本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + h! P( \( ~! K ?) R! g. [6 Y5 E' |5 q* I/ Q8 s 转帖( {# Q9 }5 K- e. p: `# A' m: t
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)' N% x3 V6 |6 e' h5 J$ _
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8 ^9 b& i8 q0 CMany 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)1 m; G3 U+ [$ T6 T* ]0 a
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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。) * g8 g6 I- |! G5 G( \' G& Q% j& ^5 e! z
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/ M0 T% Y& v
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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?) 1 p$ p# H" `& H( b9 p6 A. k) J7 _: e" w( {
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。)0 W% B/ ~3 d# ?* A, F
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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)! ]- R ?/ ~( w) U
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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!) & F0 p+ c5 B3 K) \- w k! j: p; s* `$ G- z% z( N
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)) a# A( H$ f0 D
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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。) 2 m* l; A5 |$ ^5 U& O# ^. S8 ?9 O7 n5 g8 t7 e h
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?)* ^9 ]7 @- O6 y7 p% x! S' O1 Y
A+ I! `# Z, M- C6 N% g1 ]$ I( F+ X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 Q& D9 k! ]: w! \3 A# J% `. r- B0 ~ }8 y7 G4 m$ @
. z/ H) G0 N3 W3 Y- [ 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。- M2 d% r9 @3 d* r$ H Q5 J N4 q
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例如: * g; x( j- D) A: Z4 A: D, k. C* O1 A7 z/ Q" B
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) 0 S0 S5 |: p: u+ o+ v $ g) O) n P4 y, z9 uDespite 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) $ _! A4 F, D% ~" \& W7 k- u5 T9 g6 h x' t; Z, y. g1 v0 T
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) y* Q8 Z, p- v) e3 {& S 8 B v" A9 i4 a1 Q% ?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)5 Q: I7 r0 \/ K! j/ V% K
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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) 4 _7 H7 V" O. c. l+ I+ M0 b% N* x `- C" c+ |" | C
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) 7 |% h! F! [: L5 z) q6 @ 1 `( y+ v8 Q$ y O1 n9 |; C# vI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; H4 E6 Z' ~- @! p6 a9 F1 J3 ~' b( V1 a% }. C2 S
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: & v: r. I' X1 N: g6 I& e. v 9 d8 E, u( k, `( \6 YThe 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。) $ d0 j/ y6 a7 x# V) f+ N5 G! I 1 s# q/ @$ z: \2 o* H: cThe 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.) ! ]; u! Z/ L+ |( ~+ ]; U; V5 G8 x4 W( h- i) F$ X! Z' C( U! E
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。) * P# ^7 }8 e3 M2 J; P " B# H# [: b A9 h+ p, `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)0 _) C" v6 e9 i4 G* V
7 _% e7 P& h' c1 e( c8 aWe 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) # g1 }: Y& I4 k) {! q8 Z# v& }# I d
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). L' r. |# z8 @
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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.)/ F! ]) d$ i) p6 |, \, B5 ~
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & e! q+ [& I5 v; W / |: d2 E! c, v7 o1 O( E 8 u3 d/ z# i M$ F" q3.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」。 0 b$ w: s) f* ~; P' G2 `: h * ?4 V1 F7 s" r, I例如: 7 j. _; p+ D6 r' l# r, _1 n% u2 p* a# m+ Q
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)+ ~/ k5 `6 e: j3 z) B
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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) # [5 q/ i6 P2 f7 r1 N2 J# p3 d2 S$ D( d9 [
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)- \! q; F4 }& M. n p
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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。) 9 m/ V) P5 r5 d" f2 O- W( W* U8 a0 ]/ v. `1 Q* d) r
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。)7 z8 N) w7 Y, Z/ n Q
: m6 ~$ Q; f) _+ iPolicemen (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) 6 M- c5 e0 d# Q5 }* C( A0 ]- B8 T- F) Q R+ Y4 s2 G8 Y. ?( x
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) ; _% i! g) `# y0 F9 h) i: j; _! P, 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。); }# a1 K' H/ t t! l
& A1 F: ?4 ?6 f: K4 w* v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。 9 h t9 O- D: H4 q. j) u5 u8 ] * {/ l0 f8 s% h2 K3 F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: ( w4 N0 O& L- E+ [4 d4 P- }0 Z : B7 C/ M; n/ g" h6 a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; : H; {1 `' m9 v. l0 O : }/ t2 O/ w1 I6 y6 \& Q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;: e/ ~3 K3 e: u; \
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;) U# E4 g, q# Y ]7 D; L
$ a) q$ l, o( m1 ]% i3 K对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;# v- r8 _4 {. |: D9 ?2 F( v- Q) M
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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: ; S! I! e7 m m# ?$ R! B* |8 z. C % \- i$ B' J' E3 ^; x" ~( z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)。 # ?. D7 n) Z7 j* ]; I1 ]( R9 C2 e3 R/ P% f" {
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)。 7 b! G4 R- ^$ C' [: A