: r P8 d @0 o5 q转帖 5 b& z! k: q8 ^3 k& b1. 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) z6 Z; A0 k! e+ o7 ]- A0 A0 Q 3 ~( ]: D0 B2 S# m; @" T$ ^" h+ a例如: % h, k9 F- V4 }5 N4 f 6 Q$ [. ?) R' K* A2 X* kMany 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)8 l, R( r$ m1 u% d) u0 E0 C) u
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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。) ) |! y( h2 Z7 H: j3 I - m7 P+ V* T( w4 v+ {This 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) g: n* Z ?7 Y+ i `" U6 l
$ S3 X k) E8 A5 g& UThe 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?) ! V0 r- k6 ~0 X/ ?/ r* t6 }7 m. \ : w2 F/ G/ S2 U3 V6 ]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。) ( p) ^% R! m% J' ^ 4 q1 {+ `1 b. v6 W- h) C( SMr. 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/ h7 k1 e, X+ v
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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!) e; D: u' A. q; P4 q ! H/ o) H( M7 Z* g( ]$ L7 ~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)4 ?* l, p( M1 t6 d c; J" o, k
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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。)9 {' g1 u& ^9 j5 E5 w6 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 ^ D" i' i% {, \8 E, o# Q5 d" w: L7 M
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!6 p/ u2 Z1 e- J9 m
( E) H7 v" y8 X+ YAt 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/ R: B' [9 V$ `/ I , _4 o) K9 w6 N MDespite 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)4 n* W& j" H/ \( `1 Q
2 S- A1 F/ e4 \6 R- sI 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 u) W% H! B* i& ]
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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)7 ~4 A# H) N4 k' V4 n8 c. G2 b/ M) G
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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)% T8 B: P* u" r- P4 k9 z
/ z3 q- l! `" H }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)& X x: G7 [* b5 }) C" B' `
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( R; K7 I% n8 I- V, _# u3 ^+ Y7 |; M) W4 N; O
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: ; ~' X' i- b8 W. X 7 G- d- r- D; T- W/ OThe 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* o6 P9 N. K3 b, p & N! d' f8 g; x. z4 h/ JThe 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.) * G8 f Z/ F7 ^5 A ]9 I+ @8 O 7 R1 |0 K$ X6 ?4 @! ]! s! qHe 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。) 0 z; D5 j W) W2 R, \$ l 4 _) W9 l0 |" ]9 s4 zHe 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) 5 p4 _3 H8 r2 b8 i* r ( X; `0 X1 k0 S5 d4 ?: h' Q* 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) , x; y5 G' _1 _0 x) t, _' H, S8 x% r5 j
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 C9 R& J: F- T# a: C
3 |+ z' k( q: }# b; l! 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.)/ O ~4 p) Q0 K4 d* J
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 * H$ ]! B: g$ [8 {3 N) y4 |8 j; z1 l/ @9 m7 ?/ }1 { b
+ @5 e; `5 u F3.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」。! G& Y, X& @% z6 O* b2 m
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例如:0 s: Q" ~4 }$ c0 v- h. p; Z2 t W% ]
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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) 1 B/ w# P* d$ S; l4 r5 X 3 A& e( [4 \3 @3 L, ]* v! ~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), r, r0 n: _# H/ Q m
: B( z* w( z7 D# ~+ o6 g) g, V" SThis 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)) @5 t7 M+ h6 `0 E+ Y# s6 j' P
, k+ u" h4 v/ E3 v: H# d, _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。)& x3 T. h# y' y, j" @+ t# K
& r2 t* D* l+ I3 P/ RMany 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。) 3 A* a3 k, g J$ J) B! y* P/ J9 N7 C. E$ \4 @) K
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)3 A& E, C0 X! }; j3 N
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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) / G8 ~- s4 p) ^2 E! W. ?! e) C) E! q3 G7 N. `+ R0 _
Stewardesses 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。)) h, Y- d2 X- d3 v
5 @) U' O; f, Y: N3 [( 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。 7 ?8 w6 E( h' O 7 e) c! m& P9 U+ Y* m/ `" H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:8 V9 A5 Q4 I& [( e
2 }. Z- r8 X, g$ v% y, h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; * i3 A1 v8 s# o) B & J# s) T9 ?$ O I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;# @& }+ n/ r, I3 e: R" x
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;2 K& O1 k3 E3 f/ D
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; # T6 x5 K; ?" s, D* Q " N! W5 P7 V4 l+ w: o* W# E$ D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: * j, c+ g# S) N' r4 S' u) }9 V4 d: x6 c' m0 S: T
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)。: [, z0 q* a( W% L) N" F3 h7 T
* ^: g0 {* ?5 n) x2 A* v# 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)。 . q( d$ G: W: x4 S( k