本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 $ d6 C/ W V. J; M9 B1 h2 x% {1 l6 M, H 转帖 ; Z. D: Y; E: z! w* @7 t2 X1. 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) 7 D) t1 G, \( ]1 r4 W& c5 n" _' ~
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U' g5 V% ~$ S5 a, G; WMany 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)2 Y) s/ D7 g1 M6 S3 U4 h& n; o
$ g2 e' Q7 ] q1 U8 h2 ^3 ]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。); b5 V, ^# O) }* x( W: @
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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) 3 u! k v1 ?0 _$ U4 r# V 3 x( [# H9 o" b& u2 GThe 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?) ' U" |; y/ m7 F# g5 J5 L- ] / o1 L U+ m; g6 mI 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! _2 v/ t% `4 |' w0 I0 o: g0 u; q" v& @# l) j V0 v
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) $ m+ D+ f5 E8 l & P3 ^5 U$ 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!) 9 z! S+ }! k3 a/ b9 _6 I2 N2 {, h3 Q. E
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)- z; q# b$ ^8 w% ]9 z' E) Z& T! A$ F
3 p# S2 B! V% A; r3 fWe 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。)! A- W+ x* D# f2 h5 ~
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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?) ! Q: d* R# A {% d 4 W `) H1 [4 ~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 |" k( `$ B0 B1 P2 U* _1 z4 x) R2 [: v. Q. k
; j/ I! g. {& ~; d2. 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。9 S3 G3 m( g( K/ V( Z0 r
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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) $ p* V3 m" z2 P O* f 1 B% {) y0 G: cDespite 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)+ {8 e9 ~, W4 p+ X: S; C# B+ R/ T
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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) 9 T& }3 S' {: B6 G2 v8 M# q2 q4 u+ p 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) ' g/ F' l4 ]1 X' q5 T8 s2 Y' u& T4 H8 J8 G+ H. v2 `9 t( S. n8 o
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)2 C! C H- K/ c# O
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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)2 G( ~( |; m! r( f l
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) \' V# L( D5 S6 G3 Q8 N, n7 p# o
. }1 V/ X4 i" p0 b$ o8 U: x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: - A A8 u! }1 ^3 C% L7 y % q8 z1 O, t' f6 RThe 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。)+ Q7 b" |. g/ j L% B3 V1 c
& @" b Z/ X8 c# w8 x8 @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.)0 Y; v* m/ q3 C2 Z* w" T
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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。)! G* [" e; q+ Z# ~3 Z+ b4 U
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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)+ m$ W9 I+ Y, G! b! q. v+ P% }1 q! s% u
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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) ! H2 u$ g7 K, D! ~6 _# w, O% [2 L+ s! N1 t: N
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) - {$ R; a9 N3 c- ^ / y! J& r" r. q, C$ D$ E3 _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.) ) d7 g. {3 z! Y& B2 H % e8 T) j1 c3 P; }此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' P: z/ c9 O1 G* m- Z + w5 }1 N1 A! s$ w0 o/ T . k# J8 \$ F# ^5 L k! c `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, }% W1 l# d7 q! ~5 V& s: G9 K! w( |% e$ M
例如: $ v5 ` V$ z. @: P 4 Q3 |. h# T9 y" n( ]' IMankind 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)' D" U5 L5 n6 U" K- j# o k
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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) , k2 u W. U3 N& r& E# O: T! |7 W$ j7 Q0 S# c* N' j" 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) {" A! V- Y' a) S, T" \2 j' E. P+ a6 Q r
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。)9 {- k! n! u$ k
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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。)6 M# C4 k/ Q: I/ U A; p# F; Z- S
" N' v, u! I3 x" l# Q0 W- ~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) + h9 c7 ~+ S1 M1 I3 _& L) _6 H1 ~, s+ |6 ]# ], C
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). y1 T/ i. S+ d! @. B0 v: b
) T7 z; H- I1 A$ 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 w% d4 z, G2 R7 v8 `4 y/ W- _3 D( _7 M; c3 S* T; P: Z
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。1 n% \& P7 a7 d% F6 f, I
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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: 1 n5 K, m$ B1 h ; J5 d2 w6 I) K6 w, V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; * J9 R) v7 m' w6 M, Z 3 k# V$ @( \/ q/ a& u6 b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; - p# d8 T) y8 A) M% B, U1 V( ~( O, N2 ^% L
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( h- u/ e" b) C9 G7 u 3 ]5 b3 Y# q% {/ u对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " }1 Z( S* f% G- y- p- J2 w + q/ L0 G: U, P8 |# N& V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: ( ~6 R) F5 y1 h3 i [ |; G2 t- P; ` {& F; H6 C
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)。 4 _0 E& B4 W1 \ / `8 u* z: c/ z+ m9 o/ [' J9 d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)。. ~, f9 d5 f9 _- y9 |: T