本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " R/ X) m, w' n' v8 N- s 5 O5 U* \" L- Y# L' P; F9 A转帖, @) k6 g4 q* J2 z: d9 C& s! 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) 9 R0 f! I w) [/ F% y* p: S2 t0 s4 `
例如: & Q5 d& A, D- { 1 r- R8 Q4 q5 @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) ; _; \& b4 k( W D9 @! ]* z/ k8 q& @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。) ) U Z+ A8 z1 b( F) r; X$ g9 |& P/ e/ Y( g" ~& p6 M" e, I& v8 h; b0 d
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)# C$ l% I9 y# S1 O6 V
- X: |% \: F6 h2 OThe 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?) $ K% |, |! a5 l3 D; z/ v / F8 [, @& G5 u7 RI 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。)4 A8 [6 J. f! ]( d3 A, n0 J/ G$ 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)! n' \5 C: q7 H5 S4 c
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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!)& X: O2 P$ ?4 k, a7 s
& {3 M" m( Z* d7 V$ {5 O% Y/ C; }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) 1 Q' p4 X" ~0 b3 ~) N$ `- Q p! }9 H& o+ p
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。) Z1 g; G2 L0 U$ l' m6 {$ q
$ ?1 h1 @% ], KPlease 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 T+ I# E+ }& t
7 h* Z0 Z/ D/ _9 c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! # a2 U' d# R! E! F( a! J6 L+ k. E: @0 W/ s3 ?& x p1 B9 H
, u8 m, [; E! y7 n+ L2 Q0 k2. 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。( c% X, I' U4 e3 e$ t
3 X& b% f) b3 o例如: ( }2 P4 _7 w% X* U) x7 Q& P3 t " N& h: {3 l1 c- u( t0 j aAt 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)' @, ?' g6 ^* o
. _: \! g( |5 e- h+ o oDespite 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) - F# ?9 H# Q6 |6 `' O; n( b; @5 ?( r* ^1 x( [0 Q4 W: o2 {
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), B! U: X+ N5 S q/ n
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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) ~ ^# g+ u/ |. s
. L# [$ f0 C" g8 M' QIn 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); t& w. ~! J8 x) F
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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)* n5 ]1 E8 j; ]/ h8 a Y( U! w
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) C5 B1 R5 j9 A$ B9 ]; M( ` o$ Y. I- R: 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: ' r. R0 x( s4 g4 g' L) G( r. ?" F0 i1 P& Z) E' k
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。) ) k W5 \/ P" X& C" Y# x0 } ; Y; j) f' _3 V, A9 Q+ O) Y% k6 \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.) ; ~: b" A) @" N" t$ A; L, Y0 K: }, S) \/ P. P* j
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。) $ x3 m' z- k, Z8 ~, l1 R- t1 i L9 U, R# N/ I7 d$ {# |5 i
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)* }" ?* P5 V$ W3 [
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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)4 O3 A* O/ t( M" ^4 H4 ~
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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)6 g+ x# L, E) e
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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.)/ `1 d' p: _6 o$ f: w
( ?& X/ i& N8 J) d! y6 Z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 9 y8 U, k) t7 L 3 N5 a9 }% D T( l; g ; q0 ?8 a7 p" f0 |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」。 : _- Y3 Q4 I9 `4 j6 Z6 B * \7 [1 N3 t# {+ f, V例如:' K3 Q5 L% l$ i5 L
8 P9 }, S, }3 P! K+ l% lMankind 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) , Z k: l% }3 P, S: T( i( } ( x2 x) }* S* D3 _, ` b: {/ hManpower 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) : Q- T* K9 j1 v6 w% W$ K : j& i6 T$ L5 |8 I6 kThis 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 ?* h! a6 \1 ^ R9 o: i: \; o8 A# E# A) C) C m4 |5 K
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。): r; P% R: T. P! W
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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。)% f% X7 S9 D5 F8 ?, P- ~3 L9 q, Z3 V
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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)9 N1 `- B* k% B) x- B
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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) ; _: ~( o) P0 J) z+ C5 G# }) } D& l) U( d3 ~, F& K( g
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。) $ D5 T/ r( l- l% m5 y" j . \ Q& I E: D* n- _ O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。2 `% c: [5 h2 k1 F/ S r& L9 n
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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:" Q/ ~, B" S7 _, V/ k) i! Y: B5 u* ]% ^
5 x) e: N8 J J; H1 g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;) e8 v/ d6 g% {6 L
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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;* Q6 N" Q8 G) e5 \2 F! s/ V
% i' j' @# K8 Z+ n8 P0 @8 G( E对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;/ S% z: N& d# h" i- N, Z$ w/ _
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : e: ?/ p# V5 Z# {. Z 8 V; n! j1 H' g: D* |6 y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: 4 ^7 m. i. A( n! v6 e. T& @. R, ?# ]; F( ?' a$ g
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)。 $ [, D' Q/ N# c3 t( z" b6 L w T# Z* q0 f/ m9 h# V
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)。& C' F! u. g: N" @