本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 b: N* \& P1 w, ?; U2 n! ^
/ v1 Q* f' X H M5 x9 D0 O. d 转帖 + G5 i1 z: B( Q+ m/ u% T7 V1. 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)1 c, s# z7 p; G
/ U4 T- G( p: H8 I) g& _: `1 f
例如: , ?7 \$ h. x* r% R1 C* w2 M# a' k" l0 ?
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) + ?- n6 u- `. N! ^+ C1 b+ v3 y! J7 o; E
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。) 9 v' N3 c; F$ F) n: q, ? ' W% M: K" k& e# fThis 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) 8 V- `( t3 \3 M3 Z/ {6 s/ ~& Q6 _+ X2 x* Y
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?) , k; |, O. W0 n9 z9 d3 z, H3 p* d% ^7 Y
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。)6 l! P0 e* Q! `- y' P2 i! w
1 P" r6 o/ f# T# ]
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)$ O9 M ?: _/ m5 U$ a1 y
( }( u+ Z1 z" B- M" E$ {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!) ' Y+ o# p$ B" T3 Y* V* V2 ]! G- `! u8 Z 8 f" O6 U, T: K# H7 i& b# C0 wThe 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) 5 a: Y& w% u8 }3 {/ i 8 ~- I: w* o1 T$ A" QWe 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。) ! R0 z: b4 @0 h( L! K# T- s8 q0 S0 L3 K/ I' D
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?) 2 s5 G; \+ ^0 r7 K/ ?! y, T- ~ * r6 n8 G! G2 F0 Z5 M5 B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; K H3 R2 ]8 |9 Q+ ^7 d0 @$ @( A
7 f; P2 j" H+ c! ]4 H: E& m
! ~& r; }1 B7 N& e' ^ 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。 9 A) F! x( f3 w) x0 L& V8 D' N6 e. ?: V2 {
例如: # N2 N! M( R% S/ G& P$ c) U. g+ u3 Z$ e" l/ c
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)" T# l: F0 _6 I* V0 }1 _! a
2 N5 l3 ?0 }0 Y2 ~9 ]/ Q- Q- U
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) / e; U# @. Z1 }! O% O0 N, W: N- N% o i: L9 ]2 }- W
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)6 E. {) k, Q+ P1 e8 D9 O9 ], ^& [* j
' u. ]& i4 ~. T+ z- A. S
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); h' {( y8 e# T! r
* C% p7 T7 |* M4 b$ `" t: e: q
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)9 n% i9 k, c8 ~" d( k
! W J2 |& ~. t6 S6 u0 _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)* `' a. A% f5 M3 {* f k4 I
6 r" O3 `3 t. ~' T! s* f. vI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , V" f- |+ C% Z2 G: B0 g M# m& u( A' h" G" k9 D- ^2 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: R$ i9 `, ~6 q6 E0 m8 X: }9 I
# s5 k3 w* W1 C* ^3 S, g3 y s4 j
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。) 1 e$ _3 Q) `: `* t# f' {8 L2 G7 H' s! b6 h: m5 L# \' ?: g
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.) 1 d- K0 @) n+ C. s + Y) B4 V0 n+ R6 v" }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。) @% U" s) e4 Q7 U# R& P- {2 M5 E8 R. K: J4 N+ l
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)) {9 \3 U x& J3 j
+ |9 u. `- F) u j! X. G, uWe 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) O8 n& l; z5 ^! E8 @# s( b/ f# o" Q
3 |: F2 X1 J8 @0 a/ d0 o$ R2 o
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) ) A( ]# l9 ?- t4 H& O. z: c$ x+ q8 m) \4 L
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.)7 k7 e9 r3 I% i! J
3 a' K- C. ^7 ^% c2 { ?' a1 ]
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。. N2 k' B R, n1 B; ~
) x9 S0 X# s) X: I7 H/ M9 `: F# c- p4 d E2 P& a 3.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」。 # G0 f$ b" @% E4 B% |7 F- o % D8 }2 p7 v6 s/ w' Y( ^例如:9 O5 w6 J8 Z/ Z
4 G+ \4 @) @& C/ j/ L+ }
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) 4 y" |3 }" R& U4 P3 ~3 G) v* g . p, O8 D9 ~* A ?' @# qManpower 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, n* Y0 c" u- x0 V
# I7 \# c0 z; n1 P. w" g% e5 tThis 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) ' c) l$ ~1 Y* \6 \/ n' c+ R, X: 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。)( W2 P4 S5 ? t& z- {' s$ T
7 y7 l. f; ~( J& v( P! j
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。)& c& P2 d( |' x. Z1 i
. t' Q8 D1 T: ^. i+ \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)8 w+ c* q. |) N' v1 h6 P
2 h9 {: L9 a4 {$ z- ?: 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)5 L! U: K' \* t0 X3 G& F. A& D+ N# W
! H9 U* Q3 V8 `: DStewardesses 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。) # P2 G o9 v# h1 @: D6 n* i. O7 P1 N! a7 ]' t; ]3 P' X
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。 / W; H5 e% U) }" @5 H% W; j2 d6 l8 ` / C, X( j1 h+ B$ I6 R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: : B* w9 ^4 C9 B+ _" T- U. ]6 w. h; e: b2 v) r3 U O& A& _0 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; 5 \+ G: \5 ~/ q `* D 5 K" B& S) \4 N3 `7 V( c& L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; 7 A. B! b" U. r# Y$ |/ t! P+ v" n9 _/ h! g) E* F) ?
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 o" t& v7 j3 ~; \( t6 l% F. B8 o/ N+ C: e$ [; B1 s! v& c
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;+ B2 T% O3 J4 m/ E6 ~0 b: ~
9 h% P8 X" y9 |4 o! m9 K9 C4 p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: 2 j4 N. A! T+ q- s6 ^* v5 Z $ \4 v$ ^ I* Q. D" \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)。8 f( x: p" g% S Z5 m
2 w3 n l$ T. H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)。8 G' ]# p! w1 {