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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 Y/ J. a' x1 G, V8 s- |: z
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! W' w; M* v! _% k2 z( VMany 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) ' L& W& v9 @0 m) C& X" V: E. s1 o. r( ^4 o5 {! o1 G1 x! u- Y' y
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。) 1 Q, m# h4 t9 h7 M7 b X( E6 L# w9 }, e% \9 d" [6 q" n
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) ) r" z; s2 U; j7 U % k+ q0 y1 t {& q; [1 FThe 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?) # m& ~- m9 N6 U " m/ A) u. R/ X+ oI 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 Q8 a- V ?* E1 o o/ o# W
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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)% @6 @: ^! Q9 h9 U. g0 X
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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!) * Q3 W( f u% L7 G" x [+ m/ J " c8 `9 u/ N E$ ?7 S- VThe 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)# X) M; x1 D/ z7 G5 ^/ s
% f! R% C K7 p+ oWe 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。)6 `) g6 u2 N4 G
1 ~: ]1 h( Q& OPlease 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?) $ P+ z; t" c" G- e+ @- p" b! R9 U) r: O
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! 5 i4 t) {; n8 H) F( W& Q8 w $ S* a; j3 c Y, a, D8 s& _" z- @ x6 {* D: G9 |7 e) T5 B 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。. h7 _, w* K" r6 \- K8 `
; Q; s' ?4 ?: k# ?" S- tAt 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) & O" B) t* v8 z0 P5 F: Y9 T. r % p/ m! S0 D2 T: U Q. W& L9 b- ~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) 8 j( s5 m% v; h8 A& \6 D: s4 Z6 o6 U4 k1 L+ C8 y* v% O1 r6 S
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) 2 _: \1 b, s$ m 3 ~0 F S( ]) M3 z; J$ tHe 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) ; Q/ {$ ]/ C/ G/ X& s' A( L; z. _( S* z% p
In 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) S$ p _% u6 P' y& J1 N( @' z5 M+ s2 l& r M) T Y
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)5 s) K+ @' l1 {: o( N3 f- y3 B8 ]
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! L) G8 d+ E( N1 O; y) p: c
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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 o/ w% @4 N9 W9 p6 o$ O
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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。) / @! E9 U! M6 {8 ?1 A3 X I ) e/ s0 Q3 z/ O+ i7 e+ L2 PThe 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.)+ S" w) }- ^& `% ~6 p
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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。) ' Y1 u, j/ o w, M/ b3 J1 w, O: x
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) $ J% J* C. T3 b: U+ A$ j3 ?9 i' }1 D, M# P+ d
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) . o' [9 { y0 z8 O. i % W% t! }% Y' S7 l0 I. N3 R' 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) 8 s W3 d# X m2 b$ O $ e6 Z: x# G( n2 V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.) 7 r( A. G+ a9 {8 M# _. u 9 \1 H% ]1 C0 f/ H# R此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 3 ]3 a8 a( V; t3 D+ O# ]4 p9 v8 h9 H 3 L4 `' S- I1 a 6 M( R- Z/ ?! x* X! k3.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」。4 `7 `3 B: Z; H: \6 v$ o _- p0 F3 w
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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) ( n6 X$ F, u* r2 P. |* z! }& ^ ; o4 o; }1 [3 ?/ C" R2 d( ^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)* W1 r8 `1 {6 ~- Z, g& ]) J* B
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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) ( j( T$ J+ @3 p( ` U7 E8 Z( ?- v) B3 F, Z
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。) % T9 p! ?% I5 `2 h o0 { " k" j4 ]; Y& k& b" EMany 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。)' k: J7 b* Z A! y! a# o' c
+ |* P% l9 I2 x" Q8 O3 F- hPolicemen (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) - y9 u( ?1 J6 y. g( L1 ]$ ^8 ^) g6 h9 I/ e: H) U$ B6 d
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)& k7 v9 u2 y" z: L
* ]/ r2 @. M+ e; o9 j, aStewardesses 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。) ) A8 ^0 f5 ^, p6 ^9 H4 a5 l* B; c. X# d# 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。 5 K! H9 k! ^ \4 S. n+ {$ K$ k0 t1 B' [! J; Z7 G: z: B/ R
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:) O$ n, o- X3 T% Q$ A5 n: x' T
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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;- p- C4 O5 b ?( v! b& |7 h
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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; 8 F# X. a# w8 |8 N; p, m& q% F b2 E4 a+ o5 {% q4 I
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! Z) \( r/ t) Y/ h# H; X9 Q
* E4 J' O5 ~1 I, {* }对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : ^; T* W. G% d$ F3 S! K' d. h) Q2 e* I Z* h
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: S, t3 ]2 n5 v3 Y' y- }! \
2 s" `! R8 P7 T/ c" A9 d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)。" L* @/ h: G# `* T8 k; i) R4 ^
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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)。 / X7 [- z: F! U/ ?* i" a) Q& ^: A2 {