本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 $ b3 ]4 n3 b1 I. r; A7 I0 E& [+ B8 n6 `, Q; \1 c& o' ^3 L 转帖7 x( V: z t9 t: @$ |$ ]
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)2 ?( Q3 [! ]. v6 x4 J
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0 J+ v" C2 d0 @ ]% UMany 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)1 q* T& @* B% Y9 N! ]0 W) k( H% K6 @9 n
3 ^# O& `: }' l# g" ^1 a6 BThree 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。) q4 v# w+ {! ]) A. s1 m / f& W) F/ h4 A" z0 [! iThis 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)4 O2 c8 x U5 L2 K
: X7 F# T0 t% n* l& qThe 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?)5 h) }- ]. B d$ j7 w1 m1 Y \
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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。) " x9 Z2 c9 f C, ]% t2 h$ u& }$ M 3 ?/ H" [. w* s7 `! mMr. 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) ! e/ E' G5 L# c& u" S. C4 `5 l+ l( \! |# M {2 ?4 K
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 [! b7 P0 \# b3 X/ C
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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) + g4 T# U" |6 {$ n: L8 d ; l1 `$ Q! a; {9 c" FWe 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。) # ^7 U# ~0 i# M2 w8 T$ ` : p6 K2 j1 s0 x) l& I( u7 S% r; xPlease 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?)) H+ Q$ P3 w% }: P. ]8 E
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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!, c& C/ C5 s) I B( {
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% O" R) Q+ t( C: ], f1 R: D; 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。 ( d& p2 ?. E( Z: Q% l4 A& d: d$ Z! H+ {% e, A# @' K$ W6 |
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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)( @/ d. }( H6 Z3 C
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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)5 }, o) a3 u+ m
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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)1 f# C0 P, X1 D# H1 l$ i. @2 a4 |& d
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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)6 R% H; ?$ V1 s1 }
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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 J3 s) @2 k" A! }: E
9 x6 m! K4 B6 I, e6 k8 i BShe 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)/ l5 y9 l$ l1 c$ f
5 q; }6 T: J& X; R/ P* ?* XI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): t% x D+ q7 u, t
; V0 N- ]( M( t8 t- `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:! L' {) U( Z0 g8 j: E4 A1 o
! P' B5 K: l+ t- BThe 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。)" i! N+ r! e1 Y# V
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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.)8 T' O+ K2 _/ P; X
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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。) 8 X7 x3 R! n" g: s/ t$ w# j" |# K" o9 ~
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) % H, W6 [- V( @; m " Z. o9 |. Q) T0 EWe 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) % }: q- b9 N: e/ \ 4 B0 u4 N! z4 d5 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) - q8 P1 B- @' ^" ] / u9 l v/ x% k% l- m6 ^9 w" `& h$ h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.) 2 @6 ^' _: a2 U 4 l1 s- e- [; A; y5 @此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 + C/ p3 H; O$ F- S% H' G# ]/ k; P7 c& e1 f7 n$ O
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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) + n& U' \/ u {( A7 w# O* m. E( y; Y) Z: ]& o/ X7 ~9 [0 t1 J
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); W, S& K1 O3 h7 A1 }7 N5 C7 ?! k" T
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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)% ?; x0 f; [7 W7 i( u
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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。)& W. A# ]% J7 O+ p# Q( N6 P* b* N
- S8 u: G# Z& K$ Z- \8 qMany 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 x- d! C/ ^9 ]* C$ p2 W4 y* M( o& W# T2 ~& Y- s! j
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)1 O7 ?: e4 c0 S9 e# t
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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)+ e* z p# s* V
4 ^8 R E# [! z0 rStewardesses 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。) ! r0 u# `! e$ J) h3 Z8 @! r+ k }5 x8 ~2 z) A/ 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。 - O. J. {6 ?* v( e/ p! K& G% V9 T4 ^1 o/ v: e; W! D- j" 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:, j5 |' E4 x& Z' e
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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; 4 G$ a* l% }/ g7 b% H$ E; g# q , T/ V( P* }% b0 `' U. k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;1 d1 B3 F% B0 S4 A