: z4 Z* _7 M- v4 u W转帖 ! o2 v$ [8 e' q9 j% s1. 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)0 `, N. @% B2 H9 ?+ Y+ f8 s, d
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例如: + _: \* E( \; B2 V/ }% `* O }- n$ o. t2 t# \) M
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)3 b9 Z2 g- n$ L$ ^& ]: g4 u
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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。)& N0 c5 p6 \% @& r8 l u
9 A; v3 ?0 v8 ?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)1 S' {; n* x6 Q- F
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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?) ~ ]; }& d+ |3 n& U# a' }! S. x6 C" Q! }4 [
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。)% L" ?6 f# H- W3 C0 L
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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)7 L% [! y$ k9 j d
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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!) - c7 ^5 S* b4 h8 v) o) E8 D$ }* E. ]* K4 A2 T
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) * n7 j! T @7 x7 I* d : s4 j5 S z( C! o k9 OWe 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。) j, H$ `, r: B; c4 t2 v" A
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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?)' L* l6 N! V. H$ {
# x- U s. N0 l7 ?% r: 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! $ @7 D% b3 C" C- P9 X3 | , i: k( r) r- Q3 e/ e7 D6 N6 Q! x( m1 I' n 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。9 {9 Y! S6 ?0 g& b; V, {
% s) [) b. l0 j例如: ' W' p: N$ A+ t' {" p- K/ u2 } 0 g h$ k* ^; RAt 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) d7 i" a* G& Q, Z; `9 p , k+ R3 @) k% I" m/ X; `Despite 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)# ~+ V8 i6 A3 P! _8 o0 _' W+ k" R
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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) 3 y" P. \% ^0 q; T6 x; p " |/ R" ]: R/ B$ QHe 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), | o! x1 N! X' W2 o+ f
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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)2 D y# _. e4 T
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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)! O& C$ s& ?1 i2 X+ V. b
3 V2 E1 I D f1 SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) * H1 \) m" x) V* K7 ]# ? N% o- l9 \ + z8 [" r9 a8 C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:; y. z! l8 Z% C9 a5 E I- l) |
3 w- J$ u" [/ o, ~ kThe 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。): z/ I7 l5 Q, l# b& E
0 S5 o) d7 q1 D& L+ W) b/ GThe 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.)" Y( S( @* w/ ~9 g9 F
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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。) 4 k) R* \) m6 ^, t* j 2 H7 ~* l( X2 s, K% HHe 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)( p4 w' z8 I1 s* |
0 J0 p( h& D ?6 e4 R1 W4 I1 aWe 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) ' m, \3 f* x- Y5 L( \! r! \) I+ y8 J# V
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) ! Q3 w2 W% C1 y! |9 ~* c# }# y0 d1 z# ~' \4 Q
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.)+ Q- r2 ~% _ \
( s8 @$ ]9 @, i: P9 i- F此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ K- |; i, k7 L: X6 K: ]7 ?
1 W- i& [: Z! O. a , d+ M' w' n7 o' t4 g: @# Y3.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」。 ; c" i3 v$ _+ T% m& u! U8 }# ~ 4 v7 |1 y2 d- h9 x4 u' i例如:; O' i7 \# r- F; R1 ?
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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) I; B& Q3 L) U( V
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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)5 o* M! Z& N0 _) F! G% Q. _8 p
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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)% ]) `5 f! E5 ?( i* i" _
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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。) : I4 }: l$ z4 E6 U, [6 n' M- p0 T- ?
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。)$ W6 W* ?; I6 w
- X. D" b7 [" P6 s- dPolicemen (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) ! T9 u! l i# m" S) }7 H1 Y3 ] & N( {3 I' s* c" Z& J7 tCongressmen (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) u' \' `$ Z7 D( H6 A 0 J4 r; \! U1 N6 E7 @& UStewardesses 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。) , Z1 v# p; z; A3 {' Q; j0 `) M) J& M. R" |9 Z8 x
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。 ( Q9 T+ U! L( c0 |- K3 o* `) m- n- s3 p8 Z
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:, ~2 i0 s9 f7 l8 e2 E
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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; + Q& G. b6 U+ \ / O. l3 j1 k) j+ ?7 e2 X9 _ Y$ b2 o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;% M7 E4 {+ o/ @
5 t, O8 N3 ?. f P# {) o对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 2 Z2 ^1 t q% N1 L0 U9 [6 c0 u$ q3 X! c. l4 V( r* r! z2 v
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; s( U0 {1 \- D+ U ; ^0 C: ?6 }7 C+ ]. R" j% E0 C# M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: * W6 X+ x. o' ]1 U7 A' z9 `( F' Z0 g r& O. y2 b( O5 o# D' s# }
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)。 : k, I0 e4 g: ~- r+ O: m6 w+ K" S0 q' ~% }* N
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)。 1 ~! U0 b1 k" V3 M* H; D7 I" w! D) X