; h3 Z% e+ a' t转帖 2 ]6 G7 h3 }' o' h1. 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)/ |1 g; Q8 i4 E0 u
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例如: v3 n) Z0 t, y# O- S3 F) ^4 k' A \" o6 r5 X% p
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) # Z1 f# D1 M1 g% B5 n I4 p! _7 t* [2 y/ F% QThree 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。) - L+ e4 v, I- x2 D1 [9 @0 d( h" Q: _* M* h$ V" _2 e3 i
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) s8 X& B# Z% X# s8 X Q% F
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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?) ) z2 g7 b5 N$ h1 M7 N7 Q5 Q0 z4 z3 U# R; M( \3 D6 s0 M% Y
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。) # X& J$ Y) z- O( U( V' I7 Q$ |* O/ K! q4 [
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)" `# d; K X* j" @; Y4 c6 u
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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!)1 a% w; h: p) S; g
6 H2 ~2 Y/ G! JThe 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)5 f6 c5 G5 O; J- {* E- t0 A
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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。) ; {" x( h* d3 d* D& e+ f7 ~ s) S! }8 S; T5 U) E8 h9 kPlease 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?) & e) q' F: d4 v' p' S " E0 T/ F; A% z! 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!, M2 K3 ]3 j0 A
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: A- N Z, v2 `! j8 U 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。 / O5 F6 w2 y* _# E- k 9 x/ \" d" D4 V0 I/ z例如: + b; Q$ X7 `1 I0 V% D' @/ W. V3 Q* S7 Q
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 [0 Y. i4 v Z# R# |$ U7 Q
) s6 c9 y& j+ `( ?8 H& A8 [5 x" nDespite 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) * b8 v8 E6 K3 J5 s9 ?+ t! S7 h) l* e
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)/ ~" a" }2 Q& O* a0 W" ^5 Q
# N5 y2 a5 r: a8 B8 H% [+ x0 yHe 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) / M, P+ L$ a: K- u$ H. r9 X' e8 S6 ^6 g% a, U
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). W) `. I/ T+ D2 |
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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) 1 c& S1 X6 O8 [- Q8 f5 f) _- Z" g' e. Q/ Q0 |6 w$ a; d
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生); _: e+ O) m9 w$ U7 S; I9 G
' a* i( Z% o7 W+ y1 ]1 `; @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: 4 U- E3 q" r I. k. `: _6 {5 g8 U) W& h- i
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。) ) l8 C" N7 q! @. E* c0 ]- M9 K; J# o+ q/ g
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.): Z' y3 q; a4 [9 o4 W5 M
4 ~2 H0 S; S7 e# l$ zHe 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。) . L0 I7 q. D. b # X u g. ^* [6 j# D% lHe 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) / S# C# F4 o: X. l0 H0 D( F( C: K# O f. ]
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)& }1 L _. [3 j4 `9 `$ ?
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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) - E" _3 f4 J% P4 ^; q3 J* q0 j' f , a4 L4 c/ m3 d0 X! ^) y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.)' j0 p+ w( h. J2 J' j1 a) a0 k1 s- q
% {, v$ F( W$ j( ^: P此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % E3 t% `) `7 `5 T$ @ 0 N. D* X* m6 C) j- i/ x2 @8 T% ~5 F$ J1 S" l4 N! C: M* ^ 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 q" d+ G; t. J
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例如:; t% I7 M( x/ v; r2 E1 I8 p% _
+ k) h8 F9 H5 L2 b; JMankind 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) 1 G: _+ M+ L9 Y" @9 b1 H3 G 8 G E; m( W8 MManpower 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) 2 w+ F8 z0 w; v! E% ?: s W; t- z: G o+ Z0 L
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) # T- A( H. t9 |1 q D5 C " h1 q/ T; S3 y0 d1 b+ LHe (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 P7 w& r, [) H3 f! c, u( V! Q
2 J' ^4 f# L; m8 J0 w2 [' Q6 mMany 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。) 7 `) R5 l6 ^2 V9 Z% M; h- r- m) q4 ^. i3 g9 b" 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) 0 }; @( ?6 ^, h' F! l5 b# T4 l6 V* Z
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)% N8 L3 e0 F; B
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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。) % c! U0 [6 P: \" W A. H 0 G' i/ ]# N( c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。/ C1 q4 [3 `9 I! ?% d, Y
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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:; ? _: S0 |. A( }. F$ M6 I) F4 Q