本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : ~. S% \0 @ X- O' F0 [5 R " l( Z: _: _; H0 i转帖 : f6 x' H4 S% D% Z' d7 ~+ y7 \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) % ~% k$ [0 W% {: B( {8 f9 |( ` 0 c5 r& S8 a. O例如:" J4 n. c3 b8 I) A* J
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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) 9 z: }( f }7 |9 X. c+ N9 m) k: |8 w5 e
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。) $ q6 r2 B$ F9 y , b9 G' ?8 U8 V0 n# lThis 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) , `7 G+ ]: Y" U3 e( T6 k3 g) }2 p( ~' d1 o$ ]0 @
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?)$ @" q L; C! m
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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。)+ I/ P8 L. _& A; I# X
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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), i# _; N4 i p
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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!); l: K- K$ Q* z) b2 R A9 ]
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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 f7 a+ b2 G& K( 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。)4 l. L0 H0 p* p9 Z/ g# Q1 p
$ K4 p/ {' k3 r$ _8 y0 b/ lPlease 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?) z, n& `: i6 D; z+ l* I9 Y: c+ {& h" O" ]( t( 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! " a# F% c5 x: r6 u) I& j! S, X) Y' w6 o
0 \4 U$ _" I% x) a& ]5 h2. 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。 2 i( ^0 ~4 p7 k* R 1 t( W: u+ X5 ^! E, B0 v: w例如:! D B" w* { H) A4 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)/ x$ H) D2 ^) \9 H8 [1 u4 ^
# T3 p* T" y+ y t6 g, GDespite 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)% o1 h8 m' b/ z" N& q; x6 s8 h5 P
: h' g$ Z" W% H' CI 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 r/ a" e' M/ d. `/ J8 A; _8 ^ - [( ~( I+ Z( H5 qHe 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)# l" `( o9 z( L& v- c+ W% u8 Y* D
. y( e4 A6 t" E* |5 y+ R8 ~0 ~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) 1 p6 P- M- f2 m; A ; `- o& ?; d- W3 L D5 l, |0 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)) _8 ?4 Q. t% w( }
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ s$ t& Z0 X D2 N
0 @- b. V8 M6 u6 ^# A2 T" @# v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: * a- e/ R. H* @( H: H7 G1 f4 U, l! V& e3 T
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。) Q0 R# u- r8 _% J, F. _
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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.)& n4 F' u5 ^2 H/ Q" `9 B0 z
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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。) 6 S5 r. T; e. _: C0 b3 o2 `( N5 A& \6 S4 z3 Y. @0 @; L$ f) P
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) - j; F9 L8 x8 w6 i4 |$ U7 r( ], E
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)9 ^2 S) H& r. m* K: M; \; c
! I- y5 ?8 `9 sEnclosed (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 E6 t. i: U/ U3 V4 x1 Z8 L' `* b T7 t7 [3 a2 ]* O
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.) : S( n2 o0 [7 y8 b/ i) V" q : o8 ?: R# U4 t7 B) i0 m此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! J$ e5 ~- h: f
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9 j" G2 X. E2 [" `) f# `3 [( E( U 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」。 # ]9 b" m/ }9 I; Y5 e' ` E7 s4 Z% W, c6 y& G6 `例如:# K4 A0 h0 a$ T3 g* |% R
& T, o/ ?* I$ `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). q0 ~7 I7 {- O( V) ?
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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) % L. _5 o; x) \6 q+ D 9 @) `: _* X4 U6 Z( l) o* p5 p" A8 W7 iThis 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)9 Y2 b5 o+ `4 N* o6 S) m& |
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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。) + O# }$ P6 H% Z+ g 7 J" A$ c, m. `, _) JMany 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。), y: @! `6 W5 O! k; g4 k. Q/ t+ n
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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) & _5 I2 d8 \2 A ( _# G+ k. b% Z0 GCongressmen (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) & \* ]/ f% R: w! ^0 _. c4 D9 O8 E/ C5 J7 d) Z
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。) , j- p0 W. O( w- ^6 w% Y8 K- R( b" L7 S5 _7 U' ?% _: k
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。. k* N! B% N. Y" H
. o5 R3 ~) _! J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: : u& p# ~ c% ?, A 0 v8 p, y( q$ r; A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; 4 W2 j6 r6 E1 Q& N; c % q6 m0 {, w6 V- t- g5 |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; 3 Z( s# }" i8 r- s5 G. Y/ L# t3 R/ h& w; \+ M$ q& {3 T
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;' l# N2 ]" |! d) V
" `% c' V: j4 y- a4 `$ G$ t2 o对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;9 Q$ J H4 Z5 H
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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: 8 ]/ V6 F* v+ a6 ^5 O5 Z: t# t 1 R! s$ ^% @# U3 X# J2 \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)。5 x7 ?- \, C' [2 t! K
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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)。 ( S# i% B) Z: ?; C0 ~6 O9 H' r5 f