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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)% H+ U @$ r: n! y
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例如: ) ?5 v3 l5 Z% X; I1 I% y P3 ]6 Q0 ?* m ?. n
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) 1 T& X9 |; L+ Y* j9 Y0 d5 ~/ t% j$ Y0 J& D( L2 b7 |, c
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。) ( m" s# K9 l0 ?; g, w E+ C % O1 P) {, i7 C. i m- Z: W/ vThis 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) 7 f6 A5 V, w4 W! p7 U @4 k) n v: T8 K
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?) & i* c' `, C! F) y5 `' S8 d) _+ {2 ~* L! b5 J z4 }. U/ t5 ]: w
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。)" d% i2 g7 z% [
( _, X$ H F; K; K. Z1 ?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)4 c2 d% x* n% T2 |2 n0 D* j
7 K* P7 h4 o) u3 F5 }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!) , \0 F1 | ~4 o7 p8 f: @ e( n2 M! P3 A( d& E' }: q+ {8 v' y
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) 3 }% e6 M: h/ _1 ?( V' c$ N $ t0 R7 a* q* X. w. B9 L, j3 nWe 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。) : u+ B J' c) W) o: D / c d" w" P N+ N) e) l& h% |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?) + R; [' L' X# c7 v: a ) M- f+ p! ~7 y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!- t |1 X0 m: H: m- i
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2 x1 @2 x2 S/ w! c; u2. 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。 7 E7 w: ?, } s( Z. C! t5 ]; h' |* S& Z5 E7 R9 }) c; T7 U
例如:$ s& Q6 b! u0 r
+ s7 A; W: v3 V6 |5 RAt 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)% y$ Y4 a: u8 k0 ?% {. e# K3 |0 e
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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) ! h8 _8 K: R! B+ z0 Y. X( v& G 8 r7 p0 o2 L) JI 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) ! i6 {' b1 m& \+ D . }$ F4 M* B' t* y3 SHe 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) 5 i7 r' X$ ^+ B9 w; q) ?3 X2 h3 i% @' X: P2 O _' \
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, O/ v& V% C
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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) 0 R, Y" l' Z# J 4 d# v9 C( p2 Q0 R+ x" W* LI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; d0 y: E& C1 r% b$ @ H4 ?' d, W" G% u6 U6 y
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:/ {& [5 l! }2 {/ U7 q3 r
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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。)8 U+ @5 i0 P R- {; f. n; [
" _/ a7 g& N Q" n% z6 h# H$ tThe 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 r* v8 _+ p+ C- p( V& X+ W6 C8 Y9 m
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。)& Q* `: I0 @* B9 e( \1 a
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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) 9 r. ?# `* `, S; o) a1 e, G# P. @: x9 a% x8 L
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) 7 w5 |6 c+ Q! H _8 U- B 5 y1 X/ U& Y: P' k0 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) ) Z- ?" d( _& O2 k2 @2 q 7 N* e* Y5 V: y' ?+ Q6 e4 p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.) $ U. ]1 O% l7 u5 X, ~$ s: } ( j7 x5 I P. u( \4 j8 @4 S此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / { s8 }, M, @9 ~' b) v4 g0 j8 o- I# u * N0 A% r" N$ j1 s8 u1 b5 q, [. h" \' |% j: F: \4 G 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」。 , A. }0 k t/ ~- i* \6 o( k2 D7 [ ! o: w- R+ l0 c, U& j; I/ c, P例如:. b" R% S9 S& I+ @) Z
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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)0 R0 A/ u1 [6 E7 I" m$ f% F
. N' @6 ^% V2 b% b2 uManpower 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) X$ i# l9 X8 a1 [$ Y% i' s* P % O* I0 {1 o3 ]' 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) s _2 W5 p, x5 s) _$ v! U( c
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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。) ; |! A5 Z; | J4 r; g0 Y / W7 W# k- d1 n8 k% a( {. jMany 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 }. x2 R0 d3 ~ |0 q. ?4 U. t/ @( R ! X+ F& D( c% ^6 Q+ W: YPolicemen (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) . s% @4 W4 R+ T; l# N' m9 o % f) U" d, \2 ?0 u! w" I' OCongressmen (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) ( A( q% z D/ \7 f* o' l ! ]! |& D% X. t6 L6 ]+ U+ n" ]0 Q8 MStewardesses 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。) w8 d; K8 Q5 \+ I: ]0 t0 D F; A/ U; J. Z
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。& Y" E- `7 D( {$ n/ }% X
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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: . s1 y, X3 O8 Z; [# k( o B; @% d0 m2 m4 a3 t$ j
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; / T+ n' O' I! I: N) D6 w7 O+ d) R/ `6 R" y% R v' d
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;, A% n. T2 {" J. [
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( P8 y# K) V# [4 A4 [; |2 i( D: H3 p. Q. @2 S
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;0 W& t4 m* b8 r' i7 r
* |$ l- a3 g- g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)。 ( k7 n% L. z& f