本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 C# g# d" `7 H; R
}& K9 P# C" O- ~1 X* K! u2 I& {4 c 转帖8 D i0 z5 x5 d% e, ^ L; L
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) ! W2 e7 r C( u8 { / h" e/ U I3 ]* L( C例如:* H/ y8 X/ ~1 R5 M9 {
: H! B; n9 j; ZMany 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) 6 p* ^" Y' l* |0 a( r6 x / J2 K+ x1 `! Q0 m7 bThree 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。) ( r% f. G' n* m, h$ H: N& F8 y; f7 k9 O# }. i' e
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)5 Q. }- I; E3 ^, v: v* D
' W: [) \& m& R8 }8 xThe 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?) 0 [0 p4 ]7 s. e; i; X# U % p6 o: Q8 z P3 O" h! Y/ \+ HI 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。) " ^ b$ _/ d0 V1 D) q' l6 N( C! [8 c8 ~& Y6 s% [
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) g# q. j/ c0 g6 m8 `6 z3 a' y6 s! H# l+ Q z
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!) ; `! t* A% y3 h/ O7 [# y G3 [/ j9 n! J7 } o) F
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)& C+ C. I0 C p# N% _, X$ y
; c0 ]. r/ C( u" C
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。)+ Y! k b7 t2 R8 c2 ~* E
1 @% K( O7 m% z
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?)6 `* f! U5 M" B5 N" h X. h
3 ?! h+ O' [! b. }
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! 8 S: D, q8 ^! m J' ]; p ^. o5 J9 l# {. g" d9 D0 C, D
5 B9 ^1 }/ s" M. L) M) u6 ^0 P- n2. 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 {. l$ U6 V- F
+ j/ A; J4 C- z C. X例如: 5 j7 A! Z3 B$ g" ^ w5 l. _( L+ Q0 x0 x' TAt 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). b- V4 i' b' D* | q2 E7 Q& q% \
7 U/ x0 f* N1 y8 M# }2 iDespite 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) 8 h0 C& l R$ S1 b# a2 l2 Y4 {0 i- B2 |( B9 ~, B) i
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)# r; y% R: V Y/ S0 d# W1 n; k
$ D2 C, D' P$ OHe 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) ) a3 m, {0 i' X1 z; | ! f& u) u T: x) ?' T- Y# wIn 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)% P) \4 v: R5 B* h
0 v( v o' _; E) e( 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) 3 k3 I; w& J' @( N! S3 y * w4 Q5 b. O3 Z1 QI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): ~7 J$ [0 ^1 d9 g
- r7 r! w1 w3 D4 e: h" i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:, D& ~! c: M7 V8 z3 J( d
! f7 F; i N! d4 H4 d! k5 R
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。)7 E5 _ Y1 F0 Z' L1 y$ |0 q2 k7 {1 T
* T# D5 p3 l, 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.)3 x: _+ B( K4 w
4 F* O; W+ F3 { i% k9 q5 z# rHe 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。) . R4 L9 p1 _- `, V7 u$ ^* m& D' f) S3 T; o
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)4 l3 [; e' M$ ?" ?7 `( |% X
' }0 ~, I6 W0 `1 d0 l2 v, w
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) 2 U I( l( X2 e* i / n( o2 _; @; r$ T2 U# ?7 bEnclosed (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)3 w; Y& g2 J. h2 d5 D3 X
4 `7 V6 q8 X8 U) K2 V6 T p5 i
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.)! o4 r6 j3 p4 t0 M, M1 l% m
: O, H% O1 X" b6 G1 ?0 z( y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。% Z& {4 B! X; l6 _4 y6 X3 O
. g0 B& _) M E6 E% W例如: # ^4 L+ X) r: a ( @ W: g0 @- nMankind 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)/ Q( E8 i5 x \* Z: C, ^; U; y+ u$ i
8 f2 J6 K9 x UManpower 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) ; n8 Z9 X, p A) S# c7 r( G, I3 l
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); J5 C! g$ Z) M; y0 N. U
2 s4 o) n7 }: E" S* U+ CHe (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。); @- X! }- e/ t/ Q9 X9 Y
7 ^- a% R! y+ h+ }# w
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 }0 `- b6 ^3 A' b& z4 r* p
' d$ M/ l! \: h9 }/ @
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)( y" o2 p' j1 q9 `! J9 T" `, @, p
. w* m3 q7 Y/ ACongressmen (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); t7 \6 L4 h$ ~
4 ?6 Y7 k8 k- {% t' j& `2 E
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。)& c3 Z) ~2 d8 g; v
4 p9 R, ]* C S; `. {& R
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。 # c4 V8 T; [& q 9 j* | R( ~( ?4 m6 ?. u. O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:. ]* \* X9 s0 _% n
& B7 d; t& X/ @1 M! z
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; ; ^! A% C+ `' i- h. V8 l% ~% N0 j0 m2 E3 ^+ }, H, [
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;6 D& s2 T9 p$ _0 A0 t7 U
; O; K2 O7 M3 I( g0 w- j6 N) y
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! E- Y# w; y# i0 J* C N8 [ * p" V; k2 Y O3 I! R0 t) O对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; / I& i8 n6 b, M- g/ M' @, I# g Q 9 I; P: f/ M3 ~6 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:0 r( }0 `3 n/ g1 W% @2 ^* r
7 ?" E1 L4 O" O$ a' w7 W; L7 B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)。/ L/ R9 t: `2 f* w: P; u
9 _ e2 N, U: v$ W- k0 W
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)。 9 v: h: |9 [ l