本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 @, z1 K; k* |) ]# [. ^
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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)9 D5 q# L8 Y$ p! I: W# m
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例如: # I5 r& m# x7 R' Y2 F1 \" u; D( q1 z6 P( Q
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) 5 ]& ~0 J0 t. e& w: Z3 n2 m 2 \- O3 z/ R# VThree 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。)+ Y' { ]; W- g D6 i. t
5 V& A0 l, \0 d- e" VThis 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)2 p/ e% m3 z; m T) @8 t% @; l
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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?) ) F1 w; { D% H6 r ! g' ^$ @! h2 b! H" i1 w4 [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。) . X5 O2 m# Q4 c7 v) x/ O5 I p- W' x) ~' u
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)* f8 W$ F3 l P& R( P+ h( m8 n
/ Q) G. s# g. m1 d1 fWe 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!), Z* c/ }, J) c; y; U, D, E' q
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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)& }% t& l# \- d7 K% v4 Z) ?' y
- B: S" l8 F- v+ {/ RWe 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。)4 G3 N4 c: q, O$ W4 G. i
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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?), S# F. Y, V0 o" C& K0 g
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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! & N" @3 P- b4 \ 5 s. v! J; s0 o' h, A0 O4 H/ u+ Z U/ k# D* d, f, q! | 2. 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。6 B; [( c M! v3 J# j4 B& j
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例如:$ D/ Z$ Y- k& s* h& ?
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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) p7 p( v, Z) }+ l
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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) 7 u7 w3 D8 ?9 ^8 H m" x3 K 6 F' [% D0 G/ R lI 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) ! d: e, j$ p- i$ }0 F5 v2 n$ Y0 v) {
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)5 L$ U. v0 Y" l% D& C' B
7 W# @: k. Y5 s5 D" o# E6 x6 `* G J' lIn 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)% U- j3 \6 M- M
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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) 1 S2 {0 d& a2 C8 l( r4 h) d' ^: [, x" _
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' t, t; `' g: e" X8 X% w0 P$ D7 b- R/ q$ G8 d+ a# K7 w
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: : D% \( O( C: W2 F% H4 m2 e/ @! k . Y+ G$ l$ L- L0 oThe 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。). k: H0 y6 o( s1 @
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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.) Y1 u: B$ H2 \1 T# d
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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。) * t) |, I! F) N. J. { , D0 k3 H. w- j3 |7 c1 }3 d* VHe 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 j; k" |8 c6 \
7 A2 b5 n2 s. |) i# AWe 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)! n) W9 t4 y* y& B
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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)2 E1 ?: c" h' V8 M+ @ \" H7 j6 D* R( a
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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.): c4 L* { r- D& D/ [ E2 @
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 . w( I% m2 C0 y$ F6 `1 U8 E- f, R7 Z9 f, p% T
" Y0 q4 v" U( i0 u5 YMankind 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) / G0 |$ d" m- O( g; F9 D5 S! S/ ~& u/ i- C. ~
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) : s! x, h8 f2 d# A * L7 c: I$ L% R, q2 G% J1 v& yThis 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) , P" C" {( p% |1 c4 w0 ] 4 C" ]) z) i$ U! Q/ \1 n7 ~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。)* j, G9 E. l( e6 Y5 O
) Z6 M4 ]7 T$ C$ [% q) zMany 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。) 1 e. t( o4 r; C" ^ j! E' V4 `4 O! D4 C3 i" S
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)1 n3 P# v3 E; P6 w1 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) ]- b/ F f$ I* k' a- n% A) p! p# x
. ? T" K6 f$ m$ c* 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。) ' t, ?5 a( T4 e. a 5 I9 O/ I3 x! u) W1 ^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。7 x6 T( b( _6 J' |0 l
+ D" h% i/ p+ |9 i6 b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:$ C2 M$ [" Q1 ?! }3 n
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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; 3 t" O6 f" k! h+ J/ E; w) }3 T; T; O- X
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;1 I; @ M2 ~. R8 g7 \( g$ _
( [- Q, v0 G' J8 q, `. a8 f2 `6 E$ N对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 N4 d/ y6 k& D' r* y0 B$ {) F
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;6 q* C2 l: ]/ k+ V7 L
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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:2 m: N4 f7 W- W; X4 \( O
# u: j# p$ m# g7 {3 d2 \8 P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/ _ k7 p1 q4 [5 |
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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)。5 [: }1 k3 P5 M" c! H