本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 $ v/ T+ y. c) D# o5 S; V/ w$ s$ `/ n% F9 @/ `% ] 转帖( ~1 W* r+ Q# h) W0 x$ w$ D8 s
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)# ]5 g7 I( S5 C; l8 K: z* m
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例如: ; S( X ^# s. H. S# @2 n0 S1 ?( I3 _% W3 x2 B1 A2 K3 X
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)# T" n' p3 N+ I, Q" M
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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。) " H5 ]# T8 c/ P* [0 I, V , c; ?2 [" T5 f/ B. l/ J- `- s4 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)7 V+ ~4 r, r; F2 ^3 l
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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?)/ {4 W9 N! N' f0 t
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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。) 5 {; x2 w, b7 O" B0 S/ I' c: N5 E% e4 w) R p9 D4 I$ u# O* O
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)! B% |' ]% t1 m/ z
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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!)0 n$ h5 h+ p4 A5 S
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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): }+ t+ ?$ n* [# e
* {! o1 z0 x; w) vWe 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。) 6 P" q, M+ S0 D1 n, F! Z q% ]& ^' V; t1 x
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?) - p& L# j# a6 Z, n+ y9 C8 X. s; x/ ~/ O% S% _* m) S
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' n( Z5 e* c. t: l + v- \# O! h8 y0 z# y8 _: C9 K4 w1 P' q 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。 4 q9 E- N8 \/ l, C; b2 Y3 J' o7 y' B1 v: t2 Z4 z" @" Z
例如:$ L& K* t5 C- }- N
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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) 8 `0 r: \# S' ^" h " @0 ~! L0 A2 n) 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)' D1 Y4 V0 f; F1 r3 p/ A
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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) ; h6 f/ C; `9 z; o5 n6 s' A" ]2 o6 X3 i8 r+ l
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)" N+ ` F' u: d, B
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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)' f. v: x2 a) g
8 Y( X. C, X* g( @5 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)( v# K/ S* d5 V: B) ~
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生). e- O: X: D+ x6 g
+ W D( Y4 c9 k+ F1 A; m4 F) C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:5 _. y5 c9 y4 Y% L3 u
5 E- M# S# p4 z% T KThe 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。) % Z' @2 c `9 C1 K+ q4 m" X9 t5 f" s8 H% d5 n
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.)( b* [1 k6 H% O6 V6 r2 w
! {$ `, x' {5 e; q* NHe 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。). |% Z, Y+ k& \) P1 G; M
, s3 a- I3 F: \3 c7 z0 E7 k& JHe 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) 2 `% } R! `# X- t. v! u Z2 ?" F2 x0 O+ v$ h! [) k( |
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) 8 i5 L$ I# W# M8 o2 ^* E7 q: J 4 C* C6 L) K+ D/ G, I1 `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) ' V6 n) ~/ `! }0 W( O7 I0 G0 ^* b+ z- 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.) ! ^! ?- z* H9 D' O, g' l4 r z1 p, P+ G+ q& v3 }, T# C4 ~$ J% V
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 k% q+ d- z: R( `3 X* @2 @, Y8 T) J1 P6 T8 d! X( a m
$ |% D; ]) ]8 C; S3.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」。 j$ U2 U6 x' P9 ~$ w6 v2 O) V0 a( Z$ W4 w. i' `5 G
例如: + \5 v* J* p: L8 g5 ]9 q5 ] , Q5 [6 H: Q: J9 p( W( d$ FMankind 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)6 ^3 \4 t8 e# A3 A5 ^
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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)! _! Y- b0 A( g( G" l$ P2 Y! M1 i) v2 {
3 v2 C3 z0 B7 ]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) ( ^) t8 A1 d' Y3 y6 z , @/ c" C; _+ _' P$ v+ B# ^9 u- SHe (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。)9 _- F- u. `& d
- V# a7 H; k/ s& Q$ h1 PMany 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 T J3 B" p' {8 @4 g: }& z0 q+ Y 2 g$ e( U, e2 o3 ^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)' W Q5 V* u& D" z0 E7 B
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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) ! ?' {2 D9 W" p; D( |' ~7 o1 V) x3 \ # c/ N t% x% m8 _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。) ( e3 _1 z) F- e0 I. b6 T+ v4 K* S$ B, U }
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。1 k `1 y( @; f
! R+ T8 C" I9 F3 j1 i* J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)。4 Y6 ~ Z$ R9 n' J4 \5 {