本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 C D& @2 M ~2 ]! g " a- R* p+ A0 u) F1 q6 c转帖 4 C0 `; f3 N- I& ^) t q1. 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) 4 a6 Z5 a: |. P$ s& _9 x: l* \, [, e( O9 F
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: s( I* ^! b( c0 Y" o! B& UMany 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) $ D6 n0 \# A0 W9 ~ " f6 ^ b+ `2 LThree 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 ~' j( R
z& ~1 V% M: G- FThis 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) ) S9 t9 P# q: ~. d% p7 _ " w, o. O; O `" L H& x! bThe 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?) " _/ o: I) F, w: g& J3 K% [4 |! S0 Z3 f
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。)0 G4 e2 k$ i1 Y8 H1 R- `; F4 @8 r
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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); p" C" v/ \, a! N, g0 r" s
# D! S, S% a; [- aWe 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!) l0 B1 i, K* ^( K( v2 m. v9 o$ X: Z: E% W, |2 S; 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) . ?6 A u: ~: G2 F. T8 s$ _( g+ e " B8 G9 e+ U9 n% D: ~3 CWe 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。) 6 a1 K3 s1 s: ]$ f% c P) t3 l) {2 Z5 q4 u# h, T% s7 X4 k
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?). H n' e; I7 P* E. x( z/ k; k
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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! ; a: Q# o$ G$ O2 v) A5 Y ( V! I2 C8 Y5 `+ q 4 z" t( Q/ q x* \& G' j+ a6 [5 z2. 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。 3 X1 e& X/ E& G7 g! \' c " R% a, R4 r& A5 E& Z6 w+ Q例如:% D6 B& o% u1 v$ ?" Y: e \
/ K9 o+ c' F: B1 ?4 Z \ mAt 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)$ D0 n% {/ w9 I6 x/ S; m _' l
) a. t0 J& r- P1 r" w2 a" ?) pDespite 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) # e P3 C. Y& e2 n2 w5 {* @1 }, @( O F' F) u2 v# z
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) $ U2 m1 K& u# y* g, | # y: A% |4 F8 A; g) pHe 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) ( j- w3 O% ]% {% {# i) E8 ~8 i8 c# w 9 ]1 h, g( h% eIn 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) % ], i% |1 [( X' `: e $ Y5 g7 |5 Z! j) {7 V$ m& |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) 1 m. b8 d* ~. ^( H- Z* E! P: Q+ z2 A1 C
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 s- @1 j* ^* k7 Q( ?5 h 6 Y8 f1 O/ z7 x' ?: H9 Q* K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:% h5 W7 K9 M1 g/ r6 R& X
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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。) }( g; d$ m( d) t4 p" \4 |. F- H# U0 A; X/ I- v" `
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.): z4 R3 Y: ]4 P3 g8 g
, l7 V$ ]6 W6 p- ~8 wHe 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 H% {* C0 y; l0 f
; M h% D6 v7 n8 H6 DHe 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) : |3 e% ~# y: S" P ( G7 @5 i3 w4 p5 z, ^! s$ o. p" qWe 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)9 o6 ], [ z6 t, \0 v; {
0 ]& Q7 s& q7 C( S) P6 c: y. N1 a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.) * _' d! |. S& o1 s 5 t" b% _ H9 n8 Z& E( Q' ]此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。% w; w- r1 P. `+ v
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1 m# D, Z% p0 c8 o8 V9 ~0 l7 p; W. ^& } 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」。 5 _0 r. ?' Q/ L- v ! y1 w3 A1 ]* w! @0 \1 [' c! e例如:# K. L6 y( r) I/ L; j7 S# r! |
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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)' B# [, Q6 [! [# K# M* I1 v1 W
: y( k9 N I3 [; kManpower 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) % a/ g! T5 j) N2 S9 K. y+ @; A5 C5 U. c N+ w$ x
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) 9 |; y4 @- F1 S/ }1 N% U9 M! S+ F: I$ n( p V& S
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。) . C9 w1 a6 \. [. B0 {$ C5 @# Q# ^* f( ?" ~% Y: R7 H3 b
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。)4 P6 u) \; B+ O+ f7 v3 {3 C S1 N3 K
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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)& c$ J! D ~# b/ s
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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)0 v' _ i; N: `" g* e4 A
. S8 a1 ^) _& Z9 R/ K2 p& fStewardesses 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。)7 k9 |) {9 k) D# [+ V
% W4 J, `2 y0 ~; d8 S( g4 O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。 % [% ^' L( p: d0 O, p ; L1 f" Y' W) C: q9 w$ 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:/ N* Q. B. U5 P- o
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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; 1 a# `7 R: ` s {9 w) U, o" E5 r |% f% F9 B
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; 1 z. T* A" _3 Z5 X/ m# Q* p& l7 M/ U6 x& Q% N: a
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; # s2 X R9 ^5 o( G2 \" `2 V. O6 Z4 Z J- d( e4 N
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 7 x( d' N% Q/ i8 i : y. f$ w! {9 U% F: {9 z% k5 U+ s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* m2 q7 H
! t) k; t! M& a. ]' u/ z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)。7 j: i- W0 d: q$ Y5 g
; h9 d7 T( W+ _- o, f0 c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)。 7 N# e- _5 N8 H. `7 e! u! u