本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 C. l% u1 o' u
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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)2 a& _: V. r8 X) N* c6 u. d8 B
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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)! s7 [7 N5 A1 p! W# D
3 j5 y+ ?) z4 K% @; 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。)- |8 V$ _( [. T& S; p, Y& {9 W
3 ~5 m. h p4 o0 z9 gThis 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) 7 p5 ~( Z/ G$ p9 [ V/ a# A+ r3 U9 X E
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?) & S2 d4 m/ t4 @ _8 s: a6 D4 N% o- e" q* L4 i9 l9 W( J7 u4 Y2 r
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 |0 i) l( j+ d% i' n2 T/ B- k1 b/ ? ! Y9 n. E7 J' S' `! f- cMr. 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) 3 I* [! h6 \% p" l* s ! s# [5 S$ f8 |! B3 _9 Z/ gWe 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!)( f% Q- Z2 [/ ~( Y' t! J
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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), O; l: T7 q- n+ J
9 x6 L0 j% ]- ^3 x: _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。) 1 m: u: z7 g0 N- N! N" I . ^& j' o9 S0 F8 E# G1 j f7 [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?) . R- b/ Z$ T0 H9 [ ! d5 {" f: Y2 N- W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! 7 d2 X2 ?+ E& ^) S8 _& U2 H3 V- g2 y9 z/ Z0 u$ m5 y6 h
8 c: W' V1 s+ e4 { 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。7 z& }: }2 k, n: c: K
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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); W! {' C- f: ^% h
* z' _: j% d3 ^$ DDespite 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 L. ` ~2 v( R& [6 g6 `3 `: c3 l- o0 p
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)2 t) M7 S1 n5 S* b1 Z6 t* B6 Z* X7 k
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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)4 O! H( [$ V1 U6 r O. b
* g5 o, C a2 MIn 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) $ b1 J- ~( b; m 6 g* d7 h+ v( B4 eShe 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) 2 D- B/ C( k& \+ p6 y0 z1 ?+ Z% p . |. W6 M1 O2 g. hI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " }3 }0 E' s8 Q1 b/ c# |" D6 g( a/ c; `% a" Q" w
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 D% {- x$ b* k0 Y* B- y" R. \% y7 P9 F+ J7 E
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。). q/ B$ `/ ?) a% S
. n. q) m. r' A5 O' a+ I* E3 u6 ^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.)& ~5 U1 D: W/ J8 ?& N6 A+ P6 Q
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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。) 4 N3 y0 z- K" P. t* n! N ) z. J0 U6 n6 [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) ( S+ \6 S& i4 U; a b1 v " i8 K& w( Z9 w4 s, mWe 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)" w% }$ ~- w) j- S A
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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) 7 u* j6 e0 r) J2 P- h- g Y/ X# `2 }6 s) ^- ^8 ?8 I
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.)# W# A, M& V4 z3 Y, o
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; u, b9 Y+ }- V
/ |+ B& \( I) R6 \. p 0 c' T$ y V! C1 P: ]0 J) t% N3.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」。( w7 F" \. j" E" ?) `' O4 }
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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)" o- C A2 [1 [ S* @
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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)( z7 s4 u" e* A8 {! F
$ ~ H1 }7 P: W" q$ u, ]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): e o; a- _0 F0 L: \4 z1 ?2 h' H$ c
5 ?- _& E9 B' @& K; {: DHe (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。)$ k5 w* Z8 L" J$ e
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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。)( [( P" l- l# d6 ~& u. p5 t: P0 P
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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) - ?2 W6 D# U# K4 _9 S . u" F4 O/ t: L* ]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) + s9 ]2 k |% g/ }5 c& i- b : C% W7 J" ^7 `! o3 y8 M: GStewardesses 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。) $ i0 Y2 s4 ]* z2 I1 r - i7 u6 `- g$ [( [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。; E0 n+ o* \$ |5 Z
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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:6 ?+ f4 p9 s% G3 ^
9 x( Y. B5 l2 H8 l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; ! p4 F0 r! L, F ! Z0 c! A8 k' n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;; l2 F& _% X" A- N) R
2 c7 |# S5 \+ L! G/ J8 |& _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)。. {5 d# S$ f+ W& p* W ~, s# e, w% Y