本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 & g& f( }5 v' ~9 U& G4 [7 G
. _# a$ e- ^- z/ w7 T. c转帖# h2 B; U5 a2 C
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) + Q* E9 h! P# ? . o8 g: p9 s$ G+ S例如: ) E9 \6 a. q7 V1 S$ C" l; i) j9 F 9 o1 I0 W! X7 G7 y8 _) S; OMany 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) : u% w+ p* y7 Q/ \# z$ ?4 l% _+ O/ c3 K+ w
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。) 1 c2 u& t* x5 G& n Q6 X5 a1 V5 e" u: F' pThis 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) , t+ k- r1 h+ c% N) d7 h . {0 \; M- h! }8 |; p$ e( GThe 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?)5 J; Z. k8 |5 D
" f/ x! v0 p9 b9 Y* e
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。) + d G& c' r% i+ g! R' z' J2 m3 u8 X+ {
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) * K( {- K# F4 D5 P $ R: o7 u- S2 ]/ D- iWe 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!) 5 h6 x! c3 z1 z1 a/ k, ~3 T+ k( b2 D# G2 u _9 O
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)$ A; J. ]1 ^5 y u$ ]
# n* L- N: s# |& |! X2 `- bWe 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。)! ]# y+ K2 H- T/ t6 [2 ?
9 o$ U+ u2 h6 j* I1 y& ?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?)8 N7 G. E- f9 j- S7 ^
0 S+ ]" ^1 W% Q, y% _, `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!# q# r+ A7 M" U" v
" f/ w9 t6 ?( @3 T$ O- s' Z ! k$ |4 _* a/ f* p- l% r2. 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。' w' L3 k% h* Q5 Y
# J( b+ D5 A9 z# v% R/ o9 s例如:: u2 L; p( Y9 y/ A
8 }" w3 }4 R* h5 {8 lAt 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)0 O1 h# f# A# U3 X
3 i2 ~8 }6 }7 _" r! W" E& c0 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)" t6 S1 _+ [# d- J# k/ f* d' Z( [+ `
1 ]6 g6 m# |' C0 p2 w* R( HI 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)5 Z% h5 a- m" \
& O, ?& A1 t5 I a7 F, ]
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 U/ }: t8 P* N, G/ z/ k3 x/ b
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)2 q8 |+ Y; U/ w
# d3 ^! ]. Y" j6 Z& g3 C* P, xShe 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) ; E) p9 w) z0 R6 H/ X6 g ( F7 ~$ c, G, w: N1 v+ HI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生). ?* x+ ?( w+ b6 U+ l
3 J3 Y) u, B& R5 q) d
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:# }6 m& Y0 j. }: N2 v
; W) Y$ X3 ~8 V, A) i0 U P
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。)$ d+ ]% a; f$ }# [# U# m
) U- z2 `" y. t; T" N: W. cThe 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.)& z* O: f; p, ^: `$ h( O' C
0 K% |+ R+ E7 ]7 v% ^8 ]. THe 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。) ( R3 j# d$ H! Y% C0 B) l* J6 w: z; K# ?2 P
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) $ d( S1 @$ P! l4 P' Q + T C# S2 Y* f! ^! i) ]- DWe 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)/ ?! P: X- ?, [7 ?1 \. @- o4 m. L
T. b) n' d6 M6 m4 A" C6 `9 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)& n/ q# a: ?' ^7 Y; ] u
1 T" S- m& _$ R, [) [" g
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.) ) _0 [/ i" g. x, |7 t [3 n: { 5 ^7 y: h8 b& o1 b F9 e此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 a; c4 G! e- U+ b; s- S- c
5 N7 Y, n9 v* ]# a7 ]
3 K% k$ U7 b- @9 ?1 X, N O例如:2 D7 n3 J4 C* u6 `
; q6 g" g8 ^* |. Y8 a- c; 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). |$ p+ c7 Q) k/ X. c
/ V6 v/ [( x. i2 h2 X( C9 eManpower 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) Z2 D- w3 W O$ S1 G/ f# }
/ x" B$ @6 }+ Q7 @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) . P" q' ], k3 w( I; u3 f" S. I7 c6 A) d& h9 t( r; P9 M6 I
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。) + n) Z9 z; a0 t8 d9 G2 P1 s! `2 w- V; w1 C
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。) 7 o! P6 y! [1 \/ _4 U# G; Q7 S9 J# w- B/ a' J1 ]
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 L) S. k V& Y- k0 N% S
8 G: b3 I, f6 d- @
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 Z! m( M" T" s+ x. r# s* V- |6 n8 V; {) P' }
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。)5 p1 I5 f- B4 Q# ]4 P, b' ]
V& C5 h3 [/ V# }, p k
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。 6 d6 Y" G: |; r& C+ U 4 n1 r; d1 b8 M+ w5 _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: + L f- D+ c, ?7 n1 V1 ?4 p0 G( r; G1 {* P5 [& b
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;" ]9 w* [) ]) T& @" s
- P/ b$ ?! J: W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; 0 [1 s4 B6 B8 }8 }1 l5 Q ( i, s; U8 L9 b. n! _9 e% v% P对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ X% m1 ^, N* r. c J
% d5 M! B- Z. `4 `+ i8 B' S! ~
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! t1 k% E% A y& N0 _, ?' ~) E 2 R) H i7 E* @+ w8 p% Z& P6 E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: : {( N2 e8 ? y% A) L8 X$ F( c" V- ^9 ?
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)。' S s# B7 g7 v: N+ d% R _' u
# h4 r ]) K# e& N, l* D
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)。 0 b) ]& T! k" R9 X- d7 F+ P4 ?