本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / t1 B" j! x5 Y: J, w/ M0 U: {% k
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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)7 c) ?8 S2 l! u/ @+ |
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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) ; w9 i( {: k& |9 h: s * d8 e0 h2 a4 J4 K3 I2 ?7 @( L5 c5 H' eThree 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。) 5 F9 P& L% r/ }6 S: m: X$ F' W, u" } + A+ S$ X5 B. m; j& r0 o* K1 Z fThis 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), [+ ?; K& g4 G C) }& a( d# Z
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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?)' |5 K+ B9 @( g2 c
: ~+ N, H( E. u6 J1 a% w1 Z. v {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。), F+ a7 h0 l- J! X G6 y
5 `7 R% G! g5 u, |: [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) , H1 z) N0 e% r; S9 n6 U; g$ I! H4 V A, y; Y
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 |8 Z; i1 F* h
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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) 3 S) N, R7 t; @% N 8 Y0 z* w% i* J& u+ w5 vWe 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。)$ H# Y* z& y8 l4 W0 R* T
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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?) 4 H2 W* A! B/ E0 z0 S4 `$ f9 h ( @+ a1 r t6 v9 i/ R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!$ G( r) r& T% ^
[; r# {3 T* V8 g+ U$ ?. q7 W9 J 1 M% Y( g! G; h5 ] i4 E2. 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。 6 F! K. O, f9 k. U6 T8 c$ A# q" B2 u9 D/ @+ p
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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) # `3 M( i! x5 A) q1 P : C; s' b+ D, N! {, R0 YDespite 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) ' w' c# t$ w% d) G4 W9 \9 y4 g/ c2 J! G
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) . `9 b% W7 W* K( {7 E6 j1 S7 u4 |( t1 T
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) % }+ r% ^9 X4 d$ D. T2 R) r5 `7 I# S! {$ H
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) 4 |/ C! j+ i+ l3 x+ |# Y * d( P3 J8 Z, q+ r6 IShe 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) 3 |5 h- {0 n2 @4 E T- M$ p/ K. Z/ H
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 A$ B7 M4 k7 z) m5 q" |7 I- m+ y9 u
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:, ?% e5 A7 G) E4 Z' `
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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。)$ P" R9 s7 V) K
6 E* T- r5 [/ p. |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.)$ M8 i S; O8 K6 O3 |. 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。) . w' N' I8 }) ~ + d! `% }- q: l. o6 w; z3 B( h4 f- KHe 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). \6 o# p8 z: s1 R
( ?7 t/ G% Q; w6 Q% AWe 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), m C# N! e, v
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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) 3 o3 S4 f( R, [( `8 W( Y- J o1 p8 u' F" q
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.) 9 h C* a' y0 E& D9 v1 S! Y 6 r" v6 D3 Q: k* r- ]! Q; C此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 U5 W1 @; \3 e7 y4 `/ [
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/ x, M2 ?% K( g% O& E) x3.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」。 5 `7 Q! {" N- ?; `0 B3 E( f( E$ C, A9 Z' S7 p1 B4 P
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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)2 [! S1 D$ T) `# g
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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)9 r# V/ {& d- @7 |1 I
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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)7 ~0 O+ a0 H5 T8 |3 K- ]& L2 m! h
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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。) 8 k* \2 ^; x6 T% C% y4 v. e- h& N ]* e% `" x
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。); N8 N: w% Z% F% S4 z
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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) " R, C' y: Z+ W- ~+ [9 B! X# c& b
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) 9 H; b5 |5 f) Q5 Q& X0 C 9 A4 f/ C$ y/ U% B0 W! ZStewardesses 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。)4 c8 Q- u: S! \# A5 D, h7 a