本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 A3 o. [) b4 A- M# [/ V 3 u K* P i- v( _" U; V转帖2 R9 U- }: d U) o0 ]
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) * c0 e* O6 b! A0 x* ?, l4 _* a# T$ b
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5 ~& b' C! h; B( NMany 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) 4 J: v$ \% _, I# f ; Y" S+ @1 b5 O tThree 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。)5 F6 W$ ^$ K0 Z& S
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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) q" W! C8 v8 a8 X! d
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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?)# H! l4 W4 `" |7 G' s9 I- e1 Z
) Z+ i; r8 O5 h/ n$ I4 QI 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。) T& @/ e% O- ^/ P7 f4 f7 |2 T" a# d; L0 @. n2 l2 @( l$ q
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) # w5 R/ R+ u1 Z# R' v V6 f P5 Q$ G8 q* @( _% Q& m
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!)/ X2 e; y h9 \& z- L, A
# D ^1 m- Z- Z0 o( ^, c! v- xThe 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) 3 B* H2 h; M5 R, }, z G' s( n. r: ^: d! z. s3 W
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。)5 c' _ S, B2 D( ]; M; s# k
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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?): q3 v9 e% B3 F4 |1 Q! X6 ]
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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!9 o' z4 s& ]2 a. f5 R% i4 `
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* n" j3 `* ?1 f! g1 E) _7 M" b9 P2. 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。 ' g' g* r0 w2 x ' ~4 ~. T. a7 u8 p0 c. Z+ \' }8 k例如: 9 t7 p5 D8 q: j1 m- g% X5 {* I5 u/ q9 Z8 ]& a
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) 8 }# t$ |4 G- ` * K' e! @; n+ nDespite 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) G) w r. Z' \% i* @
9 v; S$ B, i; e [ O3 }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) 1 _+ m" P3 d7 d% l' m4 f* r7 U3 }1 \- L. E2 P1 {
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) & J2 ]( Q: e& K3 L( y( p # [1 Q P I$ i- P' g! s7 _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) 1 L5 A w2 }+ Q* D! Z, X- p4 \; f9 X8 f% c& n
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)! l" d5 r9 F: m6 h7 C- i
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 q% c+ {1 U6 H & h9 {& ~" _4 v' B; a5 X) h: K' A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: & h# |9 J. w$ z7 d/ \; \ ( X p6 ?- P( U. D+ b8 E; ?2 HThe 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。) 2 d9 ?, l' o, G8 Q4 k * j$ {+ U; W( w* O% VThe 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.) 1 v' ^0 ~: U. X( h3 b6 _. e2 w2 k9 y3 Z
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。)5 R( ?2 h5 s5 [1 _
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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) 0 A) l5 x6 i* x4 u 0 S# K# b6 X( ^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); j2 H/ T% G% T) j5 L1 f' `' y
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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) 9 P; Q4 p9 L+ T& E- E/ Q& P, t$ T! i% t# e- i, 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.) : P. z6 B+ M3 G+ r7 | 7 P7 x4 N# }6 ?" L5 x6 M5 D. Y6 |此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 3 l# a- ~6 t) O$ f9 h" f * x3 Q" u8 X2 z% A9 `+ Y8 F9 M, j. w! E 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」。- v6 d2 ^5 `, e' c8 Y
* @7 I9 s% p$ m. j4 B/ `例如: % m+ Q7 N: }3 _ 1 z9 B4 y1 M; I0 ]: JMankind 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) ; K0 f! J& n: A5 V4 C! e# S' ] - Z5 d. A4 H. w1 H4 j) LManpower 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)& [3 y B- w+ Q4 U5 V
' F/ ~, t% j6 K% \' Q" W4 eThis 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): P0 N3 A& q2 a3 J# e; \9 z+ a
4 ^- A) {/ Y0 uHe (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。) + r7 E1 `: ?+ ?0 j2 `3 o6 w3 F7 ^ p: g1 H
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。)+ H: ^% [5 o- o3 Z& @
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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) " i" a$ S( G8 [, u1 {/ n% g% ? r0 m6 h# x6 D4 T* z* D, V2 S
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)* t2 _3 U1 `6 i1 i
T- j5 g: t D2 ^) }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。) ; n2 \, g2 ^" H8 y . r9 o% {# C7 ?9 m8 Q6 K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。 % g% G( ?0 m" w$ K, Z 4 S: U3 U. f- I/ y6 K S1 q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: 3 S; _$ n; w7 w/ d) Q5 d$ N, _% P) p5 K- U( 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;4 i8 U& |) r2 {; H7 r3 @
/ j% A A% k# ~; y8 p' n- M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;% X- M3 w+ {7 O. K l0 ?
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; * ^0 n2 P4 W! h% n3 B8 H6 \' k; z) s# P- E8 V! w! b
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;$ Y4 G& |) c; K& M+ G. a
( B6 e" Z. ^# V8 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: - y2 n, `" P% ^/ ]3 v7 M. O+ {' i; w) d2 j
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)。/ [5 Q/ c: c5 j5 A1 a
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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)。7 o0 k; N- |& g: [: L% L3 w