本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 j* e4 R1 g4 t% H+ q' l' m$ I " S8 H5 F, C2 C5 H2 U' d8 F2 K转帖6 c) W% n" e% p
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) ' G8 ]5 `, L4 a$ ?3 _/ [) e5 A$ M6 Z0 |3 r; V* n2 B g
例如: + @ s$ N5 _2 } x, H. z% A 2 A9 k. ? o3 e: r8 pMany 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) 3 _* H' x5 ?- q- A6 Z" K$ T $ g1 j+ @, }3 A& L- ^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。), O% o/ t( t& d7 a
4 F6 N& }! w; ^4 E
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)/ n) `$ p$ ` |, |1 M
& I4 l2 s" s, L* _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?) + x$ Q/ Y7 q$ y# C! ~ 5 t6 S5 v7 Z$ w eI 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。) 1 ]& K* S& ^, W; i9 o . `" |& o7 @5 M: O2 \& }/ HMr. 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) 5 h+ M& b e) G5 v" ]) j! `+ t) N
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!)1 R! d' P! {; K8 O" F# S: a. @' g4 Z
3 S- y9 [ `9 C/ d' d( V
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) # l; L& @$ N. u% d( V4 q2 u8 c & ~! \, S1 f2 C( c$ k; G" |0 }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。) 6 F0 n6 i# c7 b" z; ~6 J- T7 Z7 o% e! z' h5 M+ @
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?)7 e, @: q4 d4 I# T. Q, t
9 |: T% i2 d) x1 r6 x( i! J5 U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 U8 m5 f/ H1 n6 f. i8 {; d
9 ?# y$ C4 l# R1 k
# Q1 b6 L W0 `! {5 j2 p2 _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。 $ `: d0 \# Z# ^; o 3 P' u* x5 v. _ k+ q例如:! Y( {, a- T' m- j- _0 ]3 H$ |! U
; W- _1 s8 u$ J: S! c- w. EAt 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) 8 p ]% l8 ?- [ # v: I* z7 a! l* CDespite 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) 4 ~! \! x+ ?0 ?8 X: z7 \$ [, E' z) E: B
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)6 F# ^. G5 ?8 P2 R" o' E6 H" ?
; l# u+ z+ Z. |, K& W b* @, e
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)3 U2 |- d) U0 [/ x \
9 h+ a' \1 B% t& K/ Y/ a# JIn 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)5 u, a4 j1 [7 X7 a) X3 y' b
# j- [! _% O% S3 [8 ?7 ~( s2 A; ~
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) 2 S, y/ l n# l; C8 P, p4 I : [) O& Y) j% [I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 6 C, t- g0 T( j- z1 J% X9 f& t" J3 l# n+ w& R4 }
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 M- y( C/ e9 F. u/ v8 f5 @ 5 c/ v" k+ X- n+ s5 i6 J4 l; ?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。) $ Y4 a, i! L9 N. C # j- m% b. `3 Q. l$ o# RThe 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.)% j' b+ l; U3 g0 u9 X3 j& T
* Z2 X- Q- y# P+ C! I7 X+ I2 kHe 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。) ' m1 u; _$ j' W& N$ i 1 h9 n+ y# f D6 v4 BHe 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) : _* G0 i6 H9 ] 4 p0 [8 N* K" d5 F3 L& g: tWe 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) - ~3 | b r7 Z" E4 p/ |) M) o% Q% L2 r( Z8 ]
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)5 L- ?4 }3 M; v; c5 _8 T$ a
/ h; O* \! _% B& B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.)) J6 k$ Y' y4 r/ N& f& D
- T, Y3 a# u" T8 e) g+ |此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 i, g ^! N" m% Y' V! d; K
+ j' o+ u, [3 R8 y9 o
$ h( ?/ `! h9 Q; H4 O4 }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」。1 {. s! @' ~6 _) M& U
4 Q0 `% E; H: d, F; U4 ]$ ~) |" B
例如: ! F8 Q1 |- W5 `: J5 Q0 j ( [# ^, U2 B$ u: xMankind 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) 8 b, l5 H* ^0 u. @ 6 r! J. k" z1 {' t, r* oManpower 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)- J1 c3 D m6 r- k; \
, R9 {3 K2 }. X( U3 ]* A
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) % p& q# Q, |, Q+ C6 P$ k S/ y n- Q+ K
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。)7 P! B; z' `' T! V& j' n
/ l$ p A6 R! O" @8 H6 T: g
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。)3 w/ C C; R5 ^! ^9 {2 n
9 C0 o+ j J3 m4 V& _, o" r
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 r4 y3 O) c7 n7 e$ d& ?8 H9 l) p( B J/ Y: s: V- X
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)5 d1 B% o2 ^/ F
' p8 g2 ?, Q H `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。). x; c- n* V3 l6 X& h
7 K+ G5 r" B9 }" S
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。 # Z: T& r( v, v& I4 J* y / G1 n1 k) [) a- t/ y6 a7 i; s- ]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: c' f/ e5 ^7 J3 m0 X$ b
: j* j/ R" J1 ~: ~5 }* N4 _) v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; ' E( U5 k' _# E3 ` - z/ F d! X. g0 V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;# `2 b: R; t Q2 Z