本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + ]5 D! K- a7 V2 l* H
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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)3 K( J; _* j! [7 t3 E: Y. k N7 `
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例如:/ Q5 L' S0 B! t
% H) t' a- T4 ^5 ^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) " `" y* s. o1 ]( b H- i. q& u |) f/ \ U1 C: I
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。) % f1 M( E; d+ x8 q$ W2 s& b , [( L. J# `* N7 ^: ~8 {' RThis 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)# [ a ~, q( m4 K
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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?)' E7 |" y( n, u" q1 m
, ^ k. l' n+ M R. g8 x, c4 {( AI 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。)) v+ ^5 o, z2 k1 S6 d
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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 ^* I0 {0 v$ P; }! v9 b8 z, T+ D
" Z, g3 G! B4 {& mWe 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!) 3 K. j2 M' j5 C7 H. ?6 E 1 o, c, C% S: K& I5 V. pThe 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) # ^. r# x; k, e p S0 H" ^1 `9 Y. W6 {6 n2 w( W2 s
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。) ( Q* I+ V* n9 s8 h' k5 G6 x5 K5 h( S( q) d" v1 T
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?)3 a1 y: m3 A1 F1 F( ~# N
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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! + {' X- _6 {& p; P8 m5 k7 o. r! ] [0 E
: X6 G0 N# l" I! C2. 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。 b4 O7 Y# p+ Y& T
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例如: 9 l: L) _: S/ `3 C" s; M/ J. R5 Z5 W) P( D$ i9 n
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)/ W# L% k! `7 j9 t; j, C& C, e
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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 U1 H) `/ }" ~
! h7 R8 u' G: u0 `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) e9 }7 T7 ^# Q$ L
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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)* w- N+ Q. Y! P; \8 y
6 \' b% k6 o* s$ t' b1 \9 gIn 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 P8 I% c* e" N- l t
* F- k3 g% j. J0 _8 i- F3 jShe 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)9 N( T$ \% \5 x$ i5 {; M+ k
$ W/ w& Y! J" YI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 8 D( W7 F" d2 `, }9 j; O. E. o* `7 X+ y' [; B; @2 S) J$ v& [+ A
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: 8 b8 b2 N0 z ]; q+ l/ ^+ z8 t" T( I0 B/ Z* n- f- T4 H
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。)7 G. o0 ]2 _5 x- I) I/ c N. Y
! d1 N8 Z0 l" R( Y+ {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 z7 D1 r5 v7 f; E- O4 z
" b- u6 i5 ^0 r5 P* f! \0 {+ xHe 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。) + _- H6 x3 g& W+ D$ c: Q ! ~/ i( ]0 e3 ]0 O1 s$ n* u9 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)4 ^/ M* N9 X% n9 n1 _/ B2 x
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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) ! \% j0 T; A5 k& e7 ]. A2 [ v! K* K/ {, v3 j# O' _) \+ d
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) ( ]6 _ Y/ W% x2 q, e+ a & v3 ^& ^3 q$ D$ \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.)) _/ N* A l3 A* x9 | K+ T
& X) f. m9 g2 i' c- N此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 o3 p% d$ c0 y3 A7 y' T* O" d: I4 W1 H
- B" z! }1 x3 C3.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」。2 m7 @5 o, c' K# L2 M7 X% {4 ]
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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) 8 x- o7 p. Z! j3 z6 @6 E& N" G4 s/ v3 _" }( \4 J! |6 {
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) , I( e1 e/ D- y0 P2 _: I. q& t! @0 b3 D
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) * y, k+ U$ ]- q* n, p8 k % F' {& z9 c1 D4 e" K& ^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。)' R0 l x: @" d4 } N/ e
& J0 m( u, @& e0 }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。)* |+ m3 }. S- Q1 b; k1 E. \
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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) 4 D- e% L+ |% a1 k! l ( k& N, k% J8 C+ R( s! A, w/ PCongressmen (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) 5 u3 e4 `/ P. g! O0 @' j0 W8 T 4 \( l% E/ g3 D! f) aStewardesses 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 f* k- ^9 w) K$ u4 u, O$ ] & S4 x# F; ^4 S6 r9 M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。 . a3 |: a @7 Z3 b5 u+ M , V' B- X9 {& M- P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: ! n8 }3 s4 T. e; o6 ? , [" b8 s9 z n% r& X: {- | i3 P4 C) 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; * u6 [% K L5 b% e( g, g+ q 2 K* }2 Y& @8 B+ ]' y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;" [; p y1 {& g, W% X" b1 W
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 a4 G8 ~/ O. z, W! S
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 7 N7 ^8 f {3 g+ C2 f5 J G f' ?
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: # S: t& }2 J5 |, V/ T3 T% D ( g: T/ v9 x" }6 i7 V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)。( v- ?1 Q/ j- @
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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)。 / h w* j% g9 C