本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * p+ s& A7 S6 ^) d) z5 ]4 {" D0 r$ _: n# {# Q 转帖# c- G$ L( f* s$ z o' [
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) 6 w l+ u( N- }. l3 e; ]: c/ N $ d0 l- Z! q$ w9 ?. |9 J* P例如:4 F; ^8 a* a; @# t- ]) |7 I
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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)& D$ B# U1 I8 F! s( T- [+ m2 O
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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。) 1 }% Z# e' a5 H+ Q2 w9 j1 V, B$ c5 J+ b, S
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) ]& B' A4 X R: a1 g' m$ ]4 R / o& E0 Q3 \. O6 V2 R: d$ a jThe 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 O+ _2 d8 K. P4 m' H b$ B0 W- k4 r, e+ Y% t/ E& Q9 S) `
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。)) ]1 {* J. u/ ~: G$ K2 Q+ H
+ a# T0 S* k$ H' GMr. 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)$ Y! o4 _! E0 w3 H; r8 |7 \5 Y0 X
k0 n1 d! d3 A Y3 O7 m) |' pWe 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!) # K2 y- ?2 y, ~9 g: I+ ]' h5 Q4 |! K* ?! U( S
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) : h- w N0 ~) Z" M: k6 {4 R4 s) ^' m& M
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。) . W# e1 D& d; k- P: @, T 1 T6 f0 q0 A# `$ O9 w1 }# k8 p) XPlease 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?) & \# N: R& |" T A4 v% ~( ^( z/ ]: H1 h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& `7 f, ^2 m ' N1 V; L. h; |; m% B, E, c3 P L3 X( L6 e4 f 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。 - @3 w" O: h7 f! \! t0 c" W. R! O * m/ \& g* Q0 E6 j例如: - Q9 U; A/ c9 M3 M& C: K( M/ q& q# \7 J# t
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) 9 W. U. b& E3 }6 ?1 T* L! f2 _ |" R0 H- h# u& C HDespite 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) z: p" b" @ M O+ y 1 c- h: o8 s3 }; U$ l: Q& V0 l9 \) G" rI 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 [# {/ U! w, f" v
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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)8 B L# P* q* C3 l8 F+ V0 y% {
- g3 c, X, W/ j+ j q+ m& sIn 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)5 ?0 ^' U$ c5 z
+ P8 j0 r' l) M- eShe 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) 0 P S6 A- D$ Q/ }' N# z7 P+ B7 M1 y% }3 U9 E
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): V6 ~, z) E, S& _2 p# 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:! Q9 r, f2 P: N2 t
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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。) 7 z5 o) B1 W. p5 @! H S& H9 g6 r, s * \& E3 f1 [9 q+ yThe 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.) 0 v' v1 V$ W7 z2 _ 5 z# j& C( f& \' I# u$ z4 OHe 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。) 0 R% x& N( w- h# q* z " e3 }) A1 m& w( d. [) 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) / I$ D P0 U& Z0 Z' h% x# o& r& q1 X" N' p
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)9 r C4 t7 n* f" M% Q( T
( y X2 L4 b6 V0 }' {3 Y1 UEnclosed (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) * `. q5 x" K+ O6 [1 g: I0 F0 o3 J% b, P0 h( _
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.)8 F* L9 e- ]' a( ~/ k0 r
9 o9 h3 T" U P. n% ?$ _此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 s. {! v0 a" Z% d' n. F
6 X7 e( m0 c' T) _. I4 T4 L" M) Q/ G2 B, I5 f3 o8 z' Z 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」。 3 \/ A1 f* s! H4 t( }. ^ X * V; t: q$ G( s9 G+ w8 m例如:% y1 S$ @1 }% H! ~
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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) 0 ^( ?. J6 m6 c" G8 | . l6 A. ?5 ]' V i3 x$ i4 @1 |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)7 }: g% ?# b4 }! {# g
4 C+ ^% b* d! K2 m" J& m. ]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)1 w5 Q% J# ~$ f& ~" }) T6 J# V7 A
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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。)! t6 ]3 q2 P1 f
/ O" A0 Z2 a. m$ c* WMany 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 e5 g6 q# l+ w% O- d0 [- u
% Q& V+ c2 ?8 e- X) XPolicemen (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) 1 E, \* ^9 P, Q9 k7 v( k5 C4 X \: d+ C. j
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) 7 R& D. J# Z& d9 C3 R5 y 5 D' e) w+ Q; E/ e5 rStewardesses 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。)6 P, n% R6 ? W/ K0 Q" Q
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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。; q' K* K P, q" q4 t
4 ` z" j4 H( {# B. P0 @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: ) H. Z" N0 A5 i9 m % s" S' a! @" G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 ?1 h3 ?" V4 Q; S5 g# x
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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;0 f7 a0 d7 O+ m0 S2 b0 l
, F9 l$ `; n# `# J8 [对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 e! [3 L1 R. Y0 U; \
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 6 E% y+ b( V" O r/ W 3 O! V5 F& |& ~+ b. Z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: 9 ]) s d; V% I ' v( k! \# e7 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)。% }+ |4 p1 `+ R7 h: u% A* x- c% W
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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)。6 m" @( M4 F% ^