本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 d& g" Z3 q+ ]- V% S! K6 C' N* T, i. w; |5 X* {) a 转帖5 n7 a' X3 d6 Y9 y, 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)2 u& S& U! G" P- n# t- @# k7 C
8 f' ?; J$ [# [7 B例如: $ Z' O" G; W; i @ * }& B$ D, P& x* p& F- S4 mMany 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) & Z Y4 z1 C) P) R, ^6 F - ~/ Q- D5 K, \( SThree 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。) : ]- |( I I0 U; ^( D! g3 r3 X+ ?! j. c& }3 j
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)9 X. _, y3 p8 ?) H. y
3 b! t* r9 ~$ f2 R3 k5 v/ NThe 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?)7 O0 v% q2 D, l, p# \
' l2 E+ m& p! e; M; S3 B7 b7 jI 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。)' l7 P+ c7 X _" v7 I
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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) ; H0 W# _& W- z) g) e, F, V6 }4 z: a. Y4 |1 b8 R2 h
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!)) }7 q1 F2 i9 }1 n3 Q2 p5 j
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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)8 v. a2 O- ^3 I7 U4 \
9 M# ~: R) b. tWe 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。) 7 d8 ~/ o0 ~- X( v 6 A3 G3 G" \6 D" U0 IPlease 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?)$ C. A! |: ^# D% D
7 r7 K) c9 s% V1 R; v d- H/ x3 s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! 3 Z5 d, m5 b5 ]7 g/ y# ^! {# m/ [ 3 S9 G1 d( \ i4 Z5 `1 G6 N, \ 0 h# `- u/ R( S2. 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。 , M9 O8 \' Q" w: S( Z u8 p; ^" m4 s3 K# f例如:/ f( x& W9 \" Z; M
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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) # g; i/ z+ r9 ^4 E+ {" r+ k6 _+ s6 W6 S& K0 G
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) ( m0 e9 a3 n E. `, u- ?$ G' w 3 f6 u, g" O5 }1 ~( m* iI 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) 4 ?( Z$ S; P& S: P; Q6 T9 d: L 6 R7 O- j+ E: @; \: J4 t+ MHe 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) 6 G( e" t0 [6 H5 F8 X t) t l3 Z' Y6 q; H% l+ O+ C8 W
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)7 C D2 z& f% d. H
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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)3 b* r4 p" g, n& y5 Y4 O/ v
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( ^' `/ Z* |' S' z0 a: _' S0 y8 R2 U" \/ W+ u
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:) U7 _- |2 a1 H& D9 e; ^
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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 c- d+ z' n2 s; d : I/ g4 S+ k" o% yThe 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.) 3 R( E4 t' u1 Q+ p* q# j7 @8 U- t6 |- T. V/ i6 a( b- [; d" w
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。) . a; ~: x+ M" V3 A' k' f- y0 I3 P' h% T2 @& K/ Q
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), P3 e1 c$ j1 `5 K$ x) `8 O
$ ~! U- O$ G; V) a1 [/ ~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)+ B" J" j5 O P& j
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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) & t! ~. c7 q+ W4 z2 j( F 1 H* I+ X: r/ \ \. ?9 o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.) 6 Y( j& Z" G# f, { + g0 H H) W2 U6 a6 |/ q此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & e# E2 K" H5 V1 B: g3 @# u& }+ w$ f/ D* ~# V$ c' J% ~
' s. w. B) j% M1 K3 \+ |, ~8 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」。! ]4 S1 y: o' N. L2 E
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例如:( C/ U" q6 ~" d0 h3 u5 _* c
+ C* I. t/ ~6 l7 T& s5 F0 I2 V9 T9 GMankind 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) , R/ q- C9 r5 P$ X* p9 U$ o% a9 b* s! b. l9 I/ H3 V$ N
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) 2 e" q& y# \( a5 d- V7 ?5 `, T/ \5 D/ h' t3 Q
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) : R* E3 j! ~6 `% |$ n2 N1 Y# ^% r% x- ^# t1 L
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。)3 L5 z# A8 b0 N, Q* {
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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。)" k; D; Q( C5 z1 E
' p2 M/ Y1 k- G! N. A1 V. 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)6 c) p. m+ H9 W* L* Q2 V6 Q$ f
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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)5 T' [9 ^& u6 @$ N) s; F2 Q
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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。) . V# K5 Y- i5 D9 I9 b( K0 U# I' D. }: V& \( h
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。$ X- Y" V3 N1 I1 E/ T( P X l
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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: # Z9 P. O& e5 a; H% a8 d U$ C1 M7 S# u& k
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;: ?' |( b+ J h& \! }/ s7 w; e6 Q
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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; 3 i1 h6 r7 m/ J3 V! {* w) X7 } # Q: x6 e9 t0 b6 d3 E对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;, B- ?1 z4 Y* U1 V
* ]4 G+ y4 q; x o8 c, F$ t" E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)。 - ]5 Q, X7 U- Z) Y4 x# {- |4 E