本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / g$ T) l3 s5 p3 j 9 {% N, w3 |% k/ A0 }转帖8 C9 W3 P7 p: p9 O' e
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) & j$ ?0 L* P# O; R/ X 7 A" A& t T2 a$ w: H" t4 M3 o例如: & i* N" r8 l$ D N' t5 X5 ]/ m* Q# [2 r- G* a
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) 9 ?1 E/ }' A) r0 S2 p; G) y- |7 ^1 d) Z# R0 q
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。) + r6 T2 |) f8 Z9 ~9 }/ w9 q2 G0 j8 X0 B" \: [, P
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) 7 U6 u& e1 Q8 F1 M& {6 A4 p1 @3 p' y/ B- X$ A z6 m' |
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?) : h. f- R$ c! \& G : s) q3 }: Y. H0 |% xI 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 c& O: F |8 s7 X8 P$ Z! X: X8 D - Z, F9 e0 p# F5 s4 D& Y1 G) ` rMr. 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)6 }3 r8 F! J8 X7 f; p* j+ m
* q- J \8 k" |2 \# E4 V; {+ N( 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!) 0 `+ x8 `# y$ w: T ; l2 k/ B' G. X3 F: cThe 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) 9 ?+ [( v& r) b 7 u' ~5 t K( |$ z/ @# R1 V4 ?2 BWe 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。) ; l0 _' }8 x, ]# v/ p! [ 0 d2 `! y1 ~9 O4 `$ g- \! PPlease 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?); V& ` Q( D( H
* G6 H( r- Q9 q+ _+ V) E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!! b5 I; s* }& Q
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# e* A0 k; J8 r- l+ a: i2. 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。 4 g; W$ E) x! z. ?+ G4 g/ \! f$ u) U3 E4 |' d! {4 V. \
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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)% \$ Y/ y0 a$ d5 J+ d7 J8 m2 e6 _
- q" U" M/ b: _$ Q% r* @: i6 k2 EDespite 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). Y8 T3 U% \7 e& c: x/ U; Y) S
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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)4 `- Y9 j, P% S3 h4 G
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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) / {; V8 g' N: s5 N: f0 O$ n1 d: C+ e 3 y/ G+ }+ g( q" i1 iIn 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)# F0 O" d9 S, x1 c
# z0 p' N2 Z& o5 NShe 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)4 n6 A. c4 [6 B Z0 q9 b9 w. l
7 b) D2 y+ |, z8 O& m4 j; S1 qI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) Z3 E, }! }2 Y! D; X3 R0 j a
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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: . e: l1 ?. R; |, i5 _$ D* @2 b) T# J# m; @
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 z6 ^1 j" `5 z( _7 J2 P. a
2 k' o( a) `; e9 lThe 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 u& _! ^( M" r; C
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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。) * K0 o& d& D" S* ]/ D" Y ) t$ [* D1 L( x; c5 O. aHe 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)% U4 J; t' V T/ x, O) e! r
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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): @! `( W- y9 o+ K4 [7 v
' L- F; t' R3 O9 XEnclosed (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) $ v. H( @, u( c9 O3 O0 u; E& r+ g# |! S
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.) ! @* n! u' |7 O % }0 k' b# J! Z% h$ j) q9 [此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。6 C b) X1 O8 k1 m! x9 `
2 e [. c ?' U( d, b + Q) Q7 }2 i0 `7 [ O$ @; e+ s m3.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」。0 o/ L' q1 `# p9 }& @# a
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' R. k; L. ?0 l4 S7 p: I0 uMankind 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) ; u6 b; V) _ h/ I, }1 Q4 J1 ?; {( b$ Z0 Z' z6 z2 e+ |8 p
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) % j. t$ c! k3 i; V- v/ y! Z, K G* m' Y& g) |/ _# M; D* z) e
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 h" A" J; [8 D ) ]6 J0 ^; C @; aHe (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* W% C( [% I; d. N2 ? * J" z( G0 H# ~7 w* k2 `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。): l; _' h/ [. v5 T
( q+ Z( m. o* T$ Z0 r7 SPolicemen (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) % A) m/ {. J6 K' J# v - Q8 T' u/ R* F( BCongressmen (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) * ]/ B; W% j$ j4 n6 g , d5 \9 P$ l- x; l+ T2 B; O% O7 xStewardesses 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。) 4 o/ x* J( y: H) Z( g " R, Y% b [9 E6 ]4 e3 v( @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。% {) l2 k k \% a, r
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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: # a Y: Z2 f" z: Y4 s & l; T! j. ?- ^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; ; j) z5 [- k( O0 Z ) X$ X0 }- H, O! {; ?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; 2 n+ z2 i$ J4 v$ v8 s/ |6 b8 M- x2 g, z) }% b
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 6 G( S3 F. O+ e/ B7 n D& p! g8 i2 k" R5 w4 z1 `/ [4 [7 k
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 7 E, \# |- I# ? ; \% M/ p/ I4 b Z2 }9 ~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:! c! p4 h3 b! ^# N$ X5 _
$ D( U% j0 K, u+ X: R t5 ~) V, K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)。 2 `* A" H2 s h V1 U & P5 |& f- K2 B/ Q* `- o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)。- j* G) p+ E$ I