本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . Q$ z) T( Q( Z' Q1 v) t% n4 E, J# P( X' \" Y6 U, c$ ^ 转帖& z% w- m* j! D' y- l4 E
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) 5 k) ]$ D, z& M. |; m6 R5 Q8 {0 j8 y- N H: a) X$ l, [
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7 I. Y7 J. g* f# R( [" ]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) ( z) v5 H5 S% G j8 I 1 U7 h3 Q- D" O! s1 C5 p' y1 hThree 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。)# ]7 l. t, O1 w$ v
/ j: O6 j; v, ?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) 8 B( Z( G7 q% W+ a9 {3 r! ]2 k! e, D* n" w& q/ U/ t+ n9 k' c
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?) ! s7 S6 h# s/ z1 D; k2 O, x5 `4 i/ x
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。) * N" v1 |5 e( i; C * b5 Y2 f" x" C4 ZMr. 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) x$ K* i0 `8 A) a& S
/ `/ r! P' o7 ^$ }- rWe 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!) $ O$ e, m: i P! z% ]) m- G& h" H* S1 K( R$ }
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)2 N, r# T' F! ~/ V% M4 k
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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。)( h8 X8 f+ v6 u, y- J
7 _5 l% x! Z2 x% vPlease 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?) 9 T4 ]7 I b2 p/ P0 y+ h+ V4 y; d% X6 s/ v" ?5 D
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! , U* \! j. c- y- [- k3 @, Y " R& z5 S" D& m+ T. U : P' B( x# K" W6 F2. 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。5 l+ h3 j C1 {) _+ I, ]+ c7 x, i+ w
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# p! N' P4 \8 ~, Y% MAt 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) 5 d( K1 p& p6 i9 o. f/ D6 {& @ " u# d- f' e5 v& U- @) JDespite 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 V! f; m1 j1 b! _9 W6 V
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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) + e/ a0 n& _0 h, B3 c1 z9 y" J! u, O( |' X0 j B: l
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)- K1 }, O" F5 m: b2 ]8 I9 D' V
/ k( y; `, ] QIn 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)) x# a6 {/ J0 X0 o5 d
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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)0 {% M/ L8 f# v# h' R! M# x
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 N7 J! T1 t* d; O+ A I4 J* Z! E3 \
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/ o% n+ @6 a0 o ) O. j G, l+ TThe 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。) 1 U8 Q$ L0 F/ z4 r. {! C$ i3 `$ Z$ e9 C" a, `( [% F
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.)* ~9 S8 n3 i8 Q3 ?
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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 w. l6 {: V) c+ h, a; I9 z$ q
) }. j0 b1 T. ~: J2 @3 H1 `3 qHe 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 Z' k1 _3 F f/ u% ]9 C5 k) b7 _5 ?, \0 X9 |
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). Q3 a, R6 D) b2 G/ C- ]( o
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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) * ], n8 K" g& U/ s; X- T$ L* o# m o/ u8 B; m: M: ?
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.)0 U. e6 B+ z. U8 Z T
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , w( W ~( C/ ^ 8 G& z9 a; a4 {+ f; W- f7 ]) ^( G4 O6 C, X M 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」。! j+ `2 @0 `0 O0 K& N# w0 v% h
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例如: & H4 ~0 l+ e" V. Q7 I: f 3 j7 T+ q. Y% b& LMankind 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) # P' H, z& _8 |& _2 E; x - j8 ?" j+ ?* N, Q) X9 [4 r; ?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)/ Z* q+ F8 B7 v" }
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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)5 z4 W0 ]) @) m, W2 ~
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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。)- o7 M/ _& [/ D' ?& Z
# W. e0 @7 O5 B3 `4 KMany 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。) - y9 {7 f& ^2 v1 h. h1 u% T5 l0 C% y7 H
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)( `# }$ U* I3 ~" n: z; O& t
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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)/ `, I6 H. U5 F5 C. M: p$ c- \
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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 {3 C9 f u6 G: \# i, F. u! k: ^! V
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。 % [" e4 r1 I* ~) G w, m+ y0 I& I* R$ X" M9 h; S' ?
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: & [$ e7 A8 L# x6 h' D2 O, E . a) s& Q- A$ z( ?$ e( p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; / q- I( I \& c2 A- _. B$ S8 R6 n8 s: B8 z$ A ]" k' z- l- ~
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;. T6 R# A% b t! l# C* x
3 X1 A! I; V2 f. x2 I6 C( U# \4 B对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 q4 k; j+ ^2 i+ {: L! m8 j k
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 7 C4 ^3 \. P. V- E/ o2 `/ E5 @4 f% G4 u; I* E( B: ~! J: O. w
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:* Y; X' O5 O! H; c# h# F3 {4 f/ c
% c8 R) I- H: P [! ^/ ^0 k0 W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)。 0 k3 x6 h$ g/ C% z7 D" m3 C/ M, ~+ s# g/ V0 w$ ^! F A
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)。 # E) Q. G$ v* f- e/ p+ q