英语学习笔记：2016-06-06

发现一个叫做 Plain Language 的东西：

Plain language is writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly, easily, and completely as possible. Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon. In many countries, laws mandate that public agencies use plain language to increase access to programs and services. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities includes plain language as one of the "modes, means and formats of communication."

学习了一段时间的法律英语，被各种复杂的句式绕，有一位叫做 Ernest Gowers 的英国公务员实在看不下去了，在1948年的时候写了一本叫做《Plain Words》[^plain1][plain2]的书，要求规范英国的官方文书用词：

The purpose of this book is to help officials in their use of written English. To some of them this may seem a work of supererogation, calculated only to place an unnecessary burden on a body of people already overburdened.
[^plain1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Plain_Words
[^plain2]: http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/gowerse/complete/index.htm

两份简单的参考导读：
《FAA Plain Language Tool Kit》
《Federal Plain Language Guidelines》

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遇到一句话：Make sure you know who your audience is – don’t guess or assume. 所以了解一下几个词的差异：

• think
• guess
• suppose
• assume
• reckon

"I think" is another way of saying "in my opinion." For example, a person might say: "I think it's going to rain." In this situation, none of the other expressions is possible." We cannot, for example, say: "I guess it's going to rain" or "I assume it's going to rain."

"I guess" means that the speaker is not sure of what he or she is saying. For example, someone might say: "I guess they left about an hour ago" to indicate that he or she cannot be absolutely certain of the time when they left and is making a very rough estimate based on very little information. "I think they left an hour ago" is more certain than "I guess ...." in that is is based on some reliable information. "I suppose they left an hour ago" means that they were planning to leave an hour ago, and if things went according to plan, then that is when they left. "I assume they left an hour ago" means that I know that their plan was to leave an hour ago and I am taking it for granted that things went according to plan.

"I suppose" means that the speaker believes something to be true without actually knowing that it is true. For example, a person might say: "I suppose they will be pleased to hear the news." If the speaker used "think," he or she would be speaking out of some prior knowledge about what pleases them. If the speaker used "guess," then he or she would have no prior knowledge about what pleases them and would be expressing a certain amount of doubt about whether they will be pleased or not.

"I assume" means that the speaker is taking something for granted because it is very likely to be true. For example, a person might say: "I assume you are aware that today is Father's Day, so I am expecting a Father's Day gift from you." None of the other expressions would work properly in this context (though people might use them colloquially).

As for “reckon,” I’d just say one thing: if you’re in America or among Americans, don’t use it unless you’re joking or something. I know Australians and maybe the British use it, but not Americans. Here, it sounds like either you’re really old or you’re a country bum, hahaha. “I reckon I have time to go to the bathroom” will make people around me chuckle. It’s cute but…no. Don’t use it. At least, I don’t recommend it. :)

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背到一个单词：Pennsylvania，索性把美国的所有的州名都拉出来背一下：

《List of states and territories of the United States》

才发现美国的国土也区分为：

• States
• Federal district
• Inhabited territories
• Uninhabited territories
• Disputed territories