本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 l, B, v7 c( o, O5 W. V3 P" e) B5 D; |, l, R ?& q% T3 a 转帖) `; \/ k; n, @" q1 n
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) & j8 y `& z" B+ ~# e: W; B4 b , k( s+ @- T4 @: y/ o( f: ^9 a例如:0 A7 _. ]! x( ^( m: E+ }
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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) 6 i. w9 p/ H; f: _2 T- l* d- h: Z- `* G- [% U. [) H$ E/ p f4 S
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。). j# O' P7 a( W/ ?0 C% t
4 q; p% d& J; Z, X3 @0 s8 w' mThis 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), m, n5 x% U- {
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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?)# R( B. ?4 k3 s. N! M2 j8 l
6 S! ?; P; w0 O" I% j5 N3 {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。)5 R. c( u, N& c" t2 h
; H% W' [- q$ l( G/ r- s; JMr. 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)' z7 {& }* j- B, O# P( s2 z
! w& O9 _3 d( y* A6 f" JWe 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. |: z6 O) \* W G4 r# | U% R3 BThe 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! c8 U6 Y# B
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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。) 8 u c0 d" a7 [6 Q H7 g1 u6 B 5 q% q& W: k3 y# ^+ zPlease 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?) 5 Z8 X2 m, l, ^( B, ]- i5 i0 K9 d& M' P! Q
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! 1 C' W9 e# d8 m9 p- i @1 |$ X8 B, G, u
( F1 b3 r2 y- C" i( S% t( ?# 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。0 Q) L% _4 Z8 r4 u3 ]0 Q7 Q: F
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例如: $ j X8 h- q ^7 ?, L2 ` * }5 X; Y( @3 Z3 C8 l/ k M/ ZAt 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 \% C# d( T# G# `# g! n: k
2 r! `$ l2 J& f5 M, [ pDespite 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) $ {2 \ k% V3 [5 X( b . e. |0 D( n% W6 Y$ hI 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) . a m- J/ J3 X; V; P+ i2 G) D4 [: p
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) Y. ]) \8 q- X/ r+ W$ `, {# ?
H, p; _8 X0 R& I' {" PIn 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) / q# n/ x$ V6 R' l$ @% g5 F ( w4 u; |3 a4 m# Y) c! oShe 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)' l7 o; j" \! [; R1 ]3 f' g- l
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)3 R# B. C8 U& {6 Y, Z( a2 v
$ K+ J! r% D* `" J5 ]9 Z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: * d( Q Y+ u1 ~- D; [; P " E4 s4 Y1 W9 q$ eThe 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。) J1 K& Q& m% k
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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.) 5 e, b$ E, T, F% e. r0 \ 2 S+ g. m& k# b7 gHe 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。) 3 N- ~: p, U# d: a, c % n. ^' P1 B9 O# u, PHe 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) 1 @7 r8 k* T8 a5 G" _# d4 e8 ?- E2 L; u* X# H
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) ) h. b' D+ ?/ p/ B7 S2 k- X. G. L M4 @8 l6 U1 S
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) ( ?0 j8 d% B' O/ X" s' b O; A 7 u. C# u6 L8 Q% N" v) c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.)/ I: b! q- ?( k- B9 q: Q8 W( \
! H8 J4 ?0 ~. r5 M" u t此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ; ?5 l |; Y: ^8 T+ l% h1 X, b% q* j0 |$ f- D
, G3 ^# H. L9 I5 @2 G- i; {6 J3 x( V 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」。 e; Z/ Q( N! g+ g
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例如: , e- E1 R+ w" z3 j# c5 A2 d1 Z) }. o8 ]3 H, p# I
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) 7 }' v' C' C' P% h- ~4 R3 j( O- ]4 u; R) r
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) ' m7 Z1 s1 K3 S! w+ ]8 L, f2 p! J0 P* j# l* I: z, H8 C
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)9 F: {$ v! E' R/ 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。) $ H9 g- |1 Y' v" _# y% e4 p! c3 I 9 B4 E/ w6 a3 a m }9 n! g: j( G* N- zMany 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。)( V. ~, R7 G ~8 D* n, z q
6 y/ d! `5 P/ Z7 q/ N! J9 {, YPolicemen (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)# `: T; c% a) T$ {; g- S
; b/ w' N6 s% m0 X6 CCongressmen (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)3 m- c) Q% s1 F }) x& k7 ~3 }
) v0 N2 m7 r! F6 F9 N+ I4 N) HStewardesses 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。)- o' }! S% Y" g; s0 _
& w0 ], F h6 W4 X2 n. @ k7 n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: . U+ p; e9 e+ C/ X# Q4 W6 e 2 d# z8 w/ |: n3 g! G( y8 b' a6 g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)。0 g6 d2 c6 J8 }+ |, q h
" K2 F# d6 Y8 t+ ~# `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)。, g, W: B" ?/ {* j- U7 \