本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 s; g+ f/ c6 R! e& Q y3 A
& Y5 O& H4 \; C2 ]4 l转帖 ) B3 e+ Y+ D4 F& O2 r+ ^4 b1. 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) 2 f" |9 v4 _2 l. z6 o- y" \/ z# e3 U3 A: f' b
例如: ) N& l1 a; u7 M+ X) F3 W, C/ h% U9 s& E5 O2 I# {; g
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)# `( N) W* U4 X" U/ t$ W2 E. ?8 C
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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。)4 [8 L9 C8 Z: e& w. `
}, d( n( K" M9 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) ( F4 c5 Z- ?. o6 A/ V' Y" E B* G: n$ R- o3 J' v: V
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?) 0 @- S" N: _' H8 _ ) ?1 P, z: U6 yI 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。) " H# k( l$ U! k( T$ S [0 k) q3 N! {( k& d) c p
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)4 s4 \$ W. I* O: r1 s1 g" U
+ n2 Y% }. r# ?" W gWe 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!)# V5 c6 o$ ^- S; a: f
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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) ; s: v/ }) c6 J7 f 2 m* M" \* P7 m# P! ^0 eWe 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 [( r8 K; _( c+ P- ^1 \
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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?) 2 t; y2 }: ?% n9 M " T; l5 K# W5 l; i: [" S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!+ r# @: A/ y3 _3 c1 z( ^. E9 i) \
) ]* w9 `1 o3 f3 N3 n, q9 R# Y9 a3 I; {9 M( f7 s0 w 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。. @9 j* H7 T- g4 \% y u! E' [
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例如: & Q4 f3 b6 z& E H3 D- L( h' W - E$ k4 x/ L8 W; \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) * }5 I% ]2 m5 g6 t: [ 1 }3 w0 c9 `# o) N* w" \# f# ]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)/ D/ H! a: s7 j/ k3 [8 [( L
& p! d4 a l' Q# ` XI 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) ! \! h2 O1 U1 J0 i- B. E2 j- a% \ 1 z( G" T4 g+ \9 @9 k7 U1 mHe 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) 2 j6 @! b: i$ k% }3 t* K v1 J( F4 n4 L8 O+ k+ r: V; p2 u3 p. @
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) 5 p6 W$ u7 B) S9 I9 u- J& a5 {$ q' t) Z4 H& z6 k' z
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) ( W" J! Y; M2 {0 m , M, w* W; o( NI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 t0 k9 U% ?! l9 ^2 k! U2 v' @, N6 H V7 C: g! w3 ^
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:) n- m1 x7 y7 u' I
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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。) ; \1 h4 S) v! c; G2 d e6 P' L* W B) {+ O% m0 }& h
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.)% `2 r) T; \2 [3 {
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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。) ; M' `0 m) V) P( r % }/ G. Q, V3 THe 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) ( E7 c6 f- l# E' Q1 i* a* l/ M( W; @2 F' s' C
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), B. l9 s1 M9 x" L2 N
2 d3 A3 q5 Q7 Y) d0 B- aEnclosed (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) % m2 O3 W! S$ u0 t) O9 e- S" }/ I& k2 E, X
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.) - p" m$ e8 ~+ b- S$ \2 z7 s & P, o$ n( S1 }: ]此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 Z/ X, G5 |% D8 d# ~2 x6 T% n$ }' M6 q& @0 m
# F; F! o7 Z4 s7 q. t' S3.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」。 3 k& O( M3 t2 v4 t & g8 C( R r$ {, b例如: f" ^$ C: v4 {. W+ F3 k) j. Q/ U& D6 `& o/ ~
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), \ n0 S" ~; V, m
0 f: E+ t h) G6 }- t: O5 A" TManpower 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)- \' j% A$ e6 r1 ~4 C
% S2 R+ j5 U5 r, i! |( b/ lThis 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 u* X4 W1 P. }
. f2 N. B7 J$ v2 T2 ?1 NHe (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。)' n& L6 v" {1 `2 h# W
7 T9 }4 d8 _/ ^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 m$ m: }3 H+ w1 Z2 w) U# W* D$ Z) \% a1 a) u
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); m7 e/ z8 }4 g) P
0 u& F( \0 a" h5 O# v) |) S+ 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) c+ u- l2 x+ U# v7 u0 X7 n2 L% d4 [0 n$ _' w
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。) 1 M9 o7 ?+ t+ E) U, l4 _" S7 V+ ]: U/ p$ |- H+ C. H: V+ I' f
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。% }$ N% m" b5 R/ L
* ^% G _/ k' T- D. r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: 1 T( n2 q, B& @" S 1 O: S% R y& `+ w9 o" c1 O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; / w$ X( m, @ x% q2 _ ) Q5 t5 o3 f" o. 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;; i3 F' q; M _
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , ]0 p2 r6 l2 @. f, _ : K# \( a* \. X1 G对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;6 ?% v8 V0 e& N4 s
/ z/ H9 y; w! ?0 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: : q% Z6 T0 C5 k7 L) ?) K 1 g+ G$ \4 {2 F; C$ Z4 E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)。( T3 N4 j3 u6 Y @9 L
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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)。2 Q# b2 ^1 z: E G4 p8 N