本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! j0 ` | [% X) T2 _) w, m- m " t1 K: A+ c7 N2 ~! D9 z+ R5 ^转帖( ~% Y2 l* {6 T. H6 T9 z
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) 5 Y9 g: k' J4 Z. p( F# I5 h3 \- |3 u, M5 ]$ [4 p; P6 @4 u% q
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3 o1 i9 }8 Q! T+ x* J3 ZMany 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)* L0 t5 O& S6 j) k
) P8 _* i- Z5 O% c UThree 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。) ) J9 R# U' M) x. f7 s+ l4 `& a1 t8 Y. R3 d/ S7 h
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)1 {0 }" U1 h0 f3 q; M1 q* p
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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?)/ K0 D( L; w9 {/ J$ w) D+ e% s
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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。) ! c f! v6 @) [& q! v$ [* w. ~( D! C' V- R6 J+ j$ i1 k% F
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) # N. n; f Z$ [4 J) D0 T * A8 @1 K2 B+ N; N$ cWe 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 @/ i, x; _/ f% E
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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) ; V8 F3 ], t0 |5 D0 v; K/ Z. X- Q S3 n: B4 t8 G0 h1 E2 V# q& z, _
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。)3 F1 q1 c- @1 F; w0 g S
^: w5 s3 @3 V! jPlease 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?)7 g% A; U9 h0 p, O9 U. U3 i
6 A) p9 F+ j" T, O, f/ H2 S2 w& ?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!) K3 o/ V# f. p4 v) _
, o) L1 `5 [* ~6 ?: R% a& M! e+ P! _例如: 2 G9 ?8 r L- V3 r4 F- r 4 H; i4 F+ s/ S) g& S$ ?5 }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)- W; u/ d( ]# a. A( I! B" k8 _
7 e/ ~# i g$ d0 rDespite 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)+ b( M# F; R& e' c6 c3 Z/ K# C0 J3 [
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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) 2 C: w6 K O J . z g; U, a# i4 ~8 gHe 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 [& T$ O4 S- P+ k
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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)% ^6 N! O* U# s1 \
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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) ! v! L) e$ d4 z4 Z# k4 B7 w, P4 m' C/ B1 F0 A7 z* G
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " H' ] v3 L# c( Z$ h( x# @$ X' M+ s. I! 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: * w( B; c5 _% a/ l, n* `/ U# A1 n 2 H/ a. _" u, kThe 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 y+ A( f. h* U$ P- S5 X8 S: _" i ; {/ j+ y1 K k, f8 d, z& q$ X6 \1 uThe 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.)( Q+ L" F' N5 ~, I1 K
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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。)4 e# Q4 N+ ?1 ?# e' y, }7 ~
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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) ( s1 m% B4 R9 W6 {, Y2 d+ r; R& \( D( l @
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) 2 J& [: D' X0 {8 |6 s2 O" C# A9 A. o4 V
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)# Q5 V7 r/ w2 L1 J
8 H/ t( Y& E! l: T* a& v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.)( P4 T: D3 W. ~% L; g/ F# w! x+ ^
}& e* _4 ~, a' m% r此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ; |: t) ?8 N5 `1 {1 s/ [+ P# u3 e " A6 C' i$ T+ u+ I; U 4 `- Q( z3 a* F/ H5 @) `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」。6 F q7 R) v# J1 W8 a7 F( W
4 Q4 Y4 n* }& L1 B5 d例如:* D0 j! {! M2 A e
" D/ K( m& w4 IMankind 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) , _ y! W0 f2 M& ^ , @% G/ H4 z9 m' _& [% qManpower 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) 2 d$ a- m. V: f+ T, {9 x% Y+ S$ |4 ?3 T7 ]! t8 `% Z
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) 2 F2 A, V2 m( v* J" D5 v7 @# d* X 0 K+ n/ B$ F" T, O1 `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。)) N8 h3 x' Z: z" q
9 j+ F5 z! Q5 b* AMany 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。)8 @, ?3 e* G1 Z. {+ D) ?6 x
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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) 3 p0 [7 S$ Y D ~% q9 x6 T$ o: K' r- \; @
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) ( F/ s0 G# f( G B" ~! U* y; D1 C5 V& r* a: J- U o
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。) 8 ~; m( S. F2 w. Z B u2 Y9 r! S$ z8 i! N
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。 ' x% I* L, e0 J) v4 ?6 h % |4 U4 m( G) j( ~2 A! y$ H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 c: S9 U7 X" h F" n9 V$ b( t j4 N/ I, ]& L+ ?* 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; ; P& J. e4 M( \4 ~ , z, f- u. ^9 ]# t/ l6 D( T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;: A; \, l8 [* t) Z1 a# [; C
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 x* I9 U7 b9 N) ^7 c+ I/ w8 ~
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : w5 I1 w- Q0 f7 | Q# |3 j4 s i" p% ?( W2 D' {9 x
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:# a$ u: z$ H' ^) c" n( i1 |
' K& i! N* H8 |; d1 e2 |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)。& L" S( G) a" Y" k/ C
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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 [% `5 \5 y5 j) T+ {( M