本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( r; F1 @. e& z% D/ R% e
1 P2 G; c w( ?% [2 J( u! W' O% L 转帖 ! ~3 M' C x( d1. 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) ; E. a+ s Y9 k. A4 d& e1 O 5 c; Z4 y; K) u, L u4 b3 U例如: ! d0 h8 w) T) y" ~; X / E3 K/ k5 D" AMany 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; s" P+ t' o! z/ p5 h( V) ^
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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。)" {3 Q0 {& |& U: ?; B
" O, q, u+ m4 b. f+ Q# y# eThis 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) ; N$ c3 f: l: ]" u! z! k. `5 u8 p7 p5 O1 q
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?)5 h7 g$ I6 I* |: H& \/ K+ c! G
6 [3 }5 k7 p6 [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。)# S1 C$ e. }6 u8 b4 ?8 D
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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)! Q e+ Z$ B7 B7 {9 B9 T" p
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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 P) m! r9 Q# o7 {+ K0 x) |) A' P* n3 U5 m. `* s" }
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) & }# P" P' b9 s n3 W8 w9 H. @3 W
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。)' n& ]2 {1 x, H+ K e) b
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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?) : l( L* a6 L/ j6 Q% r) o / b: v6 b9 j" k6 A3 l/ 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!' I' W% V" C" `8 E; p
0 h8 y- L( X! A, g4 C3 F5 ~$ W5 j% S 2. 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。 $ _* Q* G; X6 f3 O, ^* W/ w- k2 U3 j) m8 y* h6 `% z Y
例如: * r7 P7 x# Y0 r/ _! R3 G4 P. r0 f ` O& A; [
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) ) `" i% V, K% f, u; y9 R6 Z. J- I( i4 V6 R" G
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) 9 l8 E6 ^2 |0 U3 H0 H( H # k5 u. K5 \& l! D3 a% `" H5 {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) k7 E9 H3 K8 j6 F
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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) % e0 X0 q- @( J" k+ l 4 ^. m0 n }) G( @1 A2 h+ FIn 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) y2 @- s' ]1 C5 |
; E% l- }% O) Y6 |5 R! iShe 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) ' y# x& [- o+ T! Y$ {3 k" K3 f 7 [2 r* I& T- g( b4 P/ V8 ^& II will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 2 ?+ K- m% D9 L. g6 B4 R. j0 U, k( J3 r: `
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:" V$ E" E1 c1 \, O& i: J
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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。) ( Z8 a( d0 {! L , B$ S5 I4 O+ y! z. ? t8 f. FThe 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.)" \6 P1 y( U/ P5 \+ f
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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。) 9 E" L2 n% p" b8 S% B: g& }0 {* E5 u/ Q+ S
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)( z) l0 p+ j! Y3 ~% G
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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) ' a* d( [' F: \+ W) g5 I3 }: Y2 b# S 8 H8 { p2 E' G, q2 ^- N! e9 YEnclosed (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) ! C& ]; ~# V; I, R% h" Y 4 d4 i/ f! S, s. ]) ~* B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.)( t! f/ ~ l* `
$ E/ B) x9 j6 }. T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & D1 \+ e: w6 E! O! Z) { t/ U' I7 t. U7 C
, `& H# A2 x7 p2 o1 J& x/ E$ a3.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」。 r) J+ b! A% ], k) x p 8 A/ r( {: T! \0 S例如:1 h2 S- S9 X1 D6 G" R
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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) $ R0 Y, v2 P+ o6 K$ \$ p7 }' s' A & q G0 M5 q( c G/ e: p: vManpower 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) 4 a% N4 E% l7 s; E 0 U5 b& I! K5 H* A6 U d% yThis 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) " Y ^ ~& O" W6 |$ ~6 P+ \- Y) |- ]3 J5 S3 f' ?
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。) 7 F3 s5 Z& E; N& c+ r0 p# ^ I ^: R% n. Y3 a4 q
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。)8 B( E% {0 b' G) S
5 \, p! Z M* w: LPolicemen (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) . o K# k# B6 A/ i* d2 {2 R u( }0 q9 O- u) a
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)% s, y# u. x5 p! n( y/ d7 y1 c
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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。) 5 V" m- K+ ?7 i4 F8 Y& N/ a 0 C9 g7 M' m" I2 o" G$ O0 ]8 t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 b/ d z. N5 H 8 E$ [' [) s$ V" m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: & ~4 t: T" K/ O9 K5 |7 ` / |! T5 ]1 J6 T/ _% e% k0 l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;# I. U- M9 F( \
! A7 h8 L6 S: F( S N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;5 y" C" b; h' r+ g1 l