本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . P! U$ z; e6 X' D( N6 Y9 g8 p0 {" m e 转帖0 i4 z& [& ^6 e# T c0 ]
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)* ^; a9 L# s: H; F9 W" V
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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)7 p0 |7 A8 Y6 E% a6 M7 E5 l5 X
- @# F, A( s& y6 P. k/ iThree 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。) / _, _% A/ S5 d$ g0 l N& o: S! H* l8 x5 a$ T& @# hThis 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) V+ t1 [, |. J' l ! [, k. m4 H) h) }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?)2 T8 y2 u7 C: D+ \; F2 F H/ D
' ?5 `% `1 E! z8 T6 `, C8 oI 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! U/ ]: F7 ^ _) t1 [3 ~2 m [9 g3 R/ u 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)7 ?8 g8 h% |( X, |) w
+ ]. L& L/ f; Q; b; n3 M& iWe 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!) " q4 j" e9 \. O& }9 Y& P+ S6 ?) G8 u) z
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) / L7 ?7 P5 b2 q$ c$ j2 @* y5 T1 k' S3 L
We 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。), ]4 u0 ~8 l1 Z0 O
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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?) ; |6 a. M, u* ]/ n m, v0 f9 _9 ^0 K" ~' @& l
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! {6 Z# m. J" X4 P2 F) I7 P, J8 S: \$ j 3 J! ~5 b c: b. Q3 C9 R9 k" X . ?& e2 U; I- n9 D+ p; U2. 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。: o! S5 L- h$ B: E/ Q T$ B& e
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例如:- f) h! R+ ]$ I# |3 k2 ?
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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) ; r+ I r5 P) J; o7 i 4 |$ z# }. s2 W% n* {+ EDespite 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) " _% w0 Y% M* {4 D% W* Z% N" U a + }6 I0 D* ?) [ G' X7 t9 L7 @& @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) + y4 ?# l' f0 L2 { + ]+ ~4 A0 ]9 g: z0 W7 ?, \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) 9 c$ D# n' q' g8 ^( Y& p* l' @ 4 s$ j8 G% T! x9 ]! ~0 nIn 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)% Z1 r1 p; F% X
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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)3 h, b8 J* E6 M$ r! G
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 5 V' v9 b2 ~* D# ^ 7 @! r) _9 z7 p$ Z& Z e2 ]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:* [. c2 i4 R- C% @$ d. [; F
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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。) 6 C' q4 L1 B# g( T3 O# C1 e: {! ]* k. G# t; y3 S2 h& U
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.) ; C7 N- c3 [2 a5 R& M$ ]/ u6 o % ]# N3 G0 R' i9 z' C) kHe 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。) ; x- @' o a; ]1 F , x5 d$ \% k6 X; n4 t' p& iHe 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)' g7 M. x! \, \4 t! V. \
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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)9 Z! C0 T; R x [. a+ n, b
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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)! M6 ]8 s( Y5 f( J @
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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.): ^& q& U3 Y8 M- x9 a6 k. c' o
$ m0 h9 y6 [2 F/ g; ]. a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & ^5 i. Y7 M- G- W; @# s / ?$ x( n/ U& ]7 D+ s( u. h$ j% e# C( I6 y4 S+ i/ ? 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」。 # T- x; D6 R( O" ~) o& g 9 Q/ Z h1 U" X( A! q7 Y例如: 4 V: }2 E: j# G% u) b8 p8 m0 P% U$ `* c y4 ?
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)# v6 M8 b; C2 e; g4 x) d
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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) 8 G0 d% W) B/ B# Z Q: |; s- {1 c& h2 N+ Y
This 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) ) K9 N: W' m- y8 O! ?" [" L + z- n! `/ C/ o/ @+ A9 V8 dHe (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 D# Y( Q0 H3 z9 |
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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。) l; M* a) N# L 9 ?# ?2 o2 a2 O8 V% _5 K( B: bPolicemen (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) 2 i( }% h3 @5 ]7 i3 {6 u. _ ) M# q# H6 A9 G. X! H" @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) ( \ N" u/ ?. |5 Y) p1 r& ?& E3 F) j; C; }( |" R
Stewardesses 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。)( X1 V, D# K. B2 H
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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。 8 t2 [- e( |# o8 w: w8 F . T2 l5 L2 ]1 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: 9 c+ U+ G1 t. W5 w 7 l) h* B2 T; e, n2 {; g( N. e+ a. t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;* H) ?2 h$ Q6 E7 e
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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;2 w% M) j0 e" S! `' i
7 s7 h3 _9 B6 K& K7 p5 Y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)。1 x/ h; g W& h- U2 Z$ c* Q9 a