本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 V/ W% ?* C% }/ f g3 {9 f" Y1 w* W! p- V; L5 F 转帖 + V, I3 V2 j( H0 g, ~: `$ u) f! w1. 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). Z+ L, A( q+ N+ m( Z- p/ U ~- B: X
* {: l0 ^" w) |5 g, e- t* b+ {* @
例如: + c0 |5 A4 M1 Q3 P: ~0 t& \ 4 _9 i1 [% f' j1 a/ M j a9 V4 T0 jMany 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) 4 F a. j0 M9 U; _; g9 @! `+ N1 @
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。)( N4 e V" j6 r, A9 D. {
0 ~* Z+ A4 g$ w, c7 I+ i/ L8 AThis 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) ! k' b0 T% ~7 J % G( ~& g4 J7 z* N4 V5 F! TThe 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?), r# B. z6 s* D% D1 X. e# L% `
3 w3 F. r9 \& H* [
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。), r6 K$ T: u# Q, X1 {
5 ?. d/ m7 ]( C# fMr. 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) . Y# ~/ M2 q) y3 ?7 r8 A * b% ^: [# w9 X6 v* pWe 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# v) Y6 Z2 G7 m+ ]: i# c) S% {2 J0 X0 D6 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) 7 _7 q: f0 T5 E+ V- s3 F 7 l+ x+ K+ h) P( i! ~/ SWe 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 X" S! y6 k3 D. K+ N \+ T4 G) q) g! G4 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?) " e- B" k @ w+ y$ [. \) p" d / }+ U: H. C2 ?' X* a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!0 g- W+ B4 R: B% ~
" h3 D( K* S' A' y. {- w" m# q( u4 k" S1 n0 s. W8 ?: k4 a$ r 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。 / f( j' N% [- n $ e1 q2 o/ z, Q# _9 c: y, _例如: . d. u4 e, F- q! j0 U : ^) B" R$ c% p. K: A% ZAt 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)) Q+ R: ~0 g/ S, U
: |, } {/ P5 s' e: p, b
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)7 M/ J4 K& t6 l6 n7 J$ F/ M
2 M9 _( `; b% V' F$ x$ L
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)0 P/ d7 T( h8 K+ F" H! I
/ i+ q2 G+ t) {7 }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)& M" s- j6 [3 M+ |6 v' Q" q- [$ w
) n k7 |; ]. n$ M1 G' N( K& R* zIn 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)0 P& g6 p" T( C* o8 r, c
7 \5 q) ~9 {2 ~. x
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)/ ^0 u- t1 e2 ~5 u3 |2 D' s8 E7 F
) G5 e, Y2 u4 M3 j7 }
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % Z% B% o7 s+ x `, K $ N9 z: `" P0 ~/ j2 h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:& ]! H8 }) u: [
) b; @ i( Z; h/ _) e- H$ ^: w
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 e* r# J: E3 ^7 F1 J* e+ s; P+ w/ a3 g* @ ; a4 e1 Z: ?1 c( F* V" A$ X% `& b1 eThe 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.) 9 x/ A8 T" J" \1 G9 N- ^ $ d r$ k; z# A1 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。)/ v, n0 G1 m, K5 c/ ?
( R; ^. U* R8 G& {' CHe 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)* w7 j' w' ^. t0 j) M: _! t- ~5 x
; V5 l& }7 `2 o# P
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) & s, a1 }+ \- b/ q+ ~ ~+ T7 w3 B 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) 5 l, E) |! c, [5 v0 r 9 @5 n* f% ` B$ K1 a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.) 4 E2 n. ]) ]' @ _: G- R7 c2 n" |此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 g" L7 v: ^8 g: A! M7 f4 U
: R$ q- U; |6 ]- _# C/ W: X) K9 ]3 A
$ G9 V/ b. i2 X; E' m9 w: C2 ?# X3.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」。! M S+ o3 ?) p" ^8 Y
7 E# @' q$ n4 Z: [例如:7 |, D# a: O% z0 l/ d* T! c" h5 x
* O- N/ t, c* b( J) h T
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) 3 t& G2 E. l, t- p9 S4 N. ~ + J- U* Q" g- S1 U1 y& @2 sManpower 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 [- H8 G. f9 [' _* X' I2 y
+ V4 f( m& X) m5 O* j9 m: h! xThis 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)- D4 e9 }+ D" A( }0 S
4 `6 A- C9 d/ r, a, e$ {$ |
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( ^" I* g l9 e6 _1 D0 m. b
( Y& G& P4 B* D* L1 J, `- U5 h w
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。)2 d0 y' d7 }* M1 f
: I i0 @; G/ j2 @8 E
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)/ i% B5 j3 q0 k' d: ?
9 U- j- X! N+ B: S, i: `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) 0 n# h4 N5 {6 q& o( X) A: Y: @ 0 ?4 D- }. V) U4 l9 q7 I3 d7 TStewardesses 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。)! q6 |& w6 j' M8 P8 N' K
) v) f) m8 W( q/ \
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。 , X$ z- I+ G4 x" M% ^/ r4 a$ s0 c2 v, g" m5 E
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: & p2 X; W) P: C+ f" f1 @/ z* U( K " G% l- n7 g4 X/ Q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; 1 g- z& i4 G: y% _: t8 T; L) n : q6 J; X; \" @7 l$ _4 Q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; % d7 w' z8 E6 i6 S" a % W5 o5 P3 c/ R( u. _) K对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 A) J9 P7 M* E3 ^* R6 c" ~ 0 b, ~$ n0 d. t+ k对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;7 l/ f: ]. m' g* {: T
% ^! U* ?7 D% |: ^( b+ O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:! y& z7 L6 _( a: `4 F z3 h
& j( a; |: R9 |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)。 ! @% O9 B3 k& F y2 ? * c ~2 q+ ^' ~7 @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)。 ) p" C0 }3 ~7 H5 _& q; `# A