本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % b1 E+ I$ ]% M7 l U. h' V1 w2 g. z3 q转帖( H6 V3 O# s( ?; ]& n
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) . Q. L- M. F& D6 R0 i - x, m1 ~" W2 S: g) N( O% r# B例如:' I0 W- ^5 d2 R: P8 W9 x
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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)6 D( P' e) L* Z; z
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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。)4 y n U4 a! I: _
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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) 4 k+ {- a+ H( c7 P9 e7 |$ J4 d( c. y+ w+ T7 r& h$ } ?1 n) c
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?)8 F: p: H) ?6 k" j$ q/ M
6 G4 w8 C6 N, \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。) 2 ?) W& g: W3 u" u7 Y4 V / k5 i0 k% T, s* VMr. 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) : n2 L. n$ |( W! s( [9 x% a% A1 x r- b& ^' \" n' w" P
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!) * n$ l, R5 `4 e! V8 I! U* H% ~6 o$ E& S2 X
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), N' b4 }/ l0 p x% d; j" c8 S8 b
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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。) 5 S- `4 n* D6 J5 L3 T# r; k4 L $ O- B3 {, Y/ ] O8 i- rPlease 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?) , Y. N" |: \6 u3 k4 k0 B( F' {! Y; d" O4 Y1 f4 c& A! h
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! ! u8 e6 t" @3 K( N 5 J" i0 ~9 ]" U. Q0 \' {0 B* z+ J! A3 Y; v% l P+ @/ t8 ~2 n/ O+ r 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。 t& o9 w s% m) W( D) M
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例如:9 s" \! K. z. M/ x8 w
1 Q% q0 g" a6 w- Z2 QAt 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) 0 s4 Y) W/ g# [0 ]/ n- g. U) g! u" O/ \3 k* O5 }# ?
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) ) C/ P k: P6 o, F * h0 @: `, J5 W5 J3 g; _$ p: E' G& 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)6 a& l# _ G" R6 G) t3 z
% s& z9 S8 u- R5 h3 i7 U) c5 KHe 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)- ]" [( t6 G! W# _$ U
- Z; C7 [7 `9 c+ WIn 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) $ l, o' V+ [! M + O( u% K* `. gShe 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)3 j5 e! Q4 t' ^) o3 \2 A4 @# V
% Z" ^9 w9 @, U3 mI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 \$ f( F3 f- F' G Z) m; Q6 \( G9 J
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: 7 A- Z9 c- ^" A" }- ^( ?! e; q) c9 R" b3 F
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。) U: H+ ~7 ?, f5 z z
( I3 U% o6 E) m/ ]; l( i- \7 n7 I# IThe 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.)1 J3 F1 e E' {, V" D' C
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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。): y2 S, G- d; z
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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)* S$ g# D# n. o' P& h Q8 W( u8 z
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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), E3 ?$ Z! i$ y5 j2 t0 R. r
. Q" Z! D* H# _1 N; H& p# WEnclosed (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)5 {8 p% g) q4 t/ y [! u
5 R- D8 P/ ~8 Y9 s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.) $ X |7 H- U u& c$ V3 T' \. m + S! `# d6 J# I; `/ L0 r: O此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" x3 i4 t) y/ O6 Y
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. O. \6 q. k) Q# i" ]- [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) ! V7 h8 c, L* H. y* }; A ) `- C7 o$ D* I. }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)! i- j- q. e5 N
1 U5 z% Q8 i. `; ~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)! d/ B* E! q! i: G# w) J- T
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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。)$ ^& e9 K: e [& J# f3 Q
. H6 Z: _% ~+ Q$ ]- ~" wMany 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。) ( \& M# g8 o- f" i1 |( m0 K+ j0 J# |2 E4 n J7 T
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) 0 ^; }& F5 R/ {1 B) h! d; L7 R" i1 T/ R6 v
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) 5 a/ Z" ~, F& z2 I, |5 M1 }$ `/ v2 g$ P" a* l
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。) 3 _8 {& D0 D0 u( W! q+ W) X3 f8 g/ G9 B
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 q0 m- v# m- d 2 E" o8 } f. r# `% J1 k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:* i9 F0 F3 r) `7 H4 Q9 Q# e2 E
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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;' R4 @4 K6 J0 D. O+ J+ s+ f
& a1 q/ b" L1 ~$ o Y" q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; ( F! d y- A8 [% }! o$ L- L, P- J$ l5 B! ~2 c
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ g5 i: {8 x f, L8 Q1 v0 n: r- e3 z" X3 K8 n
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; . F* u9 n* Q7 j: d/ Z5 j - w; ?0 Y6 e# |' y5 V; h1 }( E' @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:$ l2 [) F. f w
8 c$ y, d9 R- J5 q- c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)。0 a u7 C+ I: f' B1 t
" a& C$ e6 e% h1 P1 u8 v6 \9 ^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)。8 a1 N# A! x& c* }+ d/ f