本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - y6 s. K. s; D9 T6 L3 M/ S6 d! g. T6 B! b! }0 m 转帖" q' ?. g% r4 ?3 K' ?4 _ v
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) ' e) u. w2 d' L3 p8 e( R; U J5 X+ r$ y% i! B
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: m0 h! M0 i* K" B3 dMany 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) ; ~5 t/ h. _: H1 J8 x& J: S" o& n& F6 m( z2 {( v' ^8 U% S7 \
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。)# h# B9 `& {3 }
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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)5 u ^3 X4 W' e8 l& q4 X; w9 b
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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?) 0 `" A& s4 P7 q/ N, k% o ) Z* ]0 a' P6 f* M5 `7 j& Z! SI 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。)7 p1 r; L/ |: E$ t2 B
) K: z: R5 _0 ~* o6 f4 ~9 D2 UMr. 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)2 G3 ~ Q- ?2 i
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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!)% [. X2 \* \8 r( |
' z# t5 J/ }; i) u8 z6 `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) " |9 [+ a0 u; m* t h+ _/ p' L( W4 ?+ yWe 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。) 1 h! y# Y% Z9 {% G* X. \/ n4 K4 s. D! K; g' K# z2 d( |. v
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?)5 T9 T; b4 q$ u6 m, [
! m4 R: v1 B, j u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!" @: V9 @$ n1 C+ `. H& V' ~
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9 v* ?) |$ ?9 \. a 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。 1 }3 P2 c+ V& L3 j & d% X: N$ F k2 B0 |例如:* Z) ~: `9 l- C: H
; I4 e) k+ ?+ W* ~& o+ d& [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)0 R9 `6 u- d) M; v5 U
7 U, [ w! K% M, kDespite 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)" k" \$ N0 ?: l- u" C' L
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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)' ~" g) G ]( \7 E4 a- m7 U- t
. K9 C0 W& J; d, }- H$ d5 ]; aHe 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) ) A0 B3 y5 C$ w; S' _ 5 ^! P& ^5 V* r7 mIn 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)7 F8 U& x5 q' s2 q' F3 y: ^: N
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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) - L [: K% C( ?" Q; Q; b- r9 d% x# M; r
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 6 K6 N0 C5 v/ m6 G. _' R. T5 g8 U7 W% i0 o, f& B1 ]
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:4 y" N& B/ O5 z4 D7 y j& A- w
; d: C1 V ~1 I; RThe 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。)9 G" x, B+ u% |4 L8 U& ?6 y% g
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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.) . }; h& q7 Q3 @% U# ~0 m 3 o( a4 }0 Q5 D/ g( i4 P9 eHe 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。)0 {3 j! k3 z- U( {6 h8 w2 V& O
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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) : z% E. {' K/ {8 M+ E- |/ o$ I' j' i6 j) b+ m7 ?
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)5 X) ]2 {! `: f, I/ n0 @! |* F
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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) ! \/ {( {( s3 u6 ~( y; Y- Z. @/ Z1 H5 ^; G4 |# E& H9 j" S7 e' d, A
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 @' n' ~: Y* r4 S/ J: D7 C
$ h- F! `) ^0 H" I; K此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 3 l. t4 ^* w7 x! t% ?- X. N1 W4 E& ?/ `
g2 a6 r) u+ ~8 F 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」。8 w7 u! U! L5 N$ u
5 o. ^5 K" O1 J2 a: i例如: - b$ T: W" L! `- H; } 2 f; F p% j- p; X; pMankind 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) 8 S& _; e9 Z L8 ]# ?) h' p" M" }- T. E9 M
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) ; V% |/ J1 v/ J1 y # P$ _% z9 U% p2 i0 K1 NThis 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) , Q8 q0 C5 m+ Y" g8 K9 Q+ z B5 _; E/ v- }' b9 aHe (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。)8 `3 z4 a1 o! p4 [- x9 z
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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。)6 H( g9 B9 w5 {5 R/ M( d
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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)& i) O' I& M. ?' W- b; Z k
1 Y8 b; V7 T) D4 }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) 7 y; e* l: }5 @9 D0 F5 B% D . j& [4 U. ?* J: H( ?5 j/ d/ rStewardesses 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。)$ c2 F. X; q: n7 B8 o# u3 ~, t8 L5 `
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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。' W, b5 G" z9 L8 ?: O
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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: ' M4 U0 v% n9 b" {$ a+ H( X" W4 \# r8 J6 m/ R7 ]5 B6 l: D
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;, A0 n9 y* }5 r) E9 q" j p
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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;# C% H: p$ c* L: K0 Z5 C8 s$ u
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 0 l l1 j% d+ h& m( G4 _ $ m: ]' x' i+ B) x& z% w+ b对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;7 B1 I& Q& U! _; ]
8 F- g( y4 p$ w5 U' ?6 m2 O( f4 `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: / w; k1 l" w& E* `% E C* R7 ]8 y, o; o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)。 1 J1 C$ ^! I# z1 ?# P& P" j. P) [7 x) v1 [( a% _" r! ^8 ^
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)。1 x, ^% O# w# _! z, Z