本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ; }! Z% p! A& M! I, Q
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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): V5 |1 [( C6 l! e( R. ?
+ b7 ~" P0 p1 m$ x" z3 I例如: 9 M" H. }( m# g$ n # _, a3 M/ a, k' BMany 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)/ M4 h& q: ~* b' ]* \- A
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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。) $ g# l/ r* d O' t7 c3 d( ] m. e6 c 2 b( y( {& V9 oThis 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 g z" J; k1 p% C4 c1 T
* s" f2 g* T5 hThe 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?)9 L0 V' n2 o! D) e5 z" a
' w) L9 C" v) v* W6 U& ?( @$ AI 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。)! c. P1 @9 a6 @+ h* K7 T2 t
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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)2 H& ]$ p- y0 p M9 P! l
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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!)9 `' j: L% P" x6 d( i% x- I- k
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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); w( x& W* b/ p1 E) `
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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。) + X P9 o, k9 Q( w1 M2 s2 X0 M( r) L. S. C. _1 @9 g
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?) & A% j2 y" l( l- Q- n2 Z; x8 \ , R% A) M0 O! i+ C' o$ }% p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! * \: |- C# e+ B: v& T0 @) _: m( d2 C; A9 V
2 p9 [) [0 r4 L, G/ f3 P! t2. 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。! D( u# p. s$ @2 m$ x5 a9 {# U
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例如: 6 K s' w3 i( v8 `5 c: I8 ^) D! X+ x0 r
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). q+ F1 V3 Y4 r9 ]8 w% C
: k, V; W( V; S6 y; F+ q+ L$ `3 }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) , y0 `$ ~4 m! |; f9 D) J9 r# d$ x7 o. a/ X$ g- Y! ^* R
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)! G2 ?9 E* v, g7 i: \% h5 m: F- P
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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)1 Y& g3 q3 P& S9 c9 x0 v, y# m$ S
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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)3 g+ d+ ^" M( A4 a
: r# e# s2 G7 SShe 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)* @* C4 S0 K2 b: z0 f! D
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! v i4 i1 L' F5 V" J! \: M
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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: 8 f6 T' u* ]& r- o0 w- n3 w' P& I, w+ d: U, k
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。) 5 i8 g& j4 K3 Q9 o7 V ; A G9 I* q7 N4 `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.) * e V& j$ |2 B; U1 |5 U6 P' D % h: U0 G6 C0 YHe 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。) 9 r. p- t% a; X/ l7 o, r; |/ U, X# h1 o/ c) Z" m' M! |
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) 0 p6 K3 Z2 Z1 i Q+ H& `5 p. L& D0 ]' N$ k) y: i
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)5 g% W& V" h4 ^+ u
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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) " s8 r j) [+ {5 n- @- P " ~* ^+ S5 Z9 F7 ]1 e! I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.)% V! `: @% {) c6 q
! i# v% L- t2 j- J此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 F C5 l y0 y& w: t4 g! | 4 a! ^& i1 c0 `/ M ! x% p. n0 y6 n8 Q b3.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' ^6 r; W* C
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例如: " q/ E3 ?1 r' N) S! a1 a. K* ?$ r$ I- z
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)# s& j% P9 K/ Y
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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)$ \9 E& k& D% O( G
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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). N% m2 K5 ~ h" Y F2 Z
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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。) @' C" P8 c7 j3 @7 D. V# q7 G. G5 w' `6 k- b3 x6 ~
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。)3 j7 E* }5 h+ X, E) }3 Q, u/ Q
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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). v) k7 W+ o8 \
7 i, l, Q+ W% `) O0 KCongressmen (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) , v, N$ K. _+ V: S$ g8 b' P0 k+ ^ - R- D7 P- @5 P* \5 ^2 y1 eStewardesses 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。). b, V4 Y( w4 c3 l' w5 }& {% [
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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。 # j- r7 x2 @/ U' e7 ~. H: j; f6 A
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:% j8 P% l' m [. j A F, X
, J# z* e7 Q3 c( ^5 {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;# t; N! C% Z2 X1 V$ g9 N+ M
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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;; w, G8 c! [7 ~; l& E
; b9 H0 I2 f# S6 W7 s2 j, F对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;0 Q, W& i# Y" C
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;2 U8 p$ S# r9 k3 z
# |4 _" X& Y$ O; M+ X) n( d5 g% t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:/ h; q" b; R1 K" _
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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)。$ j" d* M4 a& p4 i
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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)。 : [- H G2 L0 i) z* |