本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 o# B4 T' O0 G H* T 8 c7 n A; N, S/ b2 O- O转帖 2 C: g3 B3 |& {/ [0 B; ~; Q! n1. 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 G2 d; [' m2 i1 O
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例如: 0 L6 l/ [) F" I2 g! T# f ! b* L2 n V3 b+ WMany 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)- z* I! X W+ {# V' w
! Z+ h; y! W) t7 t! A; d! pThree 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。) 3 S' H; I8 ~' x; G 1 L2 @( D7 C- K7 UThis 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) 5 v$ C( M4 H! p8 V: c6 o1 X; }4 ~8 I r$ D- G- w F
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?)1 x: X Y) y: G
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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。)# j* ^" ]* j$ e H
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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) # o. O7 ~% ?. S" V) V- w' s( X) [( g% J1 d
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!)1 M3 e& L5 ?4 G& u
5 L4 q3 w. N) R7 U8 l5 }/ |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); d* m8 }, `% m1 G x6 y& y
! S) O/ |6 s( ?3 B' KWe 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。)) t( W3 A% [" T& u$ v- u4 {4 f# Y
) ^8 b8 b/ K5 ZPlease 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?) , o0 ]$ T! c: E " [% t7 r3 R' j# o% ^6 l6 {* g4 ?( v# x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! 3 N) x( i4 E) M) e5 m* t# b8 s4 t, H8 @' M6 S: |2 k, Q
) Z1 T c8 M# B3 t9 {6 Q( a2. 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。+ O6 T& D' w( q! U& N- u
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例如: 0 F# q, M( ]' A7 A9 W( H2 ^( R/ l2 X) N% d! ]
At 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)/ V1 \7 U" a# e( t0 C" `! d: W; D; S& _
: w' l% R% |% T! q, } F5 QDespite 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) 7 h! E/ V8 E8 N3 B) w. j/ o, t d2 P2 X
I 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)8 I# B1 U; I' R4 g* H
( k. ]: w/ q8 V$ |% OHe 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)9 L2 H% j0 G2 M( {, }: Q
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In 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) $ h% p% L8 n% u8 A, |4 k. Y# a+ t$ d5 s3 {
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): S" c5 m5 u/ v1 g3 |+ W, \; B
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 2 |! u) L2 j7 b* `9 i* _5 ]/ ~: W+ B. I6 N; T: h/ G% [+ u( q# q
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:4 u: _6 Q1 T8 p" Q) ~: p3 E0 e
* ^& ]' ^' b" L$ [. u/ fThe 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。) 5 |# n B# x: ?( p1 i& { ) m: U$ Z4 c. \( z) e, Q! yThe 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.)/ J$ p( o# `% Q9 T# _1 c% X; a% ?
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He 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。) |; ]1 C' y- Y. B+ e, Y
) E, @' ^' Y; ]4 O/ P0 ]) {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) 9 X- m7 c9 q g& h& p. ]" P! _% d2 ?) t) Y/ @" l# E
We 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) : X8 x# p |+ K" d1 m; b8 x$ w1 L+ [1 k( A X8 C# Y7 j
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)$ T1 i3 \& }2 K0 N+ A; U
& Z/ [& v! f, o5 i" X9 `* c* E( z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.)' l, Y' ?8 E& G5 F+ b
) u# g3 n" [) p+ P* ?. D此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# m6 c; ^. b; Q ~1 P
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3 F& p5 p1 p, |* Y6 K 3.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」。/ Z) y0 _: n* U* k6 b# r
2 l3 I# I# A$ U; N% m例如: : i* C2 N$ O* B5 Z+ g+ L- A( t# b1 {* t
Mankind 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) : C" {1 j: \" A 8 G2 M3 O$ p0 |+ Y! o( S5 C* yManpower 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)1 x4 d( x; Z. p2 @* x) } P
0 J1 A/ M2 I, T0 g6 T3 X/ j5 oThis 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)2 A% M7 x) A) R3 l8 o7 }
! f! x. _# a/ W0 P% FHe (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。) + |1 l5 I. C" R! h& d8 e; S1 ^ , {1 U8 _) z3 m. ?4 G U4 ]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。) * x2 g. E* v8 M! ]5 A: Y+ g5 ^0 g' o/ F! f8 o0 \
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)4 P, T! X q, N" D
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Congressmen (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) + ~+ s6 C& K3 J$ K7 @- m ) R0 n% J0 @& b, K' 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。) * ~3 c* Z9 W) _$ r( C9 }7 ^9 u9 h , |5 c( c3 b( i. A; Z( Z$ _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。# ~4 y4 [! r" ~$ W3 h$ q
0 x$ d6 ?" H; ^, [- G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: ' v8 ?4 H% J! _! ?+ f0 |* y) ^& Y# ~; s1 k6 J$ ~
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;7 I- ? p/ g F) h% ? M+ ]9 Z
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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; 0 o1 Q& }# Y H2 A+ D9 ]0 L : x/ T S+ e [+ U0 U1 M7 X对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & A/ Z- G& V! ]- U" U c* }- o! v) e对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) p0 B3 G, j' E! _4 e W
) Y7 t* a8 e' Y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:" l# x4 W( T: h- s) M3 K
& `7 Y* P! f& q7 B- w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)。 * d0 A$ u' ?- a# }/ [ ; b8 v& E. m3 k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)。 # x+ z- [1 @5 {- X% R2 A