本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / h8 s/ m; f' f) E5 R & u7 B+ Q+ S9 E+ r6 L. C1 O$ U转帖 . _ |1 x5 p% e4 I1. 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), M# ]. A: R0 Y" n8 k" k$ I5 ^# D
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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) - B. w! [9 C1 U; L6 y' J% N, i* C# N# [ 5 H8 d4 j6 B8 I$ Q- h! }! _7 cThree 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$ |- Y% H9 v3 u# ?
' p8 y4 I' t X, L+ B- }! h4 EThis 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) " d& g: Z3 a) K! X& @ 8 }* M& N7 ?) b3 k& a Z2 dThe 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?) # i. d8 y! n1 d4 Z4 v* T0 b* A2 C' N* t" I/ y0 s
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。)- f0 Q3 h4 g! y, Z% }
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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)0 F7 W( U: }3 J8 V
2 o) D8 d) w, J$ R f* Y2 L0 yWe 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!)' {( t0 s3 H ?& p8 D/ V# L- ~: g
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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)7 s9 p+ _ P* ~, V
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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。)6 R% P5 j5 i1 ~9 T! G
& H; {- Y/ @. a% [( _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 D5 V0 \8 ]- x/ D
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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! 8 g+ w: P' t: C( |4 i" f% [ , L. s3 V% u5 w0 x 8 o% x0 p5 G" u: z6 }5 \1 \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。 \' V; x# m4 W9 B L4 P
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例如:6 `; B% T5 S4 s% S1 M' ^
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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 L2 k ^+ n! M5 T. ?
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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)2 g1 i* p$ L6 |% G* L$ s" ]
. [# e/ |7 I1 Y9 L* E* YI 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)# n- q# O1 p7 S% k5 h1 D
- p- D+ F8 i* 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) ! a2 m5 C% K( X8 H9 X# U/ g3 k: q0 p' f" o! o- d5 g }
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) 6 o, t6 f" [% s e* H. ?$ q' ]" }4 N " m X0 B) d# K" K" H6 fShe 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) n* u' ]: K6 h8 E' q) n5 n$ [& I* `, n+ @
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) v& B3 b, D0 k0 H
, F# ^) M5 u0 x& O5 u2 u5 I4 L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 f) U) Z6 M# b2 u9 H- o( O
" Y6 v) i) X9 n9 ?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。)( y1 t$ L! X# X* T6 u1 V& o, c
3 F0 j5 ^$ {' c& a0 V$ [8 NThe 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.)4 Z/ [, \ ^& f- a b) W
* z' T0 B! M+ Y" q' v$ }$ KHe 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。)) J* r2 _7 ^0 c9 K4 `9 |
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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) ( N# K0 N$ W! _. T ( ?& @0 [& B/ q5 o5 P" O+ }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) / L' O8 T+ {( h * }! U( s1 Y) ?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! k8 c$ F; ]' @: ~& e1 c
9 ^* V* R) d; C8 @: A. _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.): {+ ^0 R# F* k3 y
( U" l7 C3 j' g3 @. O, K此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 * z# G* p$ Z* h1 D2 h/ g) t; I' I' F; ~( h7 t9 w
/ `0 Y* B( W8 b. k: h4 I3 x: T0 T 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」。 4 R6 Z2 |- V- q2 `% V5 C7 I h1 Y- F0 o5 c5 H# b
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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)9 c8 e$ y: s( \& k
8 K% M" @$ S, W5 s% Z6 PManpower 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) 8 ^% R" X. W( X! K+ S5 u0 ?( m: g [* S4 Q
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) 5 r3 t3 `* R9 r: D" k) P2 C! V4 j# {1 i3 ^) s( X
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。)4 ~' R; B9 ?. q/ b
+ I+ g: d) S; FMany 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% F4 W; s4 L0 v3 b) Z" C8 N/ r7 m: J; W
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) 9 T9 c3 s5 }5 P4 o# t5 U6 w# j" [: B9 I. `3 A2 Z4 R
Congressmen (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) * r& E" f6 _) |$ w& s5 l) c3 `8 I' N+ ~: b! z: A( _$ W
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。) 7 A+ `5 r/ _5 n6 w3 _0 j' _* ]! {/ [( C& l% w+ K
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。4 f- ^" z1 R* I2 r! u2 S i
+ V3 l0 O8 v: i O& e1 h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: + J; X5 U" B6 S. ]8 c# p! E0 P2 T: \4 f ]
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;% t1 c$ A3 D- \2 Z' h. w
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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; 9 V1 t0 j" ~/ i2 o+ U% ?4 F# w: C6 g" [
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;5 K; T. [, a% }" G7 O }7 O, F
- l; r; T& w u5 `2 Z2 i对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;& U1 o6 o( m' h
* D# r3 u2 Q5 R5 W) s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:" Z, T% j. G1 X. u' @4 O
2 \. h0 j' k8 T' ?) G9 V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)。 ! \+ y, o6 h+ v1 I2 J" { s7 H) G, {+ [$ O
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)。 2 Z* t3 D* ~9 O3 }$ H