本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / K; n& W3 J# F; [4 k- I- ^) F9 u' Z" i. F* t ] 转帖 ' j! M0 e J3 a+ r1. 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) 6 e0 r& x4 S# L/ \& C5 U' f' l( f, I9 w' b# P/ _
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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) 7 I: n) s7 [5 t 9 A$ ~; k5 A' }$ t' @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。) ! b( e# j! `, r/ A 0 ^9 F/ O5 ` N! j9 t8 {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) : Q" G8 J1 O% X- ~7 o. ~8 r2 n# C1 {: i y/ m% v
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?)* Q" i& C: L- A g
9 A0 A* u, @( Y7 W WI 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。) + W, N' ]3 h% |# Z7 ^+ R8 ?+ g- m
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)4 V: l+ |1 e/ a/ U" M
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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!); x! j( A. Q9 v
5 D- [/ w, L+ ]; f# LThe 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) % i, O/ w- \* ]3 I 3 N3 ^$ V; l7 ], L/ IWe 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。): G! T k/ H5 U5 E
8 W2 }6 {3 s4 u* e- HPlease 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?) ) j6 e I, L. s+ F/ X# S+ F % n% S# K# `9 `/ F9 R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! # X6 |7 R* P6 T- g5 c 6 ~2 y3 v: @& H3 F$ K5 L: H7 ]1 B# P$ S 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。 6 b6 A4 J7 S/ B8 G! X% @ X. C! S# ]& r5 H6 k+ V
例如: % D" n" u3 L% y6 g) ]8 v 4 U8 O* X5 j2 ]. D2 y: a2 c8 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) $ p h! n: s; Q1 _ . G) Z# f& h$ u/ m% m# P$ J! nDespite 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) 1 d) h) \% h# X% a" F; l" t6 _5 Y' o. X! ?; }5 y( u- Q
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) , y8 w1 v2 |/ N. Q1 M3 e7 u% U4 z" T4 K4 r3 o7 t
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 R0 P5 M$ N0 F 7 Q: p* D2 n6 a# E1 cIn 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) H! E" I3 f; T1 p- h2 q: s7 R, B! j' n9 F3 }
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)* z+ w1 }& ?) G! a$ H7 R
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ A q- q- g1 `2 v' H& O+ y
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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:# B8 i6 S6 w; G! C, V+ V3 `/ U% j
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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。)" j2 p9 N q0 `! g! [
; x8 L- T5 z+ ~3 E' s% qThe 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.)6 L* I$ F. X6 M' e* x) O+ d
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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。)5 _5 W; A. p0 }* h: D6 Q, L. M+ W
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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' s: }0 x1 o
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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) * w+ Z5 N f5 K$ O4 ]6 v8 u- S & C4 M3 P |* \( d4 a+ d' U0 lEnclosed (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)2 u; C# i$ |- ~+ X
) P, B* _% `8 v$ w5 q+ I" Z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.)( p' T' ~ |4 S9 g
* H0 t @7 G& i9 p此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ E( ~/ A) i2 `* V) }
& P X4 v& b1 Q: Y* w% R0 \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) 7 ^0 E" S6 v8 N9 ^1 p 0 b7 C# u, L" Q' t- m* ^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)2 {& q% z. q) E6 ?1 k% t+ R5 a
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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). o% `4 D a( [/ ~% ~
/ q8 ^% H9 f/ n+ p$ _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。)0 B' c( p2 S! i) s/ W X
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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。)/ o' V9 L2 H& o
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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)# v2 n3 X* [$ m+ `
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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) % V7 D9 m3 w6 e1 s6 L D1 @3 R7 x, C. ZStewardesses 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。) 2 l( C& s0 j' K2 l/ c5 l4 p4 M* D! C
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 s3 ~" \& K& U9 N/ |& g. B 0 z, N% ^" |* P E$ F1 r& P5 j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: # w; ?! N4 E# C1 F, p 9 R8 s* Z$ _/ z8 f$ B2 w, S4 A9 U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;# f7 W! d4 z0 n8 m, I1 j
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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;, j8 t" `6 i- K