本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! l. Q. ^! m9 B( P T0 O* m5 P' k5 H- R T1 D6 Q 转帖 6 d" }8 \) g7 t3 Z! e+ {$ l' Q1. 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). T% I( B2 `5 ?- ^+ f; F3 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)% S9 W3 l# X1 W& E4 ]8 i
: R: @5 C+ u7 M% P; @3 W \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。) " v# x" x9 z4 Z; Y3 N" N 6 D7 i# \! W NThis 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) / o; b1 T+ M5 N+ T, }) C% J1 k) b$ ]# T; y2 U' c1 O
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?) # T: I- U8 }2 e. C7 P5 |! \1 ^ 5 a8 c/ Z' T& I4 j. `2 W+ VI 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。)$ z5 e( s! C. m* A5 s2 e
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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)9 \% M Y% l- p4 ]% x% r/ l. b3 z
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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!) : T5 Y) y( M7 h; _2 p; u& U) k) M3 s1 \& k- |/ J
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)6 K4 b D0 u" R* ~
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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。)! S% {* ?. R4 M. a' Q4 R
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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?)5 S% m. Q; `9 H
2 `: _# b: G7 P9 E0 q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!' x, t, d% m4 ]( K
3 ~7 `! w* S s8 Z0 J% J7 n+ Z' |( d [+ M 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。 . U& L& p9 H* Q- Y * z( U, U- T$ w7 z3 s7 h) J例如: ! |8 ~3 ]: t9 f h' K8 e" V- b8 U0 h* C' [, A1 k
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)4 e' R9 b8 m& I
& |; q7 q- A+ _7 L& s* V; a, 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)& ~$ e0 u4 T% l9 r7 W2 s5 q
! g$ q" X% t) \8 A$ j1 |: cI 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)- u' I& R9 t$ j! ~
9 X6 g; g- N6 }% zHe 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) " y1 C1 B, _& H) G / @; {3 v, l" |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)( {/ k4 ~, j+ `
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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) $ B* m5 t5 q( V% h" O, v+ U: V2 L1 Z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) |& U, ]7 u/ \$ N( }1 |3 t) ?! X / E' u3 S5 s4 T* ~2 A6 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: 9 l3 }3 S' N E$ n% N5 @1 w: [+ r$ w3 J* M
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。)8 H5 i8 u7 X) }# k) S; M! T
) @4 w2 }/ r' s7 I( L9 OThe 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.)- A4 K9 Z' j( T- t$ C4 Y
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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。) - ^; a- a6 e" M1 [: \9 J 0 k6 s8 ~ w$ Q& t' w8 UHe 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) ) n: v6 L, M5 c ; Q+ [9 K/ p3 T0 R |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) , I1 ?, Z0 V+ z( f, W% ~2 ]+ ?9 D; a& k; |5 w
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). q* p* w y3 C9 ?) ~
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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.) " U5 X# O% J- t7 h7 C } 7 V* D. c g) K4 `( X此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; ?" _" i+ g6 _7 h; Y( d
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- h( r2 ~& n; i+ ?/ }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」。, V: c/ \3 Y+ L% ]+ d/ F
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例如:5 p1 r/ A( q) }9 f! _/ p
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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)$ M B; W+ L1 |& J
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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) " p6 ~8 V5 c/ n5 J: @- A* [. J % Z# V% S; Q5 W3 Y2 e! qThis 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)% f1 b, Q U9 P/ @
+ q, k. h: [2 \8 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。)5 ?/ x2 \: \; M/ v( g$ j
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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 d9 w8 b/ Y9 T* @" i3 S# R: z0 G' I* J( G1 B
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) - I7 x" P, [ M/ ?& f7 A. p: M 7 `3 O, i% o) H, n9 zCongressmen (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)- h* A9 Q; j% M/ ~3 S. @5 V( ]
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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。)0 y! {- N% c. A7 x' `
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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。6 P) \: ?9 Z! F* `6 S
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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:+ @5 x- n/ P; i! v0 p
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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; : ~ l5 [! z8 l3 ?+ g, V) S" f" q . ?. U2 d |3 r; f) r- j. A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; 8 F7 s( J% b# Q) |+ B3 ~2 |. V+ z, Z8 { @( n1 I6 h! f; I
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( T7 C! \' B/ u( g2 Z$ ~& E% t " b" k- ^& B# C0 G- N对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; + u5 p U& I% [6 D5 V8 K5 m1 a6 v0 |4 D
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:' @7 X8 w7 o% f/ [2 O+ T
+ V# x2 n! o) X1 r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)。 3 k4 A2 X0 w5 a; n; m/ a9 R6 ^ D% B% B4 ^; ?# f
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)。; N- q* q: Q# y- w* B