本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # t; n, ^3 j& p
0 y8 g4 l! R! o 转帖 ! C/ E' W( }/ i: P- E' J1. 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 g1 a! r9 h' ]# o$ P( H1 | C& I5 I2 x3 e5 ]. `7 @
例如: 4 E3 F3 u: e: A7 { ( t8 i% i5 w2 j, [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) 5 x/ E# S/ k8 | K# m( z! G& h
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。)! S$ f8 R- Q% 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)2 T4 e! P2 Y5 f* R0 q
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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?) . M1 c1 x( f9 G- H$ n X& j2 b9 x7 v* h7 ? q; ]* V: D" Q9 K- k1 U
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。) , I' g' f# }: K; `- J- r 1 t# ^. ]) |5 D# ^0 f9 lMr. 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)( T# N" T) q) R7 b' I# E) w
% C5 E; R# C9 k9 a% Q0 V- wWe 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!) + m# \- d6 C" S) p/ x; g) | : k6 L8 S& @3 S- j1 `; ^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)2 a/ k$ z# s u3 A7 o8 H) ~
w- h! C1 k6 s5 `! QWe 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。); r! J4 l, F: T' V" A) h3 T+ P, v
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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?), O5 L y8 M) T8 b. ?$ f3 n0 k
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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! 2 S% ~0 c c, X) M @" q+ a& _ 5 D. P7 w3 `$ m. u& u3 X1 U2 P& s/ Z4 \1 A# a' ]6 B 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。7 G) B9 r6 A R e; f2 W
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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 i2 p# x3 o& m! ?: e% s
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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) . [# K1 G+ c# T# q. w% J; a4 `9 O3 @* W
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) $ l; ~4 C$ N% q4 w( s: x2 _: J; }8 M5 {# b
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 F8 C6 t O2 ? Y _# g: e H/ J( a5 t$ P$ M% J
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)6 w+ X1 r! N8 Q, G
' h4 v/ `: S( N0 b) `6 x- g4 zShe 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) + e7 R9 H, c* o0 K0 j + I5 J W l9 R! X* CI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)* K8 P4 J4 J2 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: 5 h9 d- S9 ]; _ B2 K' u" ~6 q7 c9 c( w( b
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。) " ^; O3 h% f) E; d1 M# s( H2 t: L" X: H
The 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.) " g' `! h2 n; l( m: x0 M: N6 B* k ! f0 S, P: W1 W3 x1 j3 t( hHe 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。) , N, E G$ N# e- X8 ^$ i5 A/ } 7 ]. D7 g# |! B9 b5 i5 ~7 s: e! k. }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) . X7 u' C* K+ G, Y3 g + f. L5 O) A3 J) U, ?) [2 Y# EWe 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) 5 A/ g: ?( l5 R1 z! X! R" p8 S7 m; K0 ]! X" K8 t' @# f
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 n9 S" M, w+ l) I: G- K0 F$ T: o# b6 r1 e* R
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.)7 L$ }5 N. U* A! F) m
! v- c2 J, \* f s8 p+ k此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' Y8 O- l" ^. b" V5 x $ D% p, [! W3 f" P6 E, X! R. Z. i6 }! w( T; B6 Q9 D, q 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」。) F$ g! m4 u4 ]) U
P1 O% H- s# p! L( A4 X& d* i' p例如: & ~+ b. \" m7 c5 | $ f$ k5 q) s4 R" ^" u; U* tMankind 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 `5 X4 D0 M. |# K- N, G; \6 i' V1 [
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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; x. T9 n" 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)/ v( V6 f" z2 \6 I+ _9 C
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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。) $ l% j7 c. ?2 K* K% L* Q+ y) ]7 B! [# T! w' 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。)& z) m0 u7 f) y y8 a
0 c# H9 S( `& n8 iPolicemen (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) - f1 p0 r) @) v" R8 ? 6 I9 \3 m, ?* e8 O9 b8 w8 _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); R" p. e" _9 R7 J: E, X& y
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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。)& a, `4 Z/ {. J. n# G$ J
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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。 : ]% M+ K1 H! C- V f # q& p; o' d* [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: : R% F6 x8 S0 K% n7 A; P/ J. ?$ K: p9 }8 ?- s
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; E2 v- o ^$ R: z 8 L, w: g/ c$ h" [3 E- {4 J. P( W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 z. o" D; f# [
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & B* U# v" `& J: y5 Z3 Z ( v4 h2 m7 _+ J8 G对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; J: W8 p0 ~* ~: L ! @( r. W" {, Q% @* \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: ! z$ C$ }+ k9 q" N2 H8 N* y4 W+ C( y! M0 U c& U* 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)。 : @' C/ ?0 a U6 q% U! z* u ' P# E9 |- l+ g; ^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)。% {# X8 [9 ]$ M" S* h