本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * ?* i0 k3 S+ C( B, M. }& E1 w/ G& q% B. M 转帖! d1 l7 C" b2 n& Y
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)" V& O3 R+ w F+ O, y
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例如: 6 B7 {- x! R5 d% L! k" \6 H: |( I1 Q3 U* }$ v" J
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)+ [5 f% ?: R: w' C% h/ I
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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。) - K, w) _, p% r1 ]) J* V0 b/ W2 J/ ^5 ^9 a+ _) `1 h' K- a: r( F% H
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)& U. ~ U' r0 w
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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?)9 l) D. X; N( z
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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。) `# q$ ` u( M" x- C
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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)/ x! Z$ \9 A6 p7 F9 A
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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!) ' ?$ u6 H, P9 j+ b' ]1 n # x8 `0 a. t0 D& NThe 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)0 y! e- P; G7 K8 G4 t
4 z4 L# L& p: d% i. g: w4 N5 D. oWe 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。) 2 _; ]. B( Y' z! W: Q3 \, m v2 H- M& `* F 7 o1 r7 o; U+ d. }/ H6 D* L" h# |- QPlease 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?)$ u" h0 o. Z1 w8 J$ J( y7 Y3 z
% n+ C) ^( d4 Y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!- ^' z' a8 b8 @
4 M( T4 Q" z0 T& Y7 N 5 J6 c6 B; n& }6 N) j M2. 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 w6 d7 e: e j, U4 M
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例如:% a3 t. T0 [4 g0 z$ O
1 M* [' s# y Z( Z7 ^- @% ^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) # P2 i0 N+ b( ~$ j( ^6 X6 M- M6 I, X& U, j4 F
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) ; A/ H7 j1 ~! q( r k5 Z! }/ A" c8 O" k4 W$ P: _- ?
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) 2 U/ I8 h9 ~4 Y) G / A& V J) ^" `) n' N8 LHe 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) ! u4 m7 t9 x! p! l 7 _; I, D, |) R/ tIn 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); A2 V+ c9 a( J( Q% c, y
$ b% r# }/ i5 B& gShe 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) $ u ]# b! P/ A+ W( s9 G% ]' V8 L$ f, A: x. F' x
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( b e- }4 u& N7 m. \ + E" z/ l4 h1 n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:+ M+ X, j6 O" P. p
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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。) / E) w: Q9 _8 |2 Q: Y4 K- ], S% M% P7 W0 d: U
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.)- v- W- U. p5 J4 m9 h
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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。) - Q9 q. V9 e/ s7 D5 y' S# G" A & j: D3 e4 `; F+ `3 aHe 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)- q9 f2 s6 _# O9 C5 M2 J: G
0 m, F3 p9 U5 s, n2 r. [9 L9 JWe 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 U( M; U: M0 K9 E
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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); A7 i1 @9 ?/ E+ K& }2 O
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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.)3 z1 t# E5 _8 s+ s3 h( b* n
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 ?4 A, i; y" ^% y% R, c
9 w6 E% \) k, c& O3 q! |# V) O d; u8 T0 J' D3 v( m: r3.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」。3 |( E/ ~+ h7 ]4 d
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例如: 8 d2 V. j' T! B4 u $ t9 H* s* q$ S- V" g. O6 kMankind 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) 6 D/ N5 g+ O& t1 `0 ` ' E3 T& b9 A- A3 J# TManpower 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 ~7 U8 ]3 U P
# N5 p" v$ z/ q- ~, l5 yThis 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)" ^9 d/ ]$ D0 j$ k% B
6 E; h, d6 U& _; F4 Z( S; I, @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。)) |0 B: y5 X j$ t8 L- }
, n1 \' ~3 A3 G9 `9 `; m5 @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。)* j( i/ n. }9 |1 G
9 C+ S" o M! \1 v6 {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)( A4 H$ f$ P. P% r7 U% V6 k
5 q; o$ i& ?: y4 Y; o1 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) ' U( d4 G0 w6 M( Z6 [8 [ ! Y3 [) O+ `1 ZStewardesses 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。)8 E% s1 m; q0 |
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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。; D5 D; s/ ]- C6 X# h& o9 {- g4 @
% ]& h: ^% x, S4 ~6 V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:& i* {% x% i( h* f3 m8 E" K- ]
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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;" f* i' S4 h6 q i- H6 B: h' b' P
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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;: R; x* Q2 f5 U: |* g: n
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( @! t% _2 S; k- z* q! V$ V( Y6 M- {- C" c0 r" A
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " d9 j: v* N* Y& k 8 k3 F: g# z! p, z5 Z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: % Q1 |, ]% [0 j) k% C9 C+ s4 Z( ? " Y! t% I4 I* T7 B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)。$ c" J; ?" U% J6 R$ p
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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)。 / j) N3 J8 @3 P! B* [$ W