本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ; z% `$ t% [6 E. S, w9 r# z. m# w- p, q 转帖; [. \0 A% F( u% K# d
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)" U" ^; V6 b% z/ N* @
* E$ ]6 T( @% g9 x! h
例如:( H2 J3 [" B U5 R3 z4 I
) ^/ L; R! S: a& ^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) ' u ?5 b5 B( H6 m% ^ 0 t6 w H: Y' j2 v7 Q9 [Three 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。) # d8 y0 N# _: t" j: v 6 N; y7 q; }0 M& I; dThis 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) " m O+ ?9 F8 C3 v" ?: V " p0 _: T! v s/ s; W6 E* b. W! e- [9 eThe 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?)5 E; M9 z) C3 N6 ~4 l% I
, H4 J2 A7 F3 j
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。)* ]& C1 U# o7 X5 G; H- h
! b9 F# @5 S0 ~# s6 h( X9 @
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)( _% H7 D# I* o- M" u! w
' R; \. P: w3 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!)5 B7 k* r- m: j4 h+ Y% D+ J" j" J" Y6 a
; g- K; L' Q6 qWe 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。)& O7 I# L% i! O* y2 H
2 Q8 {! k/ L- _5 h- rPlease 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?) ) x3 w5 y; g) B* \9 ?: T, {/ S / g, a% S. T* R1 n8 W1 b* p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!& Y* x* Z- O8 [
3 a! ] t! y" {) a % e3 d6 \9 ?6 ~7 g2. 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。) U. Y% X: S9 P& y! a
8 j6 G6 n3 f5 q% i( A例如: ! q9 c1 E/ `) @9 L 5 \2 W4 S x' n- w- m0 _( qAt 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)! b+ H' P/ r7 u0 U/ t2 N8 x
9 F( Z5 Q7 z* ~9 P" K' KDespite 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) R) N) _, t8 ]* @
$ F4 l/ T" {1 C7 C; u* AI 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) 6 [/ G' E4 H0 l+ F' F ( l/ E5 a. U$ l! J* DHe 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)3 j, o* U; S7 |3 h. f* y: c
! H. i# ^1 P! P; l
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) ( P/ D3 B/ t# v/ @4 H3 y3 Z6 M& U% r7 A8 O( x# Q
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) # J5 C, _1 d! C! C, E8 n * p% c0 j+ x0 e0 r& j# KI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): x# m- O) ^6 W |" K
t5 s) E5 P2 K' y
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:; @. K3 T# R0 m; N( v: G
. K% U) u! h$ _' w: q8 _1 N1 b- L7 y) {
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。)% O% {2 b+ i4 |) O2 W0 {7 k
+ L/ [. T& F ^! H' q; v$ IThe 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.)2 I" t6 H. G/ l
! G+ z+ Z; H- s/ {$ ^/ z
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。) ( b) ]! O7 A* n, W h# v3 c3 ^( b W/ ?- s! Z$ @
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) % q! D$ P6 f. W7 V* Q1 _" V8 u$ O, N8 Z$ v
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) % B! J: O4 P c; E ( L( _4 t1 o+ N' {4 L* h# r0 A( PEnclosed (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) , ^/ B; F% a/ _4 `: i- c' |9 o, o# ]& D# M0 C, `
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/ b/ e1 f! U5 |) E
. Y" ~% { d+ S8 u
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / N q6 T% D1 q9 F, x m! y4 b" r+ K. A( [: k
. c2 m2 r: I4 E' U v 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」。 5 i0 f5 r7 U+ y& C. p# l, D9 A3 r2 l2 U/ c# z+ X5 _: q
例如: , {: _+ c5 T6 i1 Y & v% i0 x7 M3 \- l3 b7 r1 n7 d2 U. ZMankind 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) ( h% |- K8 K. r6 [2 e* q f W 1 j; M( _) c1 {' `2 d1 lManpower 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)$ U9 f1 H2 A! i* h- w) T6 A
j! H2 d# l/ u
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)* [4 R& H7 [- h) B* L
# B/ j& ^" @! ^He (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。)% ` E3 g5 ]7 d" Y8 r4 q
! b6 a3 l9 j, N6 F/ @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。)! h4 P% f4 X8 |1 z* K+ y+ J" B1 Q2 \& ?
9 r* C0 a. c* p: 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) 1 p4 z# H; i# x1 ~, d( F, Q % ?* L, o0 S; L: qCongressmen (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) 5 H4 R2 ~1 G7 W$ v! }1 a, H2 z1 M+ f' L1 X" O3 m
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。) ( T0 n1 n' ^( u K: F) d7 U) T' Y) \8 @5 O# n$ W( q: B
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。 7 Z7 p' g: _* L+ `6 r, Q/ d . G; v n ^, W& f9 z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:& k+ N. J0 @) Z+ E {3 ^5 i
t" D+ r9 \6 O& i/ \: B8 `5 |4 Z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; 9 s2 r& f5 s2 W% f0 v7 t* ~ 0 w/ O8 R. {& l" Q3 ]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;- u4 w8 E) Z) d$ q$ ]) S
$ {, [6 K) O* W8 N% y" i3 f0 d7 o
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 B; h0 J$ s1 M; J9 G1 R, r" r! K
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 e. C- Y. b4 v0 K. B0 F# D, c, b- w& `5 `: c
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:3 J( u# R& S L% X
6 |$ C: a1 Q' g; H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)。2 `% I, E! `7 Q, P, o0 P
* L+ ]8 h+ g4 `6 B9 P/ P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)。 8 M0 N7 q, B3 y" C3 c