本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) K& d( i' H* A; B3 j3 I7 k J9 L" F6 `9 x/ l: w) S3 w: }* y! V 转帖$ u; F$ g X/ x/ u
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) F' o" V9 c9 g2 @/ X) @& _' P
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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) . I' Z$ D, P, [2 s6 p, ^: Y! F5 p/ v+ f2 Q6 Q' R
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。) G% S) }- E4 V k. ]* t% t6 {
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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)" d0 g h/ e* r7 l6 N' N' \' A
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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?)$ o' w" k- e! g% [8 Q" ?7 {
4 U. c+ W) u/ _9 Z7 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。) : j8 r& L' K; E% } 8 d( a8 b7 V1 B8 \* g/ v2 e8 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) 8 ~: V7 b& ^% N: p) S; U2 W' v e! i; t$ c0 `4 g
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!)! y# c# ?, A5 [% b* g# Y3 ^ X
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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)1 [3 l# Z ^+ T- F0 n/ _4 v7 H* C* U
; y% M6 _! d8 ]. I8 `! ^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。) & e4 E! h4 h! i% F1 h3 G2 g) q% B2 K" [& \5 n. l
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?) % J* o7 Y& J7 w! m3 w+ x& m & h" B" K" y( R' z' p! e! G1 k3 _1 `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!% y. F0 M0 j6 e! B* b
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1 A( F! H$ a1 P9 N6 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。6 W8 B9 y0 Z, q Z2 F
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2 T6 m" m4 ?& \9 \0 x5 lAt 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)" z; o) c9 A* l/ ]" o+ a
' u) H9 i6 t3 @& Y7 u MDespite 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) O$ E* l) n! H. _ r% l7 m( D5 M7 W/ x: X) a8 Z2 _5 K/ c( o( V3 b
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) / W( N0 c% j! S% B, s7 L9 f2 \, @$ @. K$ k, Q& Y* \% M6 g
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) / D3 k4 D, G2 Z0 ~4 G% d, c " | z2 t! h2 Z9 FIn 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) * D5 Q Z; a% s& C/ e' q! N3 b# `8 y. B3 g# }: P
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)% T& n/ D- R* @3 \* q1 B* H/ x, V
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 8 h. S5 q1 `, F5 m h5 }3 q% }7 z: N2 ~# L I! C0 Y' h
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:7 y0 P( U4 K2 p& x8 i+ U
5 V, T; i! |7 x- g- u- M, M- a1 yThe 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。)) W" ^ Z9 D/ h) \* s6 _$ e9 N
8 ]" E% `3 t2 M; \$ y! w( a# K! cThe 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.)4 {; n3 j) e" n
) K8 O! G* K, J( e! 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。) $ u# j5 L$ d0 Y4 \) b9 m! \3 z' i3 [3 W/ c+ E
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)7 R- ]: Q4 L! r( V* t) b5 _
- \: q( f! Z" E% G: v) V6 lWe 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) 8 X6 f( s$ D; v o# I M2 d2 K5 \& MEnclosed (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)* {( h/ c! t; z
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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 G/ }0 q; N0 G" ^
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " `/ N0 o0 W! @) [" K- |4 {9 t. J0 J3 m# }. Z
% v' I* M5 k% r, x& z0 D( x6 s 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」。. j9 Z; v" s( ?( R$ A3 b
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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) Q ]1 u! q: d6 V9 t9 G
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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) " _% m, x2 p& V' L' r1 ]1 B3 w& o A2 m' N" Q1 \
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) 7 Y5 _3 N9 e' A) N7 J" {' o: d H- s' r3 {- P5 X- g+ eHe (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。) 9 j" p0 L, R. }; E* U9 ~, q+ c 5 E; \- A* a" ~6 ?9 {7 N& \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。) ( ~( t- [) {# T: I% }- n! v% r9 W4 h0 \( A# o; \* a$ k9 [5 ?# H
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) w2 _9 r* y! f/ D9 f& [$ r; r" F% n4 A! S6 ]
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): D" f0 ^- M/ R, C) C$ U
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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。)( k7 Z; E" f* ~& @) m
7 n5 D4 ^% ^& r& t t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。 : @! C* c" d" |! _: _8 C 6 Q7 P) j9 e: u6 ?( w8 v2 |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: ( h1 z* M0 K9 J. a. w! _ 7 V A" V" ~0 y# }! n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; 0 v6 W; ^& [, z! q, W- Z: ]1 j8 @
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;' D) Q! M; V+ o, A: Y! A
, K5 D. m% k4 L对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 p- s0 D& L* s$ i0 Q9 J# m9 D; \ ( D q! A8 p+ B- ~* J9 }" V8 m) F9 }对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;/ F ?& h( a/ M4 {6 f
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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:1 J" T! p' c. f" C. Y
$ u9 \9 }6 f4 x8 F: w S' w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)。 6 x& K1 i' l. A# R0 b$ I8 l8 p* O3 ~% S8 w0 g7 `- } b: O* _0 a& H3 v1 Q8 l
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)。 4 i9 N: _* i; R: {6 f