本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! R( O: o& G( P: ~
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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) 6 h& n* P! @3 Y( K3 @ 0 y" ]+ K! O) v4 G9 L例如: 3 [! n3 c$ g) \3 l$ t B/ e; I$ _' VMany 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)& ] y9 B0 B- W g! | N
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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。) . t, H& o! v4 o; r& s& i/ d) k' h& I) R2 r! m* J$ ]3 S; L
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) ( L; E0 h* [) P# m % \6 L0 I, L8 v5 jThe 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?) ; b7 | W5 D" H+ y: `& s t; I ; K3 Z, L( m X3 \) L) \9 ^% YI 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。)) A+ J3 a$ r3 Z' U# [5 ?
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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) ; }$ K6 z8 y) J6 \ C& m h% C+ q' z/ S y
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!)4 ]" t! V4 N" F7 Y K+ O6 r
I* [) n k* q( @# MThe 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 o. f) M1 R( L- ^& L, c0 f! a, v( X7 n' e9 U7 i
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。) : ^. q2 a: t' E, D- l 6 q: I# l! {8 }, T* K( O% H3 l5 f! }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?) 3 h$ ^) X# \1 B7 M" H- u+ C( V& o: r
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! ! s6 I$ _ V2 P% Q7 K " d2 G; Z( w: b/ {: X6 L' u) N+ h) L( \8 G/ P7 M& U; x 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。 * c9 U9 d; V9 } ' ]! T7 J$ A3 s& E. l0 r0 X7 R例如:+ d5 m* F* x: ^7 d8 ?8 P
$ x# O3 @( u) l8 t5 P6 yAt 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) 3 ^* e* L, Z0 I$ E( h% X/ v; O' x: L
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)6 L$ M! ?4 Z* O/ J! `
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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) ! A8 ~1 P1 u* _0 C' P: \- G: H U* t + V& |- I o6 H2 S { hHe 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) ) d$ A. a/ B: }5 X/ ? x 4 s' ^% D5 ~- i) ^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)( c$ g8 i* X. T# y4 D8 |
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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) 5 m) b, J% d+ [5 P+ V$ z- `+ g( e/ ~" O
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 B7 z4 b4 }/ r" \% h
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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:5 Z* [$ J: N. Z. Y0 I/ q3 y$ P2 n
+ O% ^ y5 e5 c Z) f7 AThe 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' m x$ @! j8 w3 l# j0 P7 f( k# d; p( [3 x
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.) 7 \8 c0 B/ A' e: W' }- I 3 f/ k& l7 r. ^; m; X, {; }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。) 9 C) i/ V, M' b# Z) q6 x% b 7 {$ V9 [7 k4 ^6 A/ gHe 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)" v& C( l1 F% @) j5 E+ M* b
! S( ~- ^8 o, u1 u. B; M: VWe 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) 8 \8 g& D2 c. \+ E3 H& q" q0 F2 C% \. M. |! d7 i( c
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) ; f; k! s. |! j# j* M# Y $ ~5 D. @; l, W* H! C3 ?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.) ' Y) I* d. O' \8 l! e3 h; b' s
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " t$ o* s- J" A / ?9 J/ T M- p; Y2 a # j& I& f5 b7 X5 l# @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」。 * r7 F$ R5 {' [4 d. d c2 f6 M% M. |/ p- x% S$ {( O2 {
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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) # o0 l$ M2 \3 h: c/ X 2 `+ G6 `/ c! U4 i2 Z" K/ ]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)( I3 w; ]3 G9 ?" P2 T6 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) 3 J, g7 X: z# g2 |( D# p4 T P0 R& o& \8 F" W6 v3 o' q
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。) 5 K) F9 U/ O" w8 u4 f, n# r. c" u1 a z$ z: k/ N# v, K
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。)2 {9 j! f9 {+ F' h+ l; ^
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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)7 [1 h* }- ~1 h2 h4 T5 E- ~
, L3 O9 } Q% L$ r, x4 A; U' xCongressmen (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)# q* r" x0 f# X8 {# i J
6 }& e7 e3 a) x$ ^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。) % `& u3 S: N9 L4 x/ J" |+ P+ J, ? \8 R# L! |
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。" e* W% D* A( ^ M* |$ x; S. J
9 ]1 u- }8 _" s& z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: " z* h' H1 F6 J4 m0 x : M9 y- T# g& ^. u! H) Y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; / ~) \% ]+ ] e5 j" d2 L6 U. Z' V2 k; H6 X7 D' a' m( N
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; 0 g' f+ n+ y7 Z5 w# ~- i+ ]5 b( n5 s1 |
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;3 ?$ K2 s9 |* h* a& h, {! v% G
$ I- a4 i+ M* K! e对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 h/ ]3 X9 r/ @5 d2 E E' j. _* J$ j0 e2 ?! ^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: / a, ]" M' k& I4 `$ I. y$ X1 U5 P3 E
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)。. L2 X9 H1 w3 e. I0 F8 D
, _1 e2 t9 ?, E+ U& Q4 I: w C8 H$ \, k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)。" c! m' d- ]+ L( z3 |$ r