本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * N& T- D* z/ _3 @: ?
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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) : V5 Z, L2 C' K# B+ H, E. _' A. m* R+ h6 Q8 d# Y7 O
例如: . {( p& b1 P, D& e6 E1 W( S 7 Y, H0 ^( R# F6 u" \' {$ KMany 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) \) x7 o( P. ~) s" F1 _* {' `
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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。)! O7 j# a4 E4 @+ `
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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)# [" N ]" \* ~0 X
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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?) ( _+ C0 _) L7 R4 l2 h, B: G; D0 K- |9 K3 b( M ^4 H
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 v7 i* Q/ _, _( B( A W
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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)/ |+ r2 c6 r# X0 }( F3 C
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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!)& C7 g0 x" [0 {8 r
# P* ^( F6 e# Q2 s, v, s Q) W; ~/ e# GThe 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)- d# w) F$ i0 a/ G0 n
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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。) & \3 e2 R- C/ A8 b& J! m; Z+ D: U/ i8 @- e
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?) # B9 I. l& Q6 Q( D: P: c, @3 _9 {2 w! Y( i4 l1 t
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! u- s- B0 Q. R" }% b0 I $ \7 O$ q8 X1 n( F+ R& S 5 c0 B. N' Y5 N& K2. 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。( X( r; S) K% B' [* y8 }, s8 K; k
# A% K: w! k9 Y) f8 k3 N# D! H例如: . D, z4 `4 a6 ?7 _4 z . @! O7 ^! D- f' `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)6 C2 [. i; b3 e1 `
; V d: }7 f8 l# cDespite 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)! q7 `% s/ k& O3 L- X
8 d z8 o1 f2 D5 z: xI 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) 2 U- ~! [3 X! L0 @% G % b1 p, j( z" \" DHe 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) " U, Q6 M6 P" u7 ?6 A$ Q# W Q: w # A8 m! Y) q4 a. Z% V5 W* g' fIn 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)# I1 J" V$ J* N* g, A5 E% `
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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)# E) g' P, N; }" r1 W
" `! d+ N( X- s# T9 V4 eI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)7 m& z5 y; i5 k4 V/ ?: v, w
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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: " ~7 \/ `' @0 r$ X4 x6 h 3 G$ O g( |2 c' B" E/ c9 x" DThe 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。) * g# f/ X5 O Y w/ G6 c. }0 n( k - Z5 W( o' S6 L" l7 d) }; }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.)) Q8 p: y( m2 ^/ E; J2 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。) * l2 n7 J0 W ^# ~) R4 s . F: `/ N6 c/ j; x; ?8 j: NHe 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)* o. Q k B! v* ~5 P
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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) : f' d* K1 t* K- U D* |% i # w9 r5 B+ k1 `0 y2 KEnclosed (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) 9 _3 `3 k, s- j$ S( H- t" L+ m# F8 g& D+ }
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 C/ D7 b1 t8 Z0 R( o9 n [4 R7 C8 t/ W- M4 X$ a l
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ; F/ m: ]( y' ^2 j4 A1 L4 a) d3 v4 b o4 q3 S
0 n. A% ^, _" F! y, G* L 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」。 7 q/ E4 _- P# C- B: p9 X, E( @9 d8 s4 T) }( \9 ]* v. @/ p: U; j& \3 C% m
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0 h4 }: s/ \ cMankind 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) " ?9 B6 D; I# I" X2 R0 C, U 9 _8 f/ G; n& I8 ]/ N1 pManpower 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) + z4 n+ P0 A5 j3 H / ]5 ]6 U2 G8 H+ v6 Z1 nThis 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)& B$ R6 B T5 m; I* b
2 K5 T* j4 Z5 ?, Y! ZHe (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。)5 i; A* {3 U* c% Y( i B! A: ]0 S
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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。)# }1 @5 t& K( H6 f, T% \
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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)2 Y e: }- G. H$ w- p; v# K
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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), E3 n! g K9 b6 n3 W, J! p) }
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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。) 9 z6 Y1 z8 h6 v0 B & k$ c. v- e* C8 q& w+ 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。 3 `* h; u O# y& l # m! S" ?/ R% V$ x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:0 M: c/ I3 [# r9 {$ U! T+ [; e1 ]
1 O& y! z3 s, e9 j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; $ ?& j$ @/ }+ T- d0 g ! n% E$ f$ e, S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;/ f$ f l1 W2 Z4 I# S' f# q# j
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; \( t% e& x# k" Y$ M6 E8 i & y6 `' L% W3 W+ {2 }" R对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;8 l' q9 e4 Z) {. v f( \
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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:! V' }; n$ G1 x# H- c& {
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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)。. e+ W% ?, t2 u4 j
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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)。 . x$ X/ C2 y' D& H