本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # D9 T7 A$ i: ?# K. l" M/ F5 p: l& Y; v 转帖; H1 i: _( y+ k6 k c; R& X5 E
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), @0 d0 y! v' u! E; T$ X+ Q
* g- h# w) A$ A, K例如: 6 }5 }6 S, @) R1 ` ) |0 c2 N7 j0 X L* nMany 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), M+ h0 k" z& O$ R' ^
# X5 m0 |* a/ {+ F$ N5 {4 QThree 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。)$ j: j5 j/ B( d' ~
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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) + r+ j s) i. P# [1 s8 n* `+ Z$ n L, k5 M" b; L8 [6 `
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?)/ G- a) X7 j" p
0 ?& }9 t0 C3 N7 W3 [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。)3 z0 U/ I5 d' @
* `- O* v. b: N4 O' w, dMr. 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) / |7 f. [6 `- N, c$ i; z0 q7 [) `, W! W3 Z2 M
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!)7 ]) s3 H( [8 H8 ]; t
8 Q. ^8 |% x+ n. yThe 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)7 ]- ]& X" J7 V# ]
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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。) ( B2 V+ Z* O6 m, O( s6 ]; T3 X6 v8 c/ s4 u/ [8 {
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?)! p6 D: U8 \6 M/ `
' I) p- ?3 x% J7 d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!: y6 J0 q# v9 c4 F$ V) Q* Z
' Y+ |$ E# B1 Z% V; ~ ; n$ t% q( Z' {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。 / J! u M; Y3 f, W1 r/ t, m $ U, m' A; q) o# j6 ~例如: . d" C! r& p. ?* N5 V2 w, v+ z- A. r! {
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) 1 Z* ` J% d2 y( i$ @6 O, O 9 G1 a4 a. G1 [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 U* r; }, J, Z! y2 ^5 P6 F& b+ M% t
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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): k) l7 \. w ^& W) p2 Y! ~
* I/ |0 K( d, c% x$ v# R3 J$ VHe 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) / I" _' C; @( U2 B- J7 | ( w7 a+ N& z5 v9 r/ o/ D) Z1 pIn 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) 4 u9 y! ?- S4 H: ~4 J" {$ N+ r" g0 E m; j
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) ! e* e! U, m2 F; T* N6 A" w# B* W0 r+ t" u# C- K8 H4 z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 s b0 T: |2 J; j# F4 i% ~1 `% D- w# W/ P( f0 N
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: % u$ j8 Z( w) {7 F0 U0 p; }0 t - U4 S, D- W& S1 | \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。) : i% t4 B! N7 T8 o# q! a+ e, B4 K( b: [
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.) ; @* E* J- v# C4 Y, k9 I. S+ c E% Y. x: ]9 B1 D4 [2 E% O3 ?
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。)1 Y, R' `3 P' U; o& [+ f$ l
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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)" N: s* P9 _& X6 u$ N7 L
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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) 7 K& A$ ^6 y0 A1 n, t# h9 Y! F/ t7 z
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)0 Y7 u, {3 {$ u7 x- o+ }) Q ~4 B
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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.)4 d! i5 _5 m8 u: w$ ?; R$ y, `
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 * x* u* u% q' m, e5 b& X$ @ ! b6 u" Q" q i ( ?/ P6 L3 g( B7 r' d1 s, [9 s3.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」。 " }- a9 @- p! \4 x% ?4 x5 A$ S: [0 q# _1 f+ ]: R3 ^/ {, d
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, ?" K; y: c- h+ K' C- G* I1 z; t! }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) : H$ A" a, j4 U( E1 e1 j# U' x5 G' x: u# Y( }) u/ ?9 a$ l
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) 0 l1 Q8 N/ x9 r+ ^5 m ! A) |" {1 W3 s& Q3 ?& VThis 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) . u3 S4 S6 H I2 l 6 _9 G+ Z1 B) |: eHe (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。) 4 A( P- S2 h, X1 L6 H) {) ]" z; ?) H# w
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。) 4 L9 v3 f# Q1 B' a2 ? e0 S. w" K! x- A" P4 ]2 `$ vPolicemen (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) + w/ c w3 Y1 M M4 b " J) x' b% a+ N. `. ]- CCongressmen (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) 8 d( l+ j5 g0 [" ]. {1 I/ t* P4 c p' N
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。)+ I2 t* |5 R8 z+ ?6 ^% ?/ z
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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。- Y4 W& f* S3 l$ Q8 d
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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:! R0 V' Y3 X+ R1 `# t