本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - M+ w8 k% O% `# f
+ q7 T/ T, a* I3 b转帖 " g% A2 j5 i7 T% z* }0 f! R1. 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) , N/ R; j/ p2 z ' |6 c7 J6 B0 G# K. K例如: & B O' S% D% }" ~, i! B. o, i2 } \) d& n; _
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) % e4 E5 o$ }' L# J* P: F2 c4 ~3 s8 g: l* [" L# n
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。) ; H) F+ o! c/ Q/ `$ g6 q- ?! _% v& M, @0 N# J8 F
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); Q6 _9 p" q7 F' Q
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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?) # \( U" n G* k' \ ; g0 ]' Z' S2 ZI 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。) 5 B2 |7 n c) ^. u+ U4 q' I. i* ~; k+ _) ~
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) & N6 Y* c* [) ? 5 t) C; f9 P4 c: B# S1 zWe 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!) 4 J/ u5 m' U& X. z! r/ M# a+ j& D2 ?2 H+ p3 j1 w; x# U3 [; n
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) 6 p& \5 k- `2 f0 s5 Q$ [; ]: R8 t- ]( N8 ^, c+ C
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。) , k: D% |" I- B1 w! v" R4 K 2 y4 M! S7 C) v6 Z B8 H' Z( f! \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?) " k2 H( v" @# d1 B5 n * J# o9 y3 ~) B) ]4 B5 Y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! " E( z% f* S V, L2 D' b! F4 q+ d5 x0 K
! W5 i, F7 o, I" t2. 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。 # G ?/ w; q: W& k( c% |0 J9 |% f- X
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; s5 t+ s' j/ _, N9 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) : J( b* ?% \" u" j( P' H$ O% x7 t% Y" @0 M5 A
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) ' v) g8 H3 [8 s2 o) V2 |& V 4 r8 a# I2 p) _' y( M& x. uI 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) ! d& s- B: N1 D" ^ / o9 `7 B! M; Y1 ^% g% M& p% QHe 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) + ?* d; [2 z$ z9 I6 s8 E $ R3 Q4 r4 R8 K6 S" IIn 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)$ ~6 s k9 J/ ], K! `
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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) 5 f" h7 v: q% Y5 I( i6 R, k) |' \. D( Q) k' c
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): j, U& Z% O& W3 _1 I3 r
3 g. Y1 u$ w( }; ~: d0 q/ {( w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 ~# b2 k# W0 H: g& W # [1 w/ v; C [5 t; VThe 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。) ' `. x9 D9 G& k% k* [6 x& F4 G' f3 G4 Z, ^1 j+ _( H& G' q; M
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.)2 M* Y- y+ X+ m# L. k# I
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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。) # w* S% j, o& s C+ o7 e) R4 B$ n( p
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) ' `, m9 e9 d; j M# ]' E0 T% \& F, o4 c i _. h6 x
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) ) ]7 Y& t$ S5 G 4 J/ w5 X1 V) K# L; EEnclosed (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) 6 z/ W& \, L" P3 C2 K / C2 z8 C! _3 _4 k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: u' |8 e% F8 q; K" L; e
0 O) b5 } J! |5 P$ N此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 \. F5 K) Y( ]5 z9 g" d2 b+ g1 ~8 v1 k2 ~
; A. i9 X' ~3 } 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」。 " I! m; r A; P; u , s" r1 ]/ G- y/ C6 y例如: " y, N4 ?3 \1 }. w7 j3 I+ } * m$ t: R% w! ~6 m+ 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)4 @# ]) |; x4 ^" S* Z2 o3 b( ?% L
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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)$ P5 J7 c1 R: Y- i% }
2 a2 N7 Z1 o7 v- C, \, zThis 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) 7 c7 ~# s" S) u7 D2 a 5 D2 T& V$ A/ aHe (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。)2 g3 u- v5 W7 G$ U+ T
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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。) 2 U/ S2 W$ f. B. ]% t3 D0 C: g: D# c g: N1 l$ R! n5 z
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) * G4 w2 S, R1 Z0 i/ u$ Z* Q5 } A& ~. H* ?* h% y' M9 d1 ^% Z' s
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) 1 C: f9 b. u+ N" D9 s $ X0 @& {6 v# Z* x0 N; EStewardesses 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。) - I( {' c' e D& K- a* F" _2 `7 u. o: e( v9 U
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。 0 t! V+ J( k! P* u2 J. D6 ?* J0 Z$ Z+ S- f) q/ ^- f
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: ' @3 U' [+ m% ]/ b. V/ C Q6 }5 v5 D% K& W" P! 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; & Y/ C2 j m7 b' p) w9 r! l5 m( G ?% @% m1 t G
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 P& F5 o3 X5 V- S$ V
, V+ W/ Q! r: Y; F对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 3 }4 x k8 T$ |$ U6 r; R' S! `: z: c' \) K9 F7 u3 Z
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 9 }' t# D6 W. Q2 G: g W: [+ B# u. y9 i8 F
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: ) }9 `4 ]3 m9 C+ ^6 z7 x8 l% }/ r" }
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)。 3 s8 A: y2 s$ Y2 c8 v0 Q3 `# p4 P/ V6 s4 j% k# U0 ^
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)。 6 O3 a3 a ]/ [7 w