本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! @5 `. \9 K5 _1 W; I 5 h, o, O; I/ G/ K转帖 3 ^2 R, E+ g' k" L$ x) R1. 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) / `$ C5 r; I7 b$ \$ i5 B Z6 d9 E' W
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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)$ f' W, i: p" A/ P" K
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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。) . t, p1 g) r8 n$ X H, }3 U) Q) [ o2 E! j7 L+ K( S; r
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) # ?& v1 g7 w% H! a) x0 e ]; w: J3 x! w) z- |& i6 {
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?) 2 h" ?* }6 h& J0 w/ Z3 s8 r, |( ]0 L. ]6 m7 E
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。)/ x* X' @4 x4 l& ^; I1 k6 t
6 a; h8 {2 G9 P- J* U" X( j EMr. 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) 0 D7 A0 e2 b* [" X4 n. r- n* M0 | , p! X! L- b* _3 }; O- y7 hWe 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!) 8 U( ?1 k X* C6 @0 @" \: ]! w4 J( Z% Q
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)% n/ v% f6 a2 c' M( r! j3 X3 q
% B4 J9 h3 ^, ?5 R/ CWe 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。), _( d# ?( @3 J' w/ H/ {. y
9 j# E5 R1 N1 p$ f/ @0 \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?)( c9 @& @9 }, p' r- i
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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!0 f) L+ d! ~6 U8 d7 x8 o6 Z
$ }- A/ `9 Y/ W5 \( YAt 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)* b' x* J" R- V" T V
+ J+ s2 N3 O5 s' q/ R6 {% d% _: iDespite 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) 0 }4 U- g, z$ c" ?0 J# W 1 e; c# b6 ?# A" G9 S' RI 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)- Q" Q3 m6 F* t; I: r6 e
k, H+ P, ?. V7 y B1 z. oHe 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 O! c# `1 Z) |2 F: `
3 ~4 e) E" h1 |: W, n3 J/ d/ t7 W4 hIn 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) ! R: S2 x7 _3 L ) r1 a, w b6 z& t" a1 ]( jShe 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)& I3 d& ?7 v8 m: @
: @0 b% X* [6 k: s' Y, h* WI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + t$ b, i) K0 M 0 ]! e' t# X+ Y4 v; n* I( b2 p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: - k4 C7 T( C0 w1 W: S8 U & v5 C' A' {& h, 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。) # W* q. q; q' q) }0 x! a9 ]7 I% N. n# V7 P) I% f v, l
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.) + m$ E+ i2 ~* T( e1 t+ I/ |' |& u& W0 _7 G* ~/ s; M
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。) + D# F- o, B( u. ~$ C& b. N+ r2 Q* n, B; Z- u
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)% D1 Z c$ u' W9 G. ?& x
2 i$ q/ \6 N- [2 u6 U0 P4 TWe 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)" r" t! L, F+ |" a* \4 ]
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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): K5 q, V- q# r* n( ^
$ _ h7 V4 p+ y+ P& g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.)* D) h& ~/ {" _$ q2 H6 @1 O) q
4 H; G( z+ F* E5 {' a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& g, K% J* E% W* J4 b3 c
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" u( {* E! n9 R& V3 w! SMankind 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- e+ m# C5 w& A7 Q4 E, d9 b
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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). q( j `0 O8 l; x) X2 c
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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 k: V. J0 t2 W% O! y
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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。)1 O7 {3 T' b3 E' `+ l4 V- W9 d
( w' u" O4 n, xMany 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。) ) {$ c# c$ D# F; e) M & _ s3 n+ E+ o+ CPolicemen (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) & k0 {# r( D0 ~# n1 X' _9 y9 Z$ U: [$ E
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) 3 r8 _$ C0 y& x, `! w$ J, _0 R% N# A% n+ T1 b ~
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。)9 d8 @2 c+ S4 V8 `( \: Y! d
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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。9 H, W: i, Y5 j2 z6 p
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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: 7 S% v2 l8 x9 X3 t8 O, W0 U& ]4 u" c) q
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; ; ]2 ^: C0 J5 y) S( | : R' C1 W) D2 ]+ V3 E" I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; 9 V+ H4 b9 a$ ^4 c1 k / H# W; N! h0 j! n# S% y, s' i对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 [$ C1 p+ i/ f) P" N: S+ m 2 K' `. }3 x. x2 A# K, x对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: `4 O2 N7 n- f# i" j1 [; e
* b3 C, V1 Z8 I1 v+ z5 x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: - A4 v5 j( ~9 m4 k! Y+ z & T5 F6 U& z c5 }% R( u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- z4 B8 j1 x: z; t ~$ g
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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)。 , j8 ?, a _5 a, P ]