本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " c9 U1 o+ T! E2 Z7 Q ( z' Z2 I* c/ [转帖7 [1 x' G* l" P
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)/ b% M" `+ x( e1 t. n
+ O) p5 q4 l9 j0 s! l8 i; X f例如: 2 k. r; W: m/ D5 q p# c6 j* K7 ~2 C6 v1 f4 N( B- M) `7 g* x( S
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) , h* p, ~9 i5 n$ I/ u4 D ; Q$ b+ P$ _' Y1 G" D6 kThree 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。) + `& f" ]; N, O6 B' F / N, ~" V' S9 v9 V0 k* aThis 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)4 y0 a q% ^. G1 G% N
9 C U1 Q) v) C- }4 SThe 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?)7 G. W' g4 J) g& {
) Y% x8 Z& ]7 N1 b
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。) : `4 o: ?* c6 S4 z- ^0 a; l5 Q0 L$ x3 r- _9 q3 F+ ?! N$ 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), }. n. B1 ]8 L; n& E8 F( ?
0 I2 s. ]) q: r7 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!)1 i" O- j. B% w5 Y6 i/ s# Z% [
# L/ c; h( |: A% |1 D) ]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)9 I, g' F) J* V% Z7 Z9 a5 t
6 w4 a. }' {: Z) k! aWe 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。) ' W- t8 i, t# `6 O1 ~( A4 X* C3 ?; T4 a% z9 \" r9 w% [
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?) ! f, o8 B# w, v3 C 3 n8 D- s, e2 n; Y$ `/ k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$ t& N$ R1 l! ]) T8 [% `
5 G7 O7 [) ^4 h" R5 F$ B) R, f( ?; i! ?: N9 L4 o2 N0 O# q# P 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。2 G8 Q n7 F* G$ R% C3 v8 |2 E. |
0 I0 Y ]' Y3 I9 K9 [
例如: 1 M) } p% [9 J& O: _) m- j / T( `* {5 C( w# EAt 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) - j8 T5 {* ]1 r: G$ Q7 T: c5 s ( N O8 z/ Q" B0 k! w& b! X9 l" E# m7 c$ RDespite 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)6 X- z! x& X: E( q& A
" [8 j, n" E q& _( d) H# d
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) $ ~. M& j8 U7 a3 j+ [8 l) a" a1 \ B' j
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 Y$ J) h* K6 n0 e3 u' v
3 U( W. J. S; \: A- V4 z
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)& M: H6 ?, |! G: c1 V$ a5 x
" R% G5 B2 ?7 `- o/ C8 q
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) ( L6 i/ q& y% k' I; }% Y% c2 w1 d( |
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)2 ?* g$ H1 b* j0 {( L3 n8 m Y, G
O4 M4 |, _( y1 c) J9 X/ f" e3 u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 K3 h, }' s: C% G) v9 M+ \
% k7 r% Q; j+ s6 n& N6 f' f7 X
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。) * N6 r- Q, t! b( R- _ 7 m. p5 a1 i6 e$ K* R" `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.). R2 p. U7 E1 \& ~2 T" {! e
/ h3 o& A) U) g% jHe 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。) 6 a# s" q2 n3 {5 P- \' u& N 3 A# S. y( Q# d& `" k THe 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)& W( v; i" R0 ^
+ F$ o: I8 K* KWe 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)- I2 H( Y6 v/ V9 H0 f6 k
1 J9 b* \+ H/ b6 `+ s! F: ?+ ^9 JEnclosed (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) , \" t2 n" U! I# J, o$ w 1 m4 C6 d- Z( ^7 } W7 P+ k4 E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.)1 r! g7 M/ _3 x+ @/ \+ R
4 K" d& M5 _1 E/ ^# R此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 d6 m/ t. `# t4 R0 |4 S
( x' A n; A1 k ~; Z 8 s* r! m8 f' ?, d# c# 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」。 9 M/ m& ]* r3 u 1 p: W+ H; X/ n, x例如:3 c* R/ Q$ r+ o% ~1 u, w0 U
' r% {3 `% y2 g" n( c, d
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) * F& ]. Q4 P% N% x" a1 C% }+ }( \* ]- a' W6 ?' _7 k8 @2 I
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) " G/ Y2 T* [1 k5 z0 S5 m$ Q/ f+ h8 F3 |
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) / [3 H5 y% z3 G; ^6 p+ w. T; x! @) g( c
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。)3 ~" I$ t9 a9 R8 s$ T2 _
. L+ o' N" Q& e+ N, dMany 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。) ! z8 u' @# W* i* _* O: V7 U% _2 \% ` w* m/ H: s
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)7 }* h7 G3 N9 U
0 U- c- V1 m0 ICongressmen (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) ! r& h" r& J( `6 m/ i( N - j6 L, u7 [$ v7 S( g, a8 X% yStewardesses 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。); Z6 ?( M1 t- d4 ^! E
9 o2 X, e5 U0 b2 Q8 k) e# F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。 ' p# g9 u/ Q4 h" U# p( T3 l1 K ?. N3 i8 o, ], 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:- B( y2 q. t, h- }- `
k1 p7 I, K! {4 y/ b9 `- g' o5 E
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; 2 G0 H8 N, t9 t4 i9 b ^! a! X: l 2 n8 M6 r0 g; r$ B! F2 G+ q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; {- G. u5 f8 m2 w r d$ a" o& o# @. v, M
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; # ~! R3 M; b t5 m- Q, e2 b* i, o & ~+ ~7 W! w% E: y9 L" F对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - u; Z) O O9 Z+ P2 c8 h4 S4 l. Y6 }1 k6 K
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:7 N* q4 c1 G. `: _
% B9 Z6 Y2 ~6 n. s; \) 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 r, {/ N' L- M' c+ @- w& q
" R0 p. S5 @4 d4 Q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)。 1 `$ [1 Z3 Q3 O: H