本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 N6 S! ~: y- s! u n- Y( } $ l, x* O( K5 c& @- F转帖 , R# |3 U" E, ^+ }5 M& Z6 Z- z1. 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)! v7 f/ d, p7 ?. F
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例如: " D2 ^4 y9 d0 E 8 B$ ~. t* G. x' N0 Y) IMany 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) " P3 w; i: }! R. m+ n) i i. k5 a$ U8 R' b& }. F
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。) 2 f& K: \6 X0 r7 d( R ( u* I! _. h: p9 r# z0 `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) ! g3 R# m: g1 N2 A5 p+ b7 @$ f4 v1 M7 t7 X! O" G0 J1 g& y
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?) 5 v% T5 ]% `' t. C; J, R! w6 k/ n7 e0 F! N2 S' 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。) 3 [& ]2 a* k9 l7 [4 u4 \; a2 J 7 X1 b% m" n0 E3 z# AMr. 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) / C# u7 A. F/ N, E; _) s( V# M: m+ K' \7 r I
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!) t6 Z% `# Z0 T7 n; n
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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)3 ^+ J m" ^0 x. s7 F
1 Q/ a6 J5 Y, `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。) T4 \9 D' [, ?
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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 F3 r: m7 j/ n- E
H# Z6 Z- ^ B6 m: 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! # q8 D8 W* A1 C3 g- i1 T4 n( }9 z3 M& c' ~3 W1 M! E
, e+ z) p+ f9 W% W' oAt 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 j- f% u/ b, B& u" L $ a9 W9 S1 u. V/ r! o3 J- P0 {- aDespite 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) : G% K# O/ H& n( y6 Q, D6 s/ n C/ w0 i0 H/ s
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) / U$ `1 W. ?1 B8 r& x, A6 w % b7 z' \; N8 k4 t6 `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) " k& R$ j8 \6 h* P3 Q$ E% P1 R( U+ T) r& x$ r$ u4 Y5 ^
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)% Y1 c$ k/ d" ~: N3 o( M5 G
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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) 4 }8 I% m# w/ c \- u5 C8 {; A% Z+ l% d" T
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)& f2 J3 N! }. J V2 [& Z$ w! m
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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:2 t3 @8 `$ M$ [ c7 n
) y6 }: R( v1 R n) ]( C- vThe 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。) # K8 I& c' M5 _ 6 f$ q0 m0 N* I, p uThe 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.) & n' I! I7 t: ^3 w, X% h; _) V; X0 a4 w& H3 E+ b2 c2 j2 F% s+ d+ O" S# S) j) y
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。)3 m& u; f: P; e
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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)9 \/ x% w" c8 C- f) a b3 u0 `
, ^" L% }. k+ k! S/ f: TWe 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) $ M: r: I8 u2 f* y) ^ 1 `5 ?& p; T1 \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) G& d4 ]8 Z- g3 U( ? 1 [7 r$ `6 E$ M% P7 X) G; Z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.)( p9 l9 x j, y5 ~; i2 N
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & Q9 {: O) b& n- t) A& i7 X0 y# b4 `
u6 e( _) x" ]. F 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」。) W% F# Z, u9 I8 L" Z7 M
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例如: 1 @0 C3 I( e6 V0 \9 i5 M' Y8 D# _0 Z
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) ) f, R2 Y6 B, K( ~! o 9 G6 l) y/ Z; T7 j7 _. kManpower 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)4 I/ p1 {# ~8 `3 y; ^6 W d
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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) . l; P4 H( i% |& D: x) X4 B ; s. `4 [. g! E* A( c- pHe (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。)6 X, y2 o U/ H9 h D2 _& ~% O- @8 `
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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。) ) p. ~. M& R7 b0 p* N5 l, ?* |' E4 G, J2 _ `# D
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)+ M- T; I8 _- g% e
- N1 w& G7 z4 m d3 a, VCongressmen (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) : T5 B9 ]( W$ a6 b 2 J4 r- F: l$ t5 n- H" uStewardesses 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。)% ~, J1 x) J1 b
' T f* j% e0 E( k; e" A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。 / ]; V* \" i1 n Y7 B O3 N/ g5 P/ s# G1 ?& 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:9 W% I4 [- x4 Z3 l& T$ Z- `4 c
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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; ) z( Y) `1 X1 {8 ~ 4 F) y% @9 n. g! W+ S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 b$ I7 K9 ~) L9 h ) H3 t. J# T; G" L对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;, L4 y& ~/ s- s: l' x
7 i5 L: ^2 `5 x2 n$ y( F对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;, j+ B& @! |% p* r( A) K$ L
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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: ) B: d& H9 v% r" _! s: u% g & a( E9 S- p( z: d3 c. I2 a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)。5 T/ C! d1 F. T. p# O
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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)。: A6 I0 v L4 `