本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 X+ S# l" v, X+ D; `1 i. e$ p: w" c8 y1 y* f! A3 H 转帖1 H1 M5 H) v+ f9 y% f/ d
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) 4 ?9 t2 e- g L% j" j$ H% G7 C 2 R; Y! ]; y! D, F例如: 1 W9 k" F: \. w+ T+ }# g r( b " v; F( K. Y6 BMany 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)- D9 O7 {6 c6 j4 c4 [. B
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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。) ; I4 K# d" K. k: z5 j, I. m, d+ I+ f& M9 F7 p
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) " Y* j8 Q4 Q" _ C- s) N4 b* l4 e3 `+ C* r6 t
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?)6 k2 L+ W$ j Y) V* q# E0 ^- M& Y
( c: }5 G! K4 b' }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。)( c; E& r; |- [+ L8 [. B
7 T2 }8 H! b2 \0 |* |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)' a; l4 P- e& w1 t
" g! e7 Y# v& Q6 l. ^6 SWe 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!). q! ^' G! m6 Z
7 `" ]. y3 l' g% l/ XThe 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)! [) K4 M# ]7 D8 o% h$ @
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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。)1 g( W1 x* m) R5 p* o: ]
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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?) r. ]3 D3 a; M8 g% p + V/ ?, T8 ~4 _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! 5 D0 O* D; k$ d1 V* L- `/ R N/ Y
1 h1 L# D' Q9 [! C2. 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 o- Z7 e8 r# `6 z% S+ ]
6 I: B" n. N0 f* U例如: 8 e7 l# V1 W( W& S / S/ E1 \! h2 e+ h8 hAt 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)7 |, J2 j, a! x1 x/ \2 o/ L7 u
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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) ( n% [+ Z0 ?9 E$ H1 \2 `9 R3 S" v+ c7 C; \* B/ e5 n9 J
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)0 O" U! R! b+ f) ?% ]
& p. Q3 ~* O) d: [2 S- xHe 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 @4 u7 s5 Z5 D- m . t9 w( }) j3 w: H1 H* G& ` ?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) * ]( t/ @8 k7 z8 F5 b& F0 @" A, }1 p7 h0 y& a( E
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) : q5 i' n1 d L1 h: D$ S6 F$ E ( M4 ?# C6 b, f& cI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)6 A5 H3 ^# V" z. v* f7 I8 W+ y$ a
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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:1 N1 ]2 R! N G6 i
7 c# ?9 D& | z( O; v' Y/ o; y5 `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。) % o; S8 j6 C" X. F# d% @ 1 L/ v9 C9 Q: m9 S gThe 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.) ; ^) s1 \+ H6 j- {" ^$ A7 d 7 t: g0 z+ i6 B) n4 \: xHe 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。)4 B8 L, ?1 M: B7 h: Q& X" u
) u. l% o5 g/ g1 |' sHe 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) " x4 R. j, z, I5 J5 l( U : C& F* u2 w& f8 U- \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) " U4 q" P( K4 L ~4 Q . A0 u1 G% U+ n# P6 BEnclosed (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)2 d. } s/ N. ^" S9 s' S( P
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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.) ! g" s+ X: ?7 v. L+ `9 Q( x7 C [0 a% \+ n5 F2 _
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 K3 u9 _: o% K. l2 X$ T0 v& X
, w8 y* @- p" u7 i4 @/ W 7 I6 q b* t; c3.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」。& V) X. I: o5 S5 r, A9 e
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例如: ! f' i$ X# Z+ V. K C, V $ M% p) {9 V) y( UMankind 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) $ P# E3 S- [+ U# f7 o 9 o& P7 [: l9 xManpower 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) * e1 k ] g; W1 b( S % J# _; J- N J* R3 eThis 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)" d& C" w; [4 L3 Z
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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。)+ P- _0 ~( J; _& G! G1 v1 L) u
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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。)4 A, ?- y# }% F1 U2 c
& A2 O0 w* c5 j& A* c7 L; g5 [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) 8 s# C0 v% G3 a/ Q( s/ u1 x( ^& g ' Q z$ K+ D4 D- \7 RCongressmen (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)1 A) T+ m( Q6 A' y7 a1 x' p# M
9 U0 R/ ?% J% L; B2 r' }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。)% ~; v2 S1 l9 s; r2 G' F
0 s- x2 ^, @8 V* T2 w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。# T6 [2 \* S7 B
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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: . t/ F' |6 E3 e. e! D% d" W! C# M3 v8 {5 G0 j& I1 m; Y
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;. b: C7 \% |" Q4 M3 p
6 j5 b3 I, A j3 M4 q. ~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;; F+ S, D, v& O. `) G
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;: O( K( A p9 k7 f1 k1 |$ w
5 v( {6 a$ } z0 F# j0 J+ ?# e {对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;6 ^2 I5 O2 m' O2 O4 Q
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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: ( {. e/ L8 Z0 \% {; v; k: J- P4 d. \3 L0 l3 q+ K% b! k
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)。 9 p* d5 @2 [) u" W' U- A; X- _/ b: T) ^/ b/ @( h# F$ `
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)。 7 N4 N, m+ l' H8 B' T