本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 g5 y# _2 n' J, w- T" D& e
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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) 4 ?, B5 B5 w5 s' ?" a( W0 s0 W% x& l: ?
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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)3 S5 C- b' U: N% y8 l0 k# g
# T2 y/ v x1 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。) 1 i- S$ R( W$ k6 O) C' c1 A1 u( ]2 `! [
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)( R/ \& w) {4 \: @* z
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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?) j* P7 ~6 u, v# o2 z7 F7 q
# l' o1 Z# x4 Q- e+ w ]! B. s9 LI 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。) ! v" a# a9 E0 U; z+ q4 L# l* ?% @
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)3 d0 ?, l3 B* L2 l: S9 e
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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!)0 H4 x9 d1 P2 \5 | I; n
0 r0 {. Z! \2 A0 b) I8 ?. XThe 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)1 z% ^% _6 ?6 J' N
) N5 n: b+ k2 G, Q) Q' t$ h7 p$ `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。)( t. B, F7 V4 ]3 F1 Y* I2 j
( w; f) i5 ]/ P6 b) N: pPlease 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 n8 t& G) c3 u7 ~% S1 N! f! h; l( s7 W& }4 ^
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! p6 a# m$ L' e4 k+ L4 q7 O( c: X1 f4 c1 G2 n- v( ?
4 O: m% o% y8 q. j9 a+ |8 ~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。2 n9 {# P4 ]0 N
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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)2 Q9 H9 ]7 C* M' y$ u: _$ a5 B
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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) 3 V6 m' |8 y& Q7 o6 i( F6 |6 K5 N F ! f( @- O" \. S6 gI 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 L/ D) _' H6 @) u T' o! D# u9 U8 A6 N& {' W
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) : t9 V0 t3 @6 C3 |' f* K . }& W+ v( u7 i& UIn 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)0 Y: k. [$ {+ F; G" i2 J# X9 t
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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)% z: N2 {/ ~0 E2 r: h( j" {
* A7 `8 r6 V- L1 H; \I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 @1 S- d5 @, c7 e. G4 g* y* U. F' u9 V9 r- W y
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: ; Q: T/ f) |% ~9 _) A; B& M 4 G0 ?9 X' W( x, S- a IThe 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。) ' \7 R) |0 ?' n |6 S+ M( t" L2 ` - u. G6 H$ z4 HThe 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.) " H6 S2 t5 U2 ^$ d) |! _ 1 f0 w1 q: j5 z8 R& D& T. jHe 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。)1 m0 I% Y( u1 c: V2 p3 o1 a3 M
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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) 3 @) H$ ^$ x9 @( ~* _7 c0 P1 g( z% Y
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) 2 z$ D }* M- J4 u0 k ' Y! V5 ~2 |, I2 S) b7 g3 rEnclosed (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) 3 f o& }/ c6 f9 k0 K6 W' H+ m7 m) D! Q2 _+ O5 b; ^- l/ g
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.)( `$ R+ D- h8 _# @% {# u5 c% ^5 b
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 V& X; ?, m$ B6 j! y5 j- a! b X4 j& t/ M; O
- h* c& [& _% A \* Y7 v0 c 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」。 9 m1 K. g" U; v0 ] ' H" M4 M' w, i' ]例如:& N) n- a( ?+ T, Q" B
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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) 4 q3 j) A9 c- | 3 n- j% ?7 W, B% A: h, X, E, 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) 3 d! b6 u8 Y7 a" y/ O0 l. B! ?" l: j: @/ f
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)' y- W- u0 y6 y# u/ r
. n1 B2 |) j* t) A L2 c C+ JHe (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。) 8 l/ a# }: J+ v9 W2 M/ t 6 I6 O1 O7 m O4 l; g8 H9 _ ?* 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。) ! {. ?# g% | B2 J# Z: ` 0 H, W, N" ~8 K @ F2 \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) 6 B+ h5 m: a) k2 U0 N8 {! X% G, S7 [: `" N7 W; j8 z \+ N
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)) v7 W- _/ B( [5 [0 |9 {" c! v+ H( ^
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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。) M+ y1 v$ O9 n" }& A) x7 H" x9 ?$ e4 i/ C9 i# r# j
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。 8 ]) u8 S# b( A L4 l2 @! y% N/ U7 S" n# {1 P/ G! I
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:- V6 }% k. p$ L8 U- }0 o
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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;1 _! |3 d) @ }5 L
6 @0 Y$ k5 B) h2 G! v4 R! M" S9 m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; + F! p) e$ q' t( g ! D. ~- O2 c A3 d! |对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ P( C( \/ s6 i) D+ G % ^ @' r, R: H: K+ V, L对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;" m0 `" M+ y1 }$ k
5 H4 E6 t N7 y7 _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: L; J( H1 i' |* Q( D _" g ' b: `3 w6 B9 V6 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)。9 I9 k6 L2 Q% _# s
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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)。 * o/ p% M" }9 q9 i, q4 n