本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 U& ?9 E) u$ y: r3 Y
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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); _( J: ?, U2 x! q5 }
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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)- i. b; C+ _- z7 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。) * E" f4 ]: m. \1 Y. p# y 6 g0 B' @9 V" B7 x, TThis 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 _; n1 _) P( m( v5 I" f1 q7 G4 B* V/ U1 g" \* x; W/ J8 J$ R
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?)- }$ d, N2 Z' C3 |3 {
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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。)2 K& H3 R) B* X, P
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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)# D0 r; H& r- `3 L
; a r% ~( T) Z5 _$ \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!) $ Z: Z+ @7 n' `+ q& \* j: J }2 U6 E. r+ s* e- l; K
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); d; x/ w3 s4 q1 `( l
4 h3 W2 k+ f1 Q6 J) NWe 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。) : w7 ?# \: `8 D! B5 W. a( A& g2 w8 V) l/ x( H& d
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?). b& Z4 a, E6 U" W, S
- l' ^/ n8 e a, m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!3 n( G5 f. U4 J5 k- _
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4 U3 |: _1 |9 I2 Y q 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。 ' a* E- q# S, K+ {3 {: I) M7 r* p5 l2 V4 `& ?. I* l
例如: 5 k& X! s. ~# r5 o1 }. M5 _8 D6 M. i$ v6 t3 i
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) 8 a/ u# o* P! C( T2 O & J5 j* P" c" u. H, R0 HDespite 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)0 X- H8 W3 p4 B6 [) K
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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) . r& f) D4 F6 E* C( ?# x% o7 b7 ~; j - [+ @( U0 q5 M/ PHe 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) / b) N1 L& C: w: k8 X: l : S/ G2 y' @' w2 ~- n* r, HIn 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 T0 M+ [) G6 L" d
9 z/ m) N F( 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 B% O. C7 d: _( u. Q* P) e( {4 {0 l) p
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 G8 o% L2 }9 |- B2 m
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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: m- b7 _. ~- o( ~3 s' ]& r. F9 R* U$ p# O
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。) + K0 w$ Y* Z1 {2 A! k L+ U$ s2 C& e7 H: E2 n L+ Q9 |- l
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.) . V/ Y) x9 K* n4 c1 b " I- A: W7 z' q0 pHe 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。), u. j+ ]' ?. b1 J: X, W
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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)8 C0 G% I0 a) K3 p2 F; k
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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)7 G2 U/ ?, @4 h; E3 g2 V
3 p5 _1 w9 U) h/ Q& ZEnclosed (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 @2 n9 d1 X' |7 |. k
, e8 r. Y" ~' _$ I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.) " d: D7 @+ s" g/ Y2 z- f. X0 }' I3 x4 ~9 N
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ n" T, ^1 _5 ]' z, D
; }% z q4 v' l; H$ g % J8 I. x# d0 N$ F3.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」。* E( L2 \. E6 ?. g; w; |4 `/ {: t+ n
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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)& \% x) U. U* U Y+ J
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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)& ]0 d1 s" |6 B' X; ]
+ E! t- S0 ^( hThis 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) + ^# \: @6 ~# K8 X1 ^6 m; E S' X& ^7 k5 E3 q
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。)! E! Z! w$ o0 G, O
Q& Y8 Y' H& b6 @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。)% z1 g5 C+ P0 c0 k4 I7 T
* Z' [; O3 Y x: _9 s. l3 rPolicemen (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): o5 i; t! Q; L% L- C Z( R
/ K& ^% O* m! R- K' `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) & M& k$ N$ x5 l/ I2 L+ k R! |7 M: N: m. \
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。)3 V x0 w3 z+ j3 G
/ R- Y/ L9 [9 T7 H4 }8 b9 P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。 9 K, \. V+ }* Z 7 |1 C& C. S: N( 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: 8 D3 g3 f% X3 k/ s, }, O" C + `% [& X* N, i; f2 l6 i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; # \9 {# \/ ]- l 2 y% ~7 x2 w0 D3 t0 B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;, P7 g# k/ u( q$ c$ Z4 t
3 f! Y/ r+ N. g, U对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / b1 b! X9 b' s6 E6 Q2 P0 v, G % y: V2 L5 F1 ~' o1 I* }$ O x' v0 b对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; , G' Y. j2 f/ |$ a5 d' B " z# ^% E ~" u; E. s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:3 H7 D, S q# N
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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)。7 I* h3 X3 x/ G& t
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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)。 - r/ y1 d2 B9 o A2 x$ [