培養另一個優點，那就是有效率。除了幾個明顯的例子以外，好作家懂得以一定的步調寫作，引領他們的思緒，有效地將思想付諸文字－並且在合理的時間內，完成整個創作過程。有效率的寫作讓作家在有限的時間裡寫出許多內容。
The process is helped immeasurably by development of a vocabulary from which a writer can extract a perfect word. Reading, writing, thinking, and listening are tools that build vocabularies. A tool for learning to write more quickly is confidence. This comes into play in rewriting. A good writer can feel comfortable assembling words at a fast pace that captures fleeting thoughts, knowing that the wording can be revisited and revised as part of a general rewrite. A writer is freed from worrying over a first draft when he has an ample vocabulary and the rewriting habit.
充足的詞彙能讓寫作過程更有效率，有足夠的詞彙，寫作時就能想到最適當的字句。要增加詞彙，必須多讀、多寫、多想、多聽。要寫得更快，自信也是不可或缺的，能在修改時發揮作用。寫作技巧良好的人可以自在地快速組織詞彙，捕捉轉瞬即逝的想法，明白措辭可以在整體修改時，再重新審視和修訂。寫作時若詞彙充分，並養成修改的習慣，寫作初稿時便無須憂慮了。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: I am a slow, slow writer, or so people tell me. I admit I take longer than most people to complete a paper. It is because I try to choose each word rather than just to fill up a page with them. Isn’t it virtuous to select words carefully?
我寫論文的速度非常非常慢，至少其他人是這樣說的。我寫論文的時間確實比其他人久，但這是因為我仔細選擇每個詞彙，而非只是用詞彙塞滿頁面。仔細挑選詞彙應該是種優點吧？
An old maxim is, “Moderation in everything.” I don’t believe in it. (Is it better to swallow moderate amounts of water while swimming, or none?) But the saying does address the issue of being inflexible to the point of becoming an extremist. Most of us know where the line generally falls between being faithful to a principle and being obsessed by it. It really is a question of judgment. In regard to writing, while word choice indeed is a key ingredient in effective written communication, words ultimately must be chosen reasonably fast or nothing gets expressed.
有句古老的格言說：「凡事都要適量」，我並不同意（游泳時喝到「適量」的水就不是好事吧？）不過談到因為僵化而走極端，這句話說得倒也有道理。我們大多都知道遵守原則與過分執著的分界，重點在於你必須有判斷能力。在寫作方面，雖然遣詞用字對於有效的書面溝通的確很重要，但是最終選擇詞彙的速度還是必須合理，否則什麼都無法表達。
So, you are exactly right to care about each word. Such dedication is one mark of a good writer. If you are as careful in your research and attribution, you undoubtedly are producing scholarly papers to be admired. However, another virtue a writer should cultivate is efficiency. With notable exceptions, successful writers learn to write with certain dispatch, marshaling their thoughts and effectively matching the thoughts to words—and completing the creative exercise within a reasonable timeframe. This economy allows them to write at length in an allotted time.
所以，你注重每個詞彙的確很正確，這是好作家該有的特質，如果你在研究與推論時也一樣仔細，必定能寫出值得一讀的學術論文。不過，寫作時也該培養另一個優點，那就是有效率。除了幾個明顯的例子以外，好作家懂得以一定的步調寫作，引領他們的思緒，有效地將思想付諸文字－並且在合理的時間內，完成整個創作過程。有效率的寫作讓作家在有限的時間裡寫出許多內容。
The process is helped immeasurably by development of a vocabulary from which a writer can extract a perfect word. Reading, writing, thinking, and listening are tools that build vocabularies. A tool for learning to write more quickly is confidence. This comes into play in rewriting. A good writer can feel comfortable assembling words at a fast pace that captures fleeting thoughts, knowing that the wording can be revisited and revised as part of a general rewrite. A writer is freed from worrying over a first draft when he has an ample vocabulary and the rewriting habit.
充足的詞彙能讓寫作過程更有效率，有足夠的詞彙，寫作時就能想到最適當的字句。要增加詞彙，必須多讀、多寫、多想、多聽。要寫得更快，自信也是不可或缺的，能在修改時發揮作用。寫作技巧良好的人可以自在地快速組織詞彙，捕捉轉瞬即逝的想法，明白措辭可以在整體修改時，再重新審視和修訂。寫作時若詞彙充分，並養成修改的習慣，寫作初稿時便無須憂慮了。
