本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 R: [7 m% _% |5 O
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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)$ {3 M+ V, [" J# g( n
4 q* |8 x- @' h2 l. H) B5 {) L例如: % K* {/ |8 h4 c9 T# i6 m- R 2 F- Z+ M2 P6 X2 F6 rMany 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) 2 x' ^5 O' k0 R; |# Y! w# R2 E( w7 c# m
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。) 9 ?" M/ h4 v! M/ X0 f k2 c) l! I; i/ l8 l
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) ; R2 I( L* l4 ?/ a, R, t( i, h! b# i& ~2 ]: q9 f4 d8 j2 Q6 w# ~
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?)1 S0 c) ~+ f; J$ C$ v% P
8 E3 @( c: }5 o+ w0 r A* g3 [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。)8 D o$ V6 m( u8 o
" w& v* l, N5 iMr. 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) U9 E4 Y& e( f& Z$ j. d
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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!)* v5 b. g. D) g+ P9 S/ j
- @6 S- Z5 F. X$ dThe 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)$ k# c l# P3 g3 E0 D
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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。)2 f* u$ T% }: V
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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?) 3 r/ h2 c C/ k0 j0 i3 v0 n, e7 ]. h0 U% |1 P8 K
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! l2 j9 i4 J2 x% C! v5 ~
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1 D5 E+ m' w* j5 _% g3 k4 [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。 , h& C7 p* z3 a 3 C5 n, |( B# m$ ~) C) F例如: ; \) a {6 K& |, K- O0 F3 Y5 R ! U0 O8 C* ~& [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) 6 R5 O8 m9 \+ E! f9 O) Z- ^- Q* A# g" \3 C: }7 E$ {% E/ e
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) 6 T: y2 a7 P* G% V0 O L 9 G8 k2 w0 g% M' q C0 Z) ~. ~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)6 D/ L7 r6 x: \& R2 X) ]% z* I
+ ^1 t( i" d3 w K6 Y. N$ W8 `1 ~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) 6 S( I7 q; ?) {9 d+ V * T, \7 p: ]7 L1 a$ H: e/ l6 w! EIn 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) & f/ `4 \) |: J3 {& _! D( F4 J' B6 v0 X# q( a/ H1 H& c- \8 F
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)2 M( q! K# N; N3 Z8 m
' k$ T7 Q- @0 ?+ mI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( z+ Z) q! o: N& {1 p1 e1 u# ?2 J8 r6 I9 f
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: 8 ^" v; Q5 H' c) a " ~ q* @8 b1 j/ ]1 g4 yThe 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。)( R4 f( r5 Q+ i/ N0 T+ V; |) ]
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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.)/ {# k$ N4 ~, n* P/ y
6 u5 S" r3 W) p( K+ j$ e5 T! RHe 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。) ' Z' Z6 ], S- J* T4 Z. C# @ 6 f1 Z6 q5 h3 |! p i# A: ]( UHe 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) : s% c4 z9 V; f! g2 B2 \! S/ N. ^: q% e0 [8 R# c/ y8 \7 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), @; ?4 J+ l' d9 y
& F( ~( d4 e/ ^" G5 V+ x( G( rEnclosed (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)0 i2 k( W' u% {- l
2 B3 h8 _, \2 {5 a* L9 n, p- L1 {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.) 6 R8 s* f% y# S+ N/ o9 q7 z+ v8 K9 Q3 Q
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。6 p, ^* ~4 L0 I8 {# J
9 b- d5 z/ r/ k' I0 k# q* A3 c a! }. B" a 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」。" {, O# e. [: t& w1 n1 }: S5 b
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# m s. K9 S4 Y. F5 B9 sMankind 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)) r3 V" {' n0 \$ P# c
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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)! O9 M, y; }. k$ D D8 l2 M
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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) 8 a) y# p* S" s3 ^' d* s1 C7 e3 A + K# Z" i4 I% v9 G$ I/ O/ UHe (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 I0 n I! |- S0 p
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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。)8 I" V7 J) x* j6 a4 R
+ i4 |) ?9 J, W' ]) {1 uCongressmen (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) : T' z! ~' @" w8 k; s7 i6 W + ]3 n4 H6 _+ X4 F/ { Z; _' UStewardesses 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。)3 @' T' u1 y0 n" q% K" Z$ H: t
; K7 k. Z6 X( s! _+ @( e$ {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。' A# f% e R3 d9 ?. K
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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: ; _+ X# v8 k! c. z* c: B0 v# s# o! @/ k6 K7 f6 I
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; " W- j) K5 K2 ^" x. x( @8 [6 E, D# B2 U N/ a. {
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; & K1 e( L# @) u. Q6 J) H 3 x' E/ e* b; Q( _- N7 O对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 f1 @- a' K$ `( U
, j3 E0 O( g2 ]2 \2 ?对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ( W2 c& \/ l) h1 R' y1 |5 P 1 o4 w5 z1 b) w/ J: }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:2 P- q- [2 [6 x+ T I6 o$ O1 n1 M
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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)。 . x' u0 O# H$ _ 0 D5 w- Z! q3 [3 `7 D+ _" T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)。 , |# r$ \2 |% }: v