本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' _" ]5 @' B1 g5 N s. L
, M n3 F" s$ i转帖 $ k1 O6 X+ O7 }5 k _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 \3 M' g' \) T5 L* z4 b
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例如:. d. S: n' H; q' C/ u4 E
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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) - B; B- U, E" H) _8 n5 Q. H 9 x8 h/ l, y. 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。) 1 @4 O, T. m0 T6 c 9 b0 }9 w& {% c1 ?" m; rThis 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)' k/ y% ` R$ z! \4 Q5 ]
% Z* x: R% w) x5 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?) + I6 p3 g. \& J" M# c5 J6 H$ e
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。) ( y$ I8 Y, K" U" t( l( N* t- k* m5 C( D- 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)2 U4 E6 I0 f n0 a
k3 h& q3 t5 G+ x8 c+ eWe 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!)# f6 \3 x( h1 W% c+ m$ N
# ~/ z U5 x4 U' y' [. z; {+ HThe 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)2 U7 v+ m% P2 E: \! V: _/ S
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We 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。) 5 Z" {' }; T8 A' N8 F- y9 a/ E& `$ G4 z% P* E1 w+ R
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?) , {/ a4 I( H0 Q4 Q, \& h ? 3 B% Z- A2 l6 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!1 j. E% s& c; [4 g4 ]
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% c. i/ u. N: {" k# T2. 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。 8 H {+ B# p! M/ V6 V9 X# C. h( P! t" R) C/ B0 w( f+ \
例如: - _" e r- q c7 r ; {0 T- l2 t) M6 W0 RAt 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)* @7 U+ L. ]' t9 Q* a5 w' l
3 G# }" s/ I1 }( t6 mDespite 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) ; J5 L0 t, C( `+ \: g0 z ; |1 I: t" f0 N! r7 L! EI 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)1 \, @ ?8 f# v3 a% S1 R5 ?- M
5 I. R. }, [5 R$ j$ P9 x9 SHe 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); n& |4 I2 f9 g: a
5 F1 |1 O/ K2 ~$ B/ pIn 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). \ ]' V/ o: Q: q
9 h5 k$ @4 J$ J' e7 m OShe 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). `) I: |: V C6 i
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 ?% u" F% {3 D' F6 o/ z$ n) P! f4 A
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: N4 ] ?1 {; S+ `6 j" f, o6 a9 v7 F" Z& r+ s) A9 v
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。)# y4 S p7 o! |6 t5 P8 T+ o
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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.)4 `" Q# V( ^3 O+ B3 \; I1 L- }
0 G, ?4 V, x& C1 ^9 yHe 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。) " d* R9 {# k& O5 O/ N* o2 ~: R/ u' N, h2 Y" Q9 o+ U5 ~
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)* q; V. m7 K5 [1 R3 W
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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) $ b% G! j* ?* p5 C! g * H# @/ ?4 s& \. }: O- 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)+ y+ `7 j' @& s; _
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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.) 7 H' w- }! Q9 m8 k + n. @/ Q# d' w: H# a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ) n7 u7 L) u8 y/ Y6 C& [) S; B2 r5 o" s* W! a: w$ Q
6 V6 c* i& U* I J1 c) k3.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」。& v! `' o. H: `! j2 y9 p
5 u& G' E2 o. X& Q% {0 {9 {4 O+ BMankind 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) # q% ]/ W7 j2 T- v* g ) G s/ z# | o: Z6 ~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)* v: i9 ~0 C) R, @/ w* V
& s+ |; D# r" |, F7 a. v c$ TThis 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) / e/ o6 O2 E0 b& b6 l& J3 T3 I7 c" U( S: A9 Y$ }2 n
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。)/ u" @/ r/ _+ F
0 _ U' \3 f# d6 A$ HMany 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。) : X ?: E$ E% O9 R! J* U 0 j/ U# m- y0 M' i2 cPolicemen (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)- m- O5 t# y0 o. f( }; P+ r
# ?5 d4 r; X' b% c# ?7 x. gCongressmen (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) 2 F1 Y6 g3 A7 ]9 }8 Q5 U+ L( G6 O- `2 t3 I
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。)9 x0 D! b+ c% A p# @
; E7 R9 D) O8 ?7 B& U' o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。" q/ z5 }) l- T' D( c+ H3 C
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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:8 M |0 Q& U/ h/ v% S" D
6 C1 g3 ~- I: r* h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)。4 t. g1 r: |2 F4 s) \