本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - L! A F6 d/ p1 [, a" ?* X o$ H ! i8 b) w* \- J W转帖 ) A( M3 V+ L7 L; S$ n1. 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)5 ?+ X# x% H* K' {. \8 b7 ]
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; S+ s' F2 S7 I; k+ a1 R) [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)/ y3 U; j1 j( D0 J
# {' h t* G% g; pThree 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 G! Q7 Q% [( G) T
1 ~5 M. d" o; nThis 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. a' L2 D0 I' ]. ?7 {1 b) c: o% B
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?)7 L+ x+ H* x7 }! G+ |
% W/ T) h2 `$ y+ ]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。) 0 a/ q, k1 x. q+ a2 O: [. T# N * y( Y2 Z- H( l) r% i5 \4 [) Y) ^& x" cMr. 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 S E' u) M+ A. C) f
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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!)3 g7 C7 F( L+ l( y! ~) d3 G3 l; `
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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); \% O# j6 N2 v6 O
6 ~: Z2 N6 a+ g8 K( }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。) ( X- h; H' o" t) W( q S1 O$ m& d; ?; r+ q7 WPlease 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?): g' |$ A" }3 @/ j/ k+ z! I
1 J8 g0 ~, Y" ^3 u( G$ ]+ 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!- M, J% ^3 Y7 Z6 A
% y: Z1 A( G- x: c, l # G* u* ?7 b5 \0 S$ `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。 ( R7 P0 ~' A Z7 U# I( l- F# A' v1 }- P) N, @( C
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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)$ u- H! G+ w/ _! ^3 [* F' y, a
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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) % R7 d5 q, G0 m/ j; D3 {4 n( m. t& B; n: R
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)- n5 [" M2 p, `: `$ P5 J: R) C K
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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) 1 a1 A2 n7 `4 x5 n3 c8 D. M7 P( c; u8 I# [( `2 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); |( b" Y9 r. H) k" }+ |" ]
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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) , V' ~. ~0 K; f: b4 k# a2 u5 k1 g( W$ D5 z2 }. }! H' x: U2 T2 ?0 g9 y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) - Y0 T# \: \% |8 e Q , D7 @" [5 j1 {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( M5 R) F+ Z" Z* D% m0 K
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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。) 3 B; ^/ |3 q1 U) v: N, H* u* T$ O; @0 [1 Z P' O6 g7 j) D5 Y. I
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.)* i; E2 V6 x9 T" J, u9 d
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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。)0 l$ M8 l7 V6 n" p
2 i1 I" A; Q" W/ j# e. AHe 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) 2 k: _& ]$ T1 Y4 _$ R2 p+ g* f* ?: l) d) ]1 S Y8 T; l) S
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 r- \ u6 b$ Y N, o - M$ E: u6 a1 H& G) S: J/ TEnclosed (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) T3 `+ W t0 c5 G. L# h/ @
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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.) % Y" M1 ?+ Q; q% A: w7 o. y & o( l; f) E% U+ g- J5 n此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ( W+ k% T7 J& u+ e. P. d& ^5 ^; L6 p* t" ?( @6 R
8 ?2 Y7 K# t9 ], A9 r 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」。) E" K" J$ X9 b$ {5 T0 b
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例如: % [$ W8 U+ i" O . y: p/ g+ I" V. z: fMankind 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)# R T2 Y+ k! N% p @
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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)! g/ C" }" i. h7 c5 k
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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) . u; ~5 J% E- J w5 S# T % d$ g4 n" K3 d, L7 h) |2 tHe (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。)$ b i! p l8 f$ ?
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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。)& i+ T- e0 f K* T
6 B: L- c2 N4 `* u4 N5 X3 oPolicemen (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) " r; T, V, U4 W; `0 c0 c- { y) w
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) $ k& j) T' B$ e / b* O# q# C$ }- a* m. @! j% UStewardesses 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。) ' c, E" u4 W5 O7 r- L) Q9 C: I7 h( a5 @8 {: ^1 h, L
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。- C$ u9 ?6 T9 i- n) |7 S$ d. C
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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: - z3 q$ B$ A1 P+ B; l3 f1 l5 p7 t( P! d$ g* t
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;0 I2 R2 V; J# G0 ~
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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; 4 L9 C' I( v2 ` 0 V/ a' n; B i. J对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. N, d: E! O/ ~1 ~0 V& ^; P
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;1 r% |6 L' J/ i4 ^% M
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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:' W6 _" Q+ E0 v
0 H+ S3 `+ k9 L1 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)。 7 A" S9 _5 L. c6 F/ |% I Z, n/ G+ z7 W/ G7 X2 r# b* p
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)。9 C( r# ?5 v* W O/ h