本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) H$ ~2 { t) m : d3 x+ `9 [7 N* T" _2 y转帖' J/ p, g) C/ c
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)1 h) @) ]1 K5 ^1 i2 A
m# r& b! m; m; h x例如: 3 @4 J+ j. {0 ]( { # @) K! D: t& J# c: [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)! u/ P% e1 F' v5 N2 |: u2 `4 _) m
$ a x7 J w% HThree 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! x8 Q: s+ K, c5 ]1 `5 q
8 ^% a- ~0 K. E
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)9 o6 f7 M) m, j* l' ?+ ]& [# c
- q3 \) e1 G, L& KThe 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?) K- A& f9 e# B4 c4 x% K) Z- b0 Y9 `
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。) / S5 Y& s8 o" h v( z/ V' f9 o, m 0 {# e! ]- K$ F4 V/ K3 d9 TMr. 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) 4 t& H" N- }- B 3 `: O8 P, \- R8 P* AWe 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!)9 Q ]) b/ d* R3 o, J
( @) x9 q& g+ v) T- iThe 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) # `9 p' D: y* L' H& P, j8 a+ e- ? + ^. A( h! l- V! b! E4 \0 \* aWe 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。) + |$ M& y) ^; H" H; u5 j8 O% m4 R# p- q( r: U4 d
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?)8 Z- |7 ~" ]8 N& d: K) s
7 B! a2 A2 \, }; y3 L+ Q% C4 P7 f8 z: V
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! $ W9 l1 @( Y/ w; S4 e; z5 s; E$ |+ g# _/ Y! U! h/ ]8 P* b/ D3 F8 }; s2 ?
# \% ^' Q: S4 u* R) z+ n 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。 $ o% k% F% C3 F% s' C# V/ [/ i " D# K9 W7 d+ `: {, M/ T$ f- ^4 |& ]例如: $ n6 f2 [! q, j0 f" R 5 W0 P, H7 {% e# N) BAt 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 s7 G$ Z2 y. u, G+ [' j
% e, ?+ c' c3 \, v9 u2 o% `# M5 m
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) # G$ z# K% ]2 v) ^+ i' D+ s+ W4 [0 t/ ~! \3 f7 u
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)1 g* ]7 U; q, m- Z
' u5 C% H9 X ]8 u+ {1 ~- O/ g
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) ; m0 e$ A) R* s7 g2 V( f8 C B% q* K4 k! h7 i, v# w
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) 2 x! C5 P z0 i# W5 I4 |5 T: c6 ^, F1 \& O! j% W. g3 b
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) ; r$ x$ ]" d5 o1 h; k8 _1 L5 J% x. V5 s) }2 s6 S
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) . G/ U* V) l+ Z. A( j 6 \& z2 G: {: R5 g# a' ?& r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: $ a8 I- u4 o0 @! v; [ n$ a* A0 H) M2 }6 ]
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。) / ?, a' s9 J5 ]' {- Y* K% M9 O( V) s2 o% v1 }
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.)" F& \9 F9 V9 C
" f7 q) B: }0 r; t( N( q) ~
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。)% ~. w' N5 d; d: O. s# q7 s
0 ] `" Q, F, NHe 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)" T/ ^1 w+ a1 ?4 x& y+ {; ^
5 Q* a6 k. d' X1 i( O) X! |
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) ; l8 b6 z3 g, }* ?, O" V- Q a2 G7 M: ]( p, H
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) ; K! c! r7 o: @2 K) }4 R! ]! A) f9 r6 L/ f' q* Y% y
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. R# d0 t) R: @% m- W 7 \7 _3 P! T$ P' [- P$ V" a0 T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! j e# w- z* B0 [$ R
$ | V) t5 A3 O ?2 R2 a: {5 m/ \" F& q 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」。 / Y7 d" z \0 \5 s# ~ + i* O$ I& t) S0 P# ^2 t例如: % R2 ^* [7 T" t' v ) Y' R% B9 u# O% O0 N4 oMankind 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) 9 y, ?1 E: t1 s7 N4 C! y+ x# Z6 z" `" @- D0 s7 @% `
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) ) Y) ]* H, N2 L3 I2 z6 F( t( d: h0 q3 ]/ K
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) 4 s5 K% _1 M0 j/ j6 b 1 M7 Y8 N! \, q: S* wHe (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 t; X( z, b a5 F" p0 f" l1 o/ ?5 Y( v6 {- E
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。)# u+ w. g& [2 O; ?3 a9 U" a
3 W$ t* n# O9 } x
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 P% o& U2 I, c# v3 V6 K) n
4 v7 i) P3 K+ q: q" JCongressmen (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) C2 P3 @: f% T3 H4 O5 D8 [: y+ {! w! N$ b/ _6 D
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。) $ r3 U& \% g3 q% b' i6 S0 b& [/ l- Z9 V' `" Y
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。 3 m/ ^+ v8 T' ~1 s$ n ' j. L' L+ J; [6 n/ u. `0 H' w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: * ]4 G- g9 G- K2 s0 p8 i5 O) z& M
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;+ u2 ?# |. h4 b9 ?3 o
2 ]7 s9 A, z& m) J, {5 `( F, 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; & @2 c) R3 q9 W3 U+ h6 S1 W" |' a3 ?4 P" Z, w
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; : u/ C5 w k8 h- k 6 h8 z4 I& e3 H6 s) t+ n+ M对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; / s1 j) S7 V, S' K# f0 o5 G) R$ C & Z2 k/ R8 P R# h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:( i3 _9 t# `# \. A+ O k
) X1 Z; B3 I6 U$ K1 v5 J2 H0 ]5 h 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)。 7 ?# G' {7 X2 B% O: l2 A! f; e4 A m. Q
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)。 r' a: u# T& s- Z. }* _4 R) }