本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) Z* O! q9 }' R3 I6 E
' A# y, o$ _1 ^5 W$ U7 o, u+ @" @% c# W 转帖 % F& _- [$ A& s/ d* Z) @8 g% X. @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) o9 j- {4 R& [ - _; D ~. V6 u例如:# t, [: U7 S( H6 s# C& p
8 E" [3 W( g) SMany 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)) r3 r% f/ h6 m" B, M4 G0 D7 G$ _
! [$ W7 P. K) \$ {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。) ' }" N/ K. N+ G( e: [% [* i1 R+ A" ]% k. T0 w# b" u/ W! w+ p- P; Y
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) 2 B4 X4 J, g c3 g3 ]7 ` & ?0 H' f* b' t: @& _1 `: Z; I/ lThe 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?) + C7 p* g& \ u+ T3 C& ]7 R7 O6 s. q4 m( M
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。) # s) F* D- J/ z7 p, A, N3 y . P, S; f1 a/ g- @# s. uMr. 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 r' t# }! z& U) |# L
% q/ K3 c! n# i5 ~2 M! u7 d! VWe 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!) 2 B; X7 H& W+ N& {) e+ p; o + o: B. ?+ A r5 P' w+ B% {9 tThe 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) . {" N0 }& s" g) J' Z% C 9 R. m$ w1 c" Y9 e8 k" c! g3 NWe 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。)- u/ V* m ~/ u- O: U4 q* H
/ M) @( C6 T+ |9 C& X" ?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?)4 U. a; @+ }! J0 |) H$ H
. `( ?" F% W& I, ~0 F3 I3 X" h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! 1 X0 K- q2 U+ ^! { b9 c! N( J; ?- N% U& N* f4 a; I
, i+ p* P0 k, y% ^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。+ R: O+ O8 S8 D+ K
! W7 I* y: s6 {: s2 e& \( q# D例如: 9 }5 p# i0 A& p: \! I$ @' s& K8 U. V
At this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (现在我们应该为我们的目标团结一致)(如果说:Now, we should pull......更简单。因为 at this point in time = now) # {3 m( M5 U; m" k/ G X( \7 q$ G 0 V* _$ z) p: IDespite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (虽然我的英语不好,但我不灰心。) (如果说:Although my English is not...... 就更简短。因为despite the fact tha t= although = Though) # o+ N0 b" X2 n3 v! U; `. ^: H4 ]6 Q5 D
I am of the opinion that Mr. Lee should resign from this position. (我想李先生应该辞职) (假如说:I think Mr. Lee should......不是更简单吗?因为I am of the opinion = I think) 6 G- a. J3 u" E" f$ J2 j$ j7 p% V3 [/ n" M
He quitted the job due to the fact that he was sick. (他由于生病而辞职) (若说:He quitted the job because he was sick. 更简单。因为 due to the fact that = because) ( {5 `" @/ O0 W5 A1 J" l! G. d0 B d( Q- ]
In the majority of cases,he likes to ride bike to the office.(他通常喜欢骑单车到办公室) (如果说:Usually, he likes to ride...... 更简单。因为 in the majority of cases = usually)* k& O3 |$ g( u6 W4 O
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She shows a preference for tea rather than coffee. (她喜欢茶而不是咖啡) (若说:She prefers tea rather......更简短清楚,因为 show a preference for = prefer) 1 h$ |0 E/ h: T ' d! \" l- ?/ G7 Y. u! L& QI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): w* A( n' u! f$ o
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如果只说:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更简单吗?因为 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意义的重复或用字的多余 (redundant); 例如:" P" \) J, ~: N
/ b4 G6 d2 A4 aThe 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。)3 R9 D5 c- X0 c R; b4 P7 k
% D' n) {( H! k+ a& EThe 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.) Z2 T. U+ _8 H9 \
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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。)6 Q- W& w9 x, [" B: D7 l
, a: z8 i" \! ^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) 1 N! s" f9 D( p; d2 K% k4 y 6 C' E# h# }) a8 f }+ _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) 5 E2 ?6 R+ W! [- a: A5 u$ M w, @' p: y* U1 R8 w3 X5 Q
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) 6 u& |' x9 ?, [9 b 1 F0 k, k7 J' a. m( h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.) 5 g2 @. I4 ]+ ^1 c% E W% b! r; u% X0 i2 u1 ~- l
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 v& F* ?3 v G
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) h/ _$ _4 E3 M1 `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」。 # ^. z) p& R% Z9 f- C' @+ c8 y7 b/ t) N4 |
例如: $ X$ H" O/ W$ A6 @ , B' e1 `# i( J# a; K! Y5 S( ]Mankind 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) G: v* Q# @! L3 G: C4 U* V3 \, ? 5 J4 n0 c# O9 o" s" | y7 }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) / g t/ K4 }. \- L# z Q0 Q' a* B: W, e* l9 R' I
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) : n. F. I$ k4 c2 z0 ] / @% L3 N, Y# S- d, c4 xHe (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。) ( r0 H. {0 \/ H& X2 D) r/ J& ` 1 o" [9 _ W, t) RMany 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。) 4 f& s* i: c. L+ F, Y1 ?( m 3 T2 y6 b, @7 L( OPolicemen (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" M8 b/ l5 u% D8 I( s 6 l3 h/ A) t2 ]" s1 KCongressmen (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) " A# ?6 F$ y& f8 `: H: C8 i: z1 U1 G# ?: n$ V! l
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。)1 h# ?: S% J( Y. [1 D2 g- U
- Y; o b. G6 n# d. Q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 i4 G! T9 F, |" y+ N 5 f8 d* b9 I" J4 l5 w' ]! B' h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: \- T. a. t+ A4 ], u, W2 z- [! 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;; O% m/ @6 k, ^! B
3 s( e. w6 C2 T* A1 ?1 Y, ^- y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;: U& p4 Y2 z, S' |6 Z4 ^) C" }, B
# C Q% e# d; V- L2 ?# o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:0 o* R: l& j$ O/ u; Y
+ a: { S, o! G V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)。 1 p" ]6 G0 U3 [* y% r8 o6 b! ]. P: a' S% M Q% ?; N6 n( w, B
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)。* b! f* O+ s! p/ D