本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 b7 } q( }3 ^9 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) M: [ A" X# o; M) E7 c2 p7 f7 ^4 e; h
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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) ' d5 t+ T) F) y/ `+ P( S8 d# l, X j1 X( i6 ]+ C7 B
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。) % [, y0 [, Q1 t: {; [ % P/ T/ O; z3 S2 Q3 K. ZThis 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) 8 r* u/ @6 O! v( w% @( P& ? 5 y x4 `* q7 v) bThe 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?)2 a& i0 _4 A: k# l9 C* i
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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。) 2 |& O2 j/ U* @' D8 x& n4 N$ N" c% b# y# x
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) ) {5 W) C& C1 [" M5 J. z3 E+ f# i E2 H1 g, A
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!)) M- V2 p( [$ b: x
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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) $ w3 `! z8 W$ n* F F ; W# x2 t" ?6 G6 L) @% 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。) * o8 D; g+ v& U3 u) x' {, N" J6 f* F! S
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?) 8 Z6 n5 V! y: X2 s 3 U& P. H# F; j' `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! % u9 `5 I4 S* l8 T; Q U1 f8 f2 n, D# W5 _# s * W/ d2 t2 ^' B3 `! q' i9 j! ^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。 9 O- }# M" Q% @% g' V6 ], o& o 2 n0 H- k- s. S/ D% t6 y! `例如:; T' S2 Y) E( h) f0 Q% 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)+ s+ j+ Y+ ]0 s r, ]. t9 o! z
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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) 5 n/ f1 I a! I, m) E: m9 q: K % _) y& e& H% N( {3 C! @ rI 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) - Z9 C1 W" H: c2 C0 L% j4 J7 y' Z8 X1 q4 ]& L- J
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)3 \. _5 ^; r6 {' k1 `
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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)6 P0 g8 V- Y+ @
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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 k$ H9 p9 i5 j, }& g7 K2 a / o' j* L, X0 f) AI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) / b2 D: U8 c5 y l d) F9 x- d2 n 5 ?( o( S! _4 Z' 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:6 y" }) u+ y9 X% W, P
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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。)" D/ A$ F# a' X) K9 M4 m+ b- K
9 R8 Y/ U9 u i$ q; u, kThe 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.)) e$ M- V% o! l; t6 U
" {: J5 c0 n! _' cHe 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 G2 c% @: ?- `
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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) 6 B2 P: U, O, h( F% m2 z4 C6 F5 M0 L+ @( X
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)/ x* N9 ?: q2 [0 O5 q2 P
& z# h1 A2 A" cEnclosed (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)1 O6 g- i# s# m' |6 T) O' r6 V3 T) r
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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.)6 [, ]$ x* w+ v5 \9 ]+ N6 O4 Y
4 c6 o; J2 x/ D! W7 O( c/ X. Z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 t' P: I: Y9 }4 D3 I! i2 {! |9 | + n5 ^1 N+ e! ?: D 7 M3 H1 m3 F- E" E4 K4 s! y3.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」。 ; P, Z/ J n% u H& I# }3 Y8 _2 |) B z) S( T6 A/ Y8 F
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, [7 X9 W' y P0 `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)8 z+ H' P! x) p# S
% ^9 v; ~9 W: G; u. ?2 x4 _- A0 pManpower 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) " ~0 L. x0 K3 v# T: ?& d* n+ }9 \0 V A! l1 Z
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) }$ J& ]- I, J7 v& |0 C1 Z $ B" A5 T) G6 b! P2 P4 d; fHe (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。) ?+ u7 U6 H Y0 C5 `& U6 V
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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。); l( p n# D, y* `0 C+ m0 `
. [" ~5 w2 ^1 |1 @+ G' }! h8 p) k# nPolicemen (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) / L+ ?/ T8 }) `6 z& ~/ [9 i 9 d0 X, E- ^, W- @) hCongressmen (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)( o) F* X2 {8 q" I3 b) ~
2 T% `0 y& @9 E# Q5 tStewardesses 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。) : C$ s$ K- \, d% o& Q- s3 l- G9 r3 y' w
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 @2 f2 Y% U z& f6 p* G
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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:* K8 M; j3 N1 q. o: V! Z
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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;6 x/ Z6 E. }+ Z7 m2 g( S; t
$ r: {2 g6 I9 i5 v0 s ]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 u; K4 X f; a! c8 o
4 X4 S3 z( {6 z; ]3 g% y对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 Q- ?: d6 h. G7 j9 Z3 E. S+ I0 y! ~9 A2 o
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; t' {* q# c# x9 _1 }+ S6 U( j6 [% W% G' m+ \- h) R, ~
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: 4 ~# }1 S/ o4 v L 5 {0 y2 B7 e: l/ g! x5 Z8 X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)。 ) k& \ b& W4 W& b y/ ]$ W1 d+ q, O# T9 `* J3 ?- w
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)。+ }8 v% D) D+ X: ~4 n