本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 J) p2 p9 X! s* _! Y! J8 M, J6 U * [/ I, E$ i; X& S2 ~转帖 @; q$ x- }' d' J; p2 E2 ]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); ~# z- s) L% M: P
7 J% X5 x3 |3 e: E7 {$ B2 _例如: " J: N4 J& N; Z- B4 {- ^2 f 9 g& ^2 D2 H! N8 e& Y P. @5 {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 }# ^+ T9 q0 C3 X$ B
# ?3 ~0 L, S# |; @5 y0 K/ c7 _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。) 7 p% E: D6 k# Y0 ?# W! q# U/ b# _8 U& ]
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)0 i' D4 b X3 L2 |+ @$ 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?) " I7 L+ [0 f7 C' a* a" o1 [# P* x7 @; s& T$ o5 T
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。)" x9 w* f4 m7 g/ b
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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 F, `' i6 ?3 r' G! P2 k% f' b) @
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 U" _* h0 v, [# P" p& U/ ^
( Y- V, I1 I- Z+ `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 I1 H9 g" h: j0 v 4 \' u& }/ {- v+ ]: ~ F, @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。) , F0 z- z4 v$ ~& o( G! d# b/ C3 D, ^ z, I+ m" q5 q- g( | K3 c& m
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?)% J' M* s5 A! g- \! g9 K6 k
# [9 |; m' W+ k7 y' O3 P3 P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!9 W1 B/ a! V$ \9 S4 O7 c; D& E
' \4 P. A! y2 x O" M; W0 m# Y6 B2 a l9 H 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。 ; X; U+ i1 b+ h( v) q, l% f* u* J$ M# J5 f1 O: i5 |3 {
例如:7 Q7 `& _( Y' G. X
/ A' i( `, h9 q/ C5 CAt 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) 5 N9 _) B- I9 C3 f# s0 ]' ?8 U4 h, A# z# n! N `
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)7 x# j9 H7 c1 j7 M) A& l
4 P) H, J" F; J l, b! b' ZI 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 S: N6 t2 [& X9 I# q
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He 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+ C2 G& w( Q3 [# J/ E" Q; ]" H9 V1 ?. K1 A) N" S2 B
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) ' X O" j. v4 Y9 ]7 R( M2 b$ Y" b 2 `. e) P; `! u4 ^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) $ q* e2 F8 S# N7 s0 i$ j# X. M3 U) C1 ]9 j
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) - I$ N6 j& e& L6 w4 k% r4 O; J1 Q6 }7 `# B3 {
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 t4 `" ]$ F( s$ [$ m6 O9 c* V
1 U2 _# U/ }. G5 f% _% q i/ ~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。) - E- O4 g7 W$ t, [8 Q & s! W1 ~6 u* Q$ ^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.) . N% R G: a1 k5 R) h6 {4 f7 N& u8 q, r: S
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。)& S3 G, F x" I, c( P( G" _. S
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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 i# a+ Z% Y2 ` f; n , [, k# Y. Z2 h- F) G# k! \7 l, TWe 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 w t( [. d v U) x+ Y6 I/ eEnclosed (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) * a4 C$ v" \/ D" J 5 ]5 p/ S' P `: I+ 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.)- j8 F. k0 }& W1 S9 `7 k
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 9 w; A, j4 _3 I 9 m" Y+ \$ E0 v/ H0 x) h; K2 _ / x+ V) L. n1 b8 A+ d/ W3.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」。 * X& p2 ?' ]8 D + w/ I4 k1 f1 h例如: : h% Z* o7 O, _( Y/ ?- x, A E9 d# i9 Q! L* A
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) ) G. f, E5 Y+ H3 k$ Z. D2 v4 g( A9 H% W. h3 j/ [1 a
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)- f6 _$ m* W2 O
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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) $ r4 W i! M/ [- [2 C8 }* S0 I# Q# q6 I( I
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。): R$ m( m$ Z3 {" E& C/ l3 c
! x5 H$ z3 o6 w2 M/ DMany 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。)* Y2 {7 T$ g5 K8 H; U3 {8 L0 G
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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), X- x$ k- v/ B/ Z. b
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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) ! A+ S; I7 N3 d% d: l1 y5 M8 J% [$ d 1 k# \+ b, s* K2 _8 pStewardesses 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。)7 B+ D# J* A8 G; ?
0 `3 }) }- r' w, d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。 8 A( n; y( q! V [9 K; l% G4 M( q2 Q + D( Z; O0 [* b+ G" N6 z8 |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: 3 M: ~9 k9 l4 @ 2 y* q6 k# d* ~3 ^" {, M# u q' N4 e! s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;( r, T$ i& `7 Z: z, }. _
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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; % Y e7 V# }0 H! F3 N# G 1 E" e% ^0 S; d- F% ~% u对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;& M2 A" z4 P* E. N M: k7 o, k
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;. S8 l/ |3 S) d T: x7 }
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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: " V) s$ F5 Z( g" c$ y2 h0 q: D 1 ?: G' p+ _0 Q X0 ]. w1 z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)。 z9 z A1 K8 A2 o! G
0 S. y9 P3 O, |* 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)。 & I+ S& E2 b, T, \. e