本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 ?( r. f( a0 {9 N( `% ^$ s
1 q2 w) m) [" o! c转帖 7 D7 ^$ J' T7 V. O1. 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 G8 q0 @2 _$ t2 ?7 R" N
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/ `8 I* d& M p+ A0 U8 c6 l) JMany 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)! ?% u+ S* u0 `; P3 s' ~
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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。)1 o2 h- O. s+ I5 X4 h& x
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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) . k1 y1 Y/ k; @- A) v3 ] + V% e3 o2 L; R: CThe 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?)1 C, R9 b5 |" q; h3 a% v' K) g
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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。) : e( Z) Q- j( }2 H. ?8 v" W1 H . B$ I* k" O. {8 _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) * w! p; s# o( C' C. a4 Q. Y$ B8 C5 @! T& q: M7 y. e
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!): H7 i1 p! g: C( a2 z
W( s4 V7 ~" k% ZThe 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) ) P+ h, [7 J( ^* J' m0 I # g K% k: R& PWe 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。)9 x) h; e! f( j0 ?/ g
' `- _8 h0 S. _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?) 9 l6 g9 v- a$ i% ^/ a* @$ M 6 \* Q* z8 `/ e" ^7 q9 N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!7 q; N. `, t; f0 ^! z! X
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4 k/ c- f/ m& C: b3 ?3 v2. 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。 3 {* `& u2 j( K( F: c: T4 \1 V6 p; u% R" ^" g
例如: , L/ s; ^$ J( U 0 x* T! o% ^5 b3 c: `5 Q( SAt 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- E4 H+ v( K) G8 x
6 ]9 }3 r2 |3 u5 M! @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): t( E2 d' `- k& y/ D- h. A
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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) , d& M9 N& k5 K% K2 _ 3 S# Q. I* ?- {5 r6 n4 i: p: T5 g7 _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) . ]% e- z$ I( u, m# Z/ A' q) |! d( @9 \+ [9 e! K
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)+ |9 ?, L- P2 j3 E4 X: N* U: C
1 i+ G, S' g0 X% f! NShe 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) ) k8 B2 l: K0 k2 A& c9 j + g+ `) |" p6 b% kI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 _3 g$ }0 G* S7 [; C! s8 j. G/ K" |+ j
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:3 t( i' x0 l! C4 q9 I3 Y4 |- l
; N4 F8 W6 w& ]. y7 ^5 J+ o( UThe 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。)% u) H* y! b" _
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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.). p3 |3 m; x+ X( f5 @1 o+ E w
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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。)" A+ m/ m. l0 W- u7 e
0 }' T8 f( `* V4 \/ y1 zHe 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) : e* W! L& t, c- ~ * }" ^ {4 r" d* mWe 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)6 Y3 O n6 e; G
* r* F- \$ r" y4 Z2 v% V+ u lEnclosed (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) , Y$ Z" D: X" G; F. d9 j! W6 G) O$ [& @/ u2 H+ W
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.)0 b7 U& L9 ~; V5 m
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! }% Y1 D( W- r( B) k6 }/ x* N
7 o6 b/ |% r& D/ U% _7 p L7 j" l* t2 D+ Y+ Y 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」。* Z3 _& m7 W% r, o+ M
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例如: 3 X& w. _0 w1 H( g0 T0 f _9 k! R) h% g; S# Z3 _5 Q
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)6 [, ]9 o+ ^0 x4 n
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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)- m3 F6 r$ b3 V2 T
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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)# o; K, n1 _- p( w# w3 ?
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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。) 5 n- m" ^0 w3 G 6 j6 E T) q$ V! s3 M& ~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。). F0 [; N/ j# n( ]( Y
/ ?( A" x* H2 tPolicemen (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), p) ?4 g( a9 o. s/ V0 ?; I
, W5 B; F# w7 Y# ~& 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) 6 ?! q9 r7 R9 e) u : a7 r7 M) g! U/ JStewardesses 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。) 2 t, \' C2 x, ?+ x% ]: K- P, g: S* `3 X* D$ h6 M
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。 2 l% x7 k- i' A2 i- j" L e' v# g5 Q7 U: n
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: 0 C0 d2 r' w+ c+ J7 Y j7 `' ?, S" B1 ~2 c/ H/ r2 u$ g
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 }( H `% p( H" c. [ ~, a# s7 d; u5 _) x+ c$ s
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; / H" J q9 j# I( v" M2 X4 k y2 L5 A: I3 i, M3 |2 J对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 2 d! w% h! Y8 N! b5 k- w9 M. `
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - a- U0 @6 k7 x6 i: f3 K2 h. P! v' h. g' X' k& a# T& i
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:( |/ {. N# q' S5 L7 F4 G
/ j1 g8 B5 T* F, L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)。# T$ E: ]; ?7 E* O- r" x) b1 J
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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)。- j2 [1 Y+ N* B! f6 i: z