本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 m8 i4 t& P6 L
0 P" [! Y( x E3 I0 q: Q3 Q 转帖9 `# f- H& x$ U* o
1. 尤其在商业上,报章杂志或公文书信上,尽量不用难字 (big word) 或过时的字眼 (old-fashioned word)4 I. t& Q( [9 h, }" |. z) }) j
0 z6 \2 C# d# L( ]1 N0 m6 A- _- P例如:+ \' [. t( \# P; B
7 U0 q6 P5 j8 g
Many people feel that moral education is the infrastructure of higher learning. (许多人认为道德教育是高等知识的基础) (如果用 foundation 或 basis 代替 infrastructure 就更明白)/ c0 G% S4 Q2 y3 [
; u P5 b) M ZThree hundred acres of land is the parameter of our university,s expansion (growth). (三百英亩的土地是本大学发展的限度) (如果用limit代替parameter,会更简单易懂。)* F) f; l- c4 m+ q2 v
4 c/ o) i( T4 m
This news has been disseminated all over the U.S. (这消息已散布到全美各地) (如果用spread取代disseminated,不更简单?) (动词时态是:spread, spread, spread); R6 s" G# G! B- f6 N
( U5 O5 ~% r7 K+ W* K; D0 [
The president of this college is not diminutive in size. (这大学的校长个子不小) (假如用small代替diminutive,不更明白吗?); z& R6 d! g2 i( d( r( p! V
0 Y7 W/ |5 \0 h( F8 x* ^I have to elucidate this document to my staff. (我要向我的员工解释这份文件) (如用explain代替elucidate,也许更明白。) ( |+ i! o! }$ d9 F7 w# q6 j4 o. {8 Y& I8 B
Mr. A will endeavor to be a physician. (A 先生想尝试当个医生) (如果用try代替endeavor,会更浅白。) (endeavour = endeavor) . U0 K8 s, P/ ]6 ]* S6 E F 5 E1 ^0 ]7 q- B' Y9 `We hope to visualize world peace in the future. (我们希望将来看到世界和平)(如果用see代替visualize,也许更简单!)# b' [7 y+ G5 w) h8 `1 O, T
n) F4 Y! N1 ^4 ^! m) P+ L; I
The charitable organization solicits for our annual donation. (慈善机构要求我们一年一度乐捐)(假如用 ask 代替 solicit,更浅白易懂。)(solicitation是名词)) I( Z* ?- A3 b) c, ]- y/ }
- X: A Y$ M, h: s; c8 x8 o7 ?- SWe don't know what may transpire when we have a new boss. (当新老板来后,我们不知会有什么发生。) (如果用happen代替transpire,也许更明白。)% `( ?8 ]$ w. o$ D$ t
Z; X1 t& J9 n( |( I# Z
Please act as soon as possible on the aforementioned matter. (前面提过的事,请尽速办理。)(如果用 previous 代替古字 aforementioned 不是更明白?)) K. H8 l1 E* I Z. m/ E
; V8 u2 ~; \1 g3 ?1 {
这就像美国大文豪马克吐温 Mark Twain 也曾说过:「我不愿在字典里找长字或难字,我绝不用『metropolis』这个字,因为我同样可以用『city』这个字来代替」。罗斯福总统为了强调美国政府不会遗忘那些穷人,在一篇讲词里用了这么一句:「We are endeavoring to construct a more inclusive society.」后来被人批评咬文嚼字,卖弄文笔。如果用浅白易懂的字眼写成:「We are going to make this country in which no one is left out.」或「We are trying to make everyone equal.」也许更简单明白! 5 B' W4 a4 n# {1 v$ P! p8 k. j % E& r4 ?; E5 }" x+ T m# D+ [- x - N# p+ D8 L$ ?7 s2. 老外也主张不写噜苏或绚丽的字眼(flowery or wordy),句子应该越短越好,一句能用两个字,绝不多加一个。3 \7 N6 p# ~7 O& R' X! v8 Y% B* c
: f% x T u: U# Z例如: / E9 \5 L7 L: T, B; @ c8 |/ O 4 H, ]) \, R, e6 t: ^% nAt this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (现在我们应该为我们的目标团结一致)(如果说:Now, we should pull......更简单。因为 at this point in time = now) 3 b8 B( G. m/ u" M* E: w% H* I0 R2 `' i% n9 F. L& ?
Despite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (虽然我的英语不好,但我不灰心。) (如果说:Although my English is not...... 就更简短。因为despite the fact tha t= although = Though) 0 A! \; e6 _, ]/ c! r: Y/ T 3 U# x! W6 @# s, \6 mI am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生应该辞职) (假如说:I think Mr. Lee should......不是更简单吗?因为I am of the opinion = I think) 0 G* n4 }; |0 n0 n # }7 ~3 G) T" k: c% O1 G9 ~He quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由于生病而辞职) (若说:He quitted the job because he was sick. 更简单。因为 due to the fact that = because); N" h1 N# e9 C$ l# P* {2 _
. g) \( w E; z0 F }5 vIn the majority of cases,he likes to ride bike to the office.(他通常喜欢骑单车到办公室) (如果说:Usually, he likes to ride...... 更简单。因为 in the majority of cases = usually) : }1 v1 e6 E- n7 m1 e. u7 O, \, q \9 r8 X7 {9 `
She shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜欢茶而不是咖啡) (若说:She prefers tea rather......更简短清楚,因为 show a preference for = prefer) % ^$ O9 h( j3 x & g& h* u& W, q( zI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # Y) o" ~9 p. C. E, \ & ?% K, q3 H; ?6 a如果只说:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更简单吗?因为 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意义的重复或用字的多余 (redundant); 例如: , {$ L* h' a4 x* W$ \) U+ X6 @9 O" b' k( v9 j5 |' o0 T7 {
The consensus(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大家认为我们必须立即行动)(of opinion 可以省去,因为 consensus 的意思,就是大家的意见。), m5 t9 ^9 x5 j5 {3 U, S+ `
2 @$ t. h; a4 M2 G) j- T1 [: y
The letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信显示问题尚未解决)(continue to 是多余的字,因为 remain 已经有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成为:The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.) O+ a! O' v- d9 m9 t: a6 x # t" X* c, \; m5 B% D* v* eHe has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演说里做出结论) (final 是多余的字,因为 conclusion 已经含有 final 的意思。)7 f6 ` B3 p8 L# Q! P J* s
/ ^6 H/ t. _8 G
He has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年经商的经验) (actual 也是多余的字,因为 experience 已有 actual 的意味) 2 I& P/ C: U. Q. Q+ ?1 A7 B 6 h6 l9 b. N& m) tWe assembled (together) all the parts for our radio.(我们装好收音机的零件)(因为 assemble 本身就有 together 的意思,所以 together 是多余的)( a& `' |4 h C# _( Q" f4 d6 L; I
) _. u7 }6 Y- o
Enclosed (herewith ) please find the report of the meeting.(herewith 是多余的字,因为 enclosed 就有 herewith 的意思)(即:附上会议报告,请查收) j6 M3 N8 Q9 R7 d7 o+ T4 e/ y 5 U- e0 D7 r# y1 O- b% [写到这里,想起一位深受美国人民爱戴,一向主张不写长句、不噜苏的美国已故参议员 Stephen Young,他每次受邀参加会议、演讲、宴会时,他的回信只有三个字「我会到」(I'll be there)......。也有人打趣的说:「讲演或写作的句子,就像穿迷你裙,愈短愈好。」(Like wearing mini-skirt, sentences in speech or writing should be the shorter, the better.) : i0 q: L9 `! _ O+ C6 O+ f$ f ' {/ L9 u% u3 z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " D( q; Q# @+ G' j3 D1 |! u0 N1 ?" g0 |9 F$ y' ?
0 ^9 A2 b6 p# Z. \8 E8 y3.老外为了族群和谐相处,除不用歧视或偏见的字眼外,连男女性别,也要避免区别,以示「平等」。 ' |- e' r4 i: ^8 Y4 p* m. g/ ` U: r
例如: ) b0 \6 k! G$ V; K+ L& ]! } 0 B9 S! L" n/ E k3 xMankind are considered the smartest animals in the world。(人类是世上最聪明的动物)= Man is the smartest animal......。 (如果改为:Human beings are considered the smartest animals...... 就能包括男女。所以 mankind = man = human beings) (注意:mankind 后面动词要用多数,而 man 的后面动词,则用单数) 6 N/ z& W: F/ d/ F {) v$ U) W9 k8 ]5 z% p k5 D: h
Manpower seems not strong enough in developing our economy here. (发展这里的经济,似乎缺乏人力资源。)(如果说:Labor power seems not strong enough... 也就没有「男性主义」的感觉。可见 manpower = labor power = work force = human resources) . m9 D" Z4 L1 ?+ t. w 5 M# ]% f5 | \, b4 ]' {9 @! BThis small company hired a cleaning woman yesterday.(这个小公司昨天请来一名清洁女工)(如果说:This small company hired an office cleaner...也就没有男女之分了) 4 p1 I1 L" [# w3 `" U 6 ]) B+ l. Q1 t1 o9 W* wHe (she) has been a committee chairman (chairwoman) since 1998. (自从1998年他就是委员会主席) (假如把chairman或chairwoman改为chairperson或chair,就没有男女之分。) (如指讨论会的主持人,也可称为 moderator 或 coordinator。)$ x- I }9 @, J8 b g
# o- _9 _& `- A
Many businessmen (businesswomen) feel their jobs are very stressful.(许多商人觉得工作压力很大)(如果把 businessmen (businesswomen) 改为 business people 或 business executives 或 business managers 就可包括男女了)(凡是单数 man 或 woman,其多数都是 men 或 women。)5 i; |6 M% M8 E' S$ M7 b; u Y
0 ^, [+ e/ v) k$ k, t
Policemen (policewomen) should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察对人民应该有礼貌)(假如把 policemen 或 policewomen 改为 police officers 就可避免男女性别)) c9 C8 O' g% T" z, B1 s; D
* ?" ~" x; o3 y: s* L+ OCongressmen (congresswomen) should speak up for their constitutes. (国会议员应该为其选民说话)(constitute = voter) (我们也可以把 congressmen 或 congresswomen 改为 members of congress 或 congressional representatives)1 ?2 ]5 L! C, O) W
8 T/ w& Z! T% Y- O/ RStewardesses for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(国际航线的空中小姐有时会有时差疲惫的现象)(如把 stewardess 改为 flight attendant,就能包括男女空中服务员。) ! Y2 s6 p9 U& M8 K6 j2 ]+ ?0 p 8 x4 h: \. ]4 w1 T& @3 C; x' T2 Z$ K2 d同理,我们可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改为 salesperson;把 mailman 改为 mail carrier 或 postal worker;把 foreman 改为 supervisor 等等。 . C! W- `2 X3 J# k; C% V% _0 K( y0 F# H0 r |4 ]; B9 S8 S
当然,一些带有种族偏见的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要尽量避免使用,以免闹出麻烦。例如: ! d8 _5 n: l8 Q3 x" d% D l: f: G: q( P" o3 D# X: l对黑人不要用 Negro,更不能用 Nigger(用 Black 还可以),礼貌的说法是 Afro-American 或 African-American;; s! k% S1 Y( {2 h
" h& M- i/ ?, s( U- O对白人不要用 Honky(这是黑人骂白人的用字),正确用法是 Caucasian,或 white people; 7 p# u8 l2 s' \- R7 P9 J1 I) z 9 i8 K4 x" m. Q) s1 [2 d; a对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ' ?/ d$ ]! q! b9 A5 q2 U 6 o5 g0 a& k% l& \* H对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; & g2 N( Y( g4 L8 I) Y. _" H! R6 @8 B2 H: _% L L; r4 V. b
至于墨西哥人、西班牙人及中、南美洲人,包括 Puerto Rico,正确的用法多是 Hispanics 或 Latins,不过据说西班牙人为了维护自己的文化,倒喜欢别人称为 Spaniard。 更多信息请访问: 7 L' [. L7 m' e" b! S7 A) \4 Y/ w- r, b, q/ ~3 U
还有黑白结婚的孩子,也不可称为 Oreo(Oreo 饼乾外面是巧克力,里面是白奶油)。 $ C j# S" }: K9 t' a 6 h; \+ L/ D, L9 t有偏见的老外,不叫华人为 Chinese,而叫 Chink 或 Chinaman(从前还叫「Yellow Peril」,即黄祸)。遇到这种事,怎么办呢?我建议:「君子不与小人斗」,最好是「不理」(ignore)或「走开」(walk away)。不过老外与你谈话时,如果使用这些不礼貌的字眼,那么你就可以说:「For your information,the word you just used is derogatory(或 inappropriate)to describe someone of my race.」(只想让你知道:你刚刚所用的字,来描写我的族群,是很不合适的)。. R9 v9 T+ Y. r5 H