本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 X1 d9 Y7 p( b3 `! H- U. W
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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) : ]( l9 @, \% Z+ T 0 H$ W3 }# B. v例如: 3 Q ?* Y3 G# t; }' [; x; e; z ^2 i+ U6 }! z" E/ N& \# q
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)9 ]6 t, b1 d$ h9 N
) A1 x% g! b* L* KThree 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 ^# P1 q/ u: j ; M+ s! D2 a; S( h6 e' 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) 1 m$ a$ w* n' i# Z# J ; W! A% H/ K1 {, M. O% R; fThe 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?) 2 f" q" k: N/ W# P0 E' q- B! x/ S9 S* P+ ^. W8 z! X- c
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。)- ]0 l# b. Z4 }! D) G0 f7 F
2 d* G+ s8 a2 Y2 D" L) WMr. 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 T v+ _3 `+ w1 T0 g6 G( B
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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!) ; @+ x7 e0 j0 ~' f. {. C% v" \+ j / m. g! w& F. U8 F7 TThe 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) 9 C0 u2 X( p @7 e % C! r% Q: T( V& ?. E1 C( JWe 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。)/ k7 n- V+ z- K
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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?)5 o7 j: W" r! _1 r4 f9 ~' X7 s9 B
B3 o$ Z; B5 C; g8 s& i5 j }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! ! {* z) d8 H" D2 e/ C+ c ^) ~. {3 b1 @7 r) s4 O% q
4 b. [( h2 g$ d+ }( u+ Z 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。 % a8 d1 Q# Q) C6 k" S( S0 _5 V8 r ( F1 Q( i( ?' G2 Z* A例如: : \% D2 [8 ]2 M" k& e' }: `5 {# g& H! Q3 ~
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) / t. e! `* n9 r& d0 ~ - \* N3 |( Q8 z3 m9 _( W1 ^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)* y3 Z& I* k i9 d" h" 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) p+ |$ G$ }' H/ R/ W. e
- Y" Y8 k0 |9 J$ q' T6 J0 J9 k/ fHe 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) ' t. P5 L& r" M* s E/ H9 q9 [, t0 \2 P6 q5 i/ h/ Q, [
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); n* b8 D" b! `/ K/ p4 w
0 U( F" Q4 `1 @( g$ s1 D, j2 q- FShe 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)$ J, d6 Q q9 h0 W+ ?+ l# q b
/ z: c1 T2 M: v& B, J: ?I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 z" a! y" W9 {( |
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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: ; b5 G; D5 |* O* a3 n! B* Z# p - _' g* }2 Y0 [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。) ; A8 H8 b( l# M7 t$ ]! F# l' t* g& i5 A' U3 e; N! o r
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.) : r v+ d8 D. `' [9 G - {& b, y$ U# e: Z+ DHe 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。) ! b" r. \; Z. h0 P1 f9 i) b+ q+ t/ W
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)0 V; Z9 S0 H+ Z+ D: z
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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) ! I9 l! Y& W% C% u1 I; x$ C$ @# m7 l, b0 E' V m8 B
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), w1 n! k1 V$ v: Y* @
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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.) ( A0 J6 e9 ]$ B- i : a5 B) A5 [/ P5 v此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 _ n% o' p$ a
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# L/ _$ z8 k6 v: V5 V! @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」。 $ t: C4 f* f# Z1 { 6 B) R; `3 a( ~# {4 Q" F例如: 7 Z$ F5 [; W2 u1 [5 r/ l8 G, t0 r/ E* g4 h$ H
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); v" ]# N1 i+ O5 W' y" f7 W
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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) ( ?6 b7 P& o! S+ } $ E5 t8 F J8 }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) ; G/ G$ w: |( ^; w+ }* O' \) ?2 v; `: E0 _2 i
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。) - w6 h/ b8 w" e2 }7 j0 l& A- h$ J7 f2 y( g4 @
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。)7 ?. o6 \+ {# k+ G# G
! q/ V6 o @, o( ]- YPolicemen (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)) j2 _- J% j I+ V. G
) c" c6 {% Y! p _* V( I) lCongressmen (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) 9 U, G2 ?: m$ W8 _3 `5 A & v* R6 s5 v, Q/ X3 V: HStewardesses 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。)& \4 V3 t2 E, R3 b4 }+ T* g! @
% I3 M) v' j; j6 h6 N2 T3 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。 4 Y3 C$ _5 |# d0 c$ I 1 u! L' ~5 Y7 c ]- c% g- d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: ' R( l& z' R( E) p: f" B 0 ?, a; i2 q: A( t: `% p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;* R. s& ]# ]0 S4 m* U- l
& j! `. \1 t1 f% f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; * e- [& B0 V# S * R$ _8 ]* w6 W- @5 S8 V0 _- i对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; # U2 f K1 t6 e, |8 r# i! m" d) B" a2 T8 t
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;4 [' P) b4 d% U8 y1 y4 T. O" q4 g
! _: s# P1 P( a, a' ^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:1 P% p2 t6 r" ~5 I& \9 N8 e
* }: K. c. `" m2 p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)。 1 W7 g% D7 `! W9 ^8 r/ O/ F$ V) J; Y- K7 K, @, Q9 X9 ~' M
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)。7 t* R- A% \6 ^: s