本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 $ O: _/ ~2 p0 u5 Q
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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) 0 n8 h7 D( m9 F7 v- k" l2 S$ K1 F1 k& @" g: Q* S9 V9 c' |
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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) ' A- `' t7 v" ~0 z4 Q% [) h' z% H# z0 d8 F9 E; N1 c) z
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。)4 i% A9 H: i) r( i1 `# z
$ v9 U1 A2 K& K7 S' ]! X6 v) R- sThis 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)5 C+ j, h& B& u1 W8 z0 r0 J9 P
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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?). K$ i# a- x; [" @1 a
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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。) 6 a* u. G0 y; C- R1 a" G$ r 5 O6 ^8 F5 {5 {8 GMr. 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) ' n& p, f' J+ \ t8 ^3 G9 x* U: @+ ?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!) * W1 k* ]4 q+ L 4 d" J& [) ?0 s2 Q+ X* pThe 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)7 i6 F* j+ Q, O& y
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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。)2 G$ _) d# J: d0 T% ^8 s. J1 T
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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?) , Y* |9 T w1 g4 `4 b% n& |& g; z6 O- T+ D
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! $ o) l. s& W& L* y8 c3 k( m( B! g: K& ?* N7 n# [( H' O9 [
; ?4 c( o9 B7 k' d& V 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。 1 X1 X3 ^+ b3 N% l0 Q . o2 [" d& i9 s. u- B& f5 q例如:# G7 q; T% e& a" q8 }% J" {
' w! U8 J$ P v/ nAt 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) ; t1 u9 Q# S1 L% G7 N; t A 2 C, b. q3 {; J9 A% ODespite 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)# O4 J/ Q( N* H: b
# i' ^+ P9 ^0 N2 LI 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). u$ h' B. P6 f$ m
9 v( ^: k4 \' m, d& o$ CHe 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)' {9 d7 P1 ^( J+ w F, e
1 C9 Z. c, n" Q* m" bIn 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 \7 T2 |8 ` B @
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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) " Z2 l" F* L3 ^ , m6 ?' x# U7 n1 ]; |$ YI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : c- `( v+ u3 V) p2 Q 9 x0 v V/ v1 x9 t7 J0 l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: 8 F o' G7 g6 n* U* s3 V9 s/ J9 s- z! o3 Y+ Y1 y
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。) ( S4 i$ A4 t/ g2 h8 Z; e. W: z+ _2 S
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.)& u; @* x" o3 a/ U. L+ }0 \0 g
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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。)3 `9 n# A0 r% @1 E$ O& m$ J. _" ]- B
. O/ n5 b1 K5 O5 a* g4 R 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)( q5 J5 Y& y$ C4 o9 G
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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) - H# t3 F; _! j+ x7 o. D5 J, L3 X1 }, @1 p# m* d P! v
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)+ C. }& Q7 j/ t% c' }/ o
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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.) 3 e3 y H# |+ H, r2 z0 n: P( J, _( z2 G$ U1 ~6 G+ k; k
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" h( d% M: |( J& R: ]
' `* N9 j. E. `) N' ] 0 ~ N' f! Z$ f3 t; O3.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」。" l, f' R5 h2 f0 O5 @$ a n& m
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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)7 K: Y- b9 [# a7 K! l E
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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) 4 J( d/ F; Q/ O. _ 0 a) E$ O$ A! _) t8 `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)5 a& t3 Z1 J9 i$ }1 Q' y/ Y% \
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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。) r, O0 q5 S$ ^7 C; g6 Y- S
$ h, x$ ^% |% q, w9 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。) 2 e9 E# `* v% J N$ w8 a : g1 Y& `, x6 FPolicemen (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)# b% B7 }3 X1 @
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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) Y% e! B: P2 T7 l+ V6 S5 E$ c3 K
' ~$ y; P. q3 `7 T2 N* e# Z! @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。) ) p A- g3 B" ~% K0 a) h9 E! G# W7 k& B, h$ }/ {
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。 4 A, D+ `" t& \6 o " W9 _9 z2 \" {: |2 d& @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:$ T' H- y$ A5 z2 ]" a
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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; 3 ?/ E/ N+ B$ K9 D4 c8 @ # W7 [4 P# L, d8 t! A1 {# ~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; * q0 m% v( f+ n h, P+ @* Y$ D) i7 Z' J
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ h6 s- {) Z: V! a4 L1 M
0 |4 b1 `$ o ]* A+ s' v对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 H% @: t6 q5 }1 P* c. E! [6 s2 z |- c/ Z
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: / \3 ^% t6 x& g& q4 Y- I) U . l' y. c* h; h& H9 `- K4 y) y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)。 2 `* m3 r! e8 @6 R( M- n * j' I- V6 V3 O1 C' R& k' ~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)。 ( z1 Q; F) i8 d H% o' _0 R