本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % P: l- n! F8 K6 S' j ( Z; e- @! g5 ?; Q转帖3 v9 v$ t+ | \9 o6 j$ T& {7 z
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) 5 j/ w1 w9 `5 F0 a+ [! z, B' S$ T- m% @8 i l* u2 ]3 ^
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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) 7 S) O# D. t/ F1 T/ e% X8 `: |0 o2 V! U; l8 b. |) D/ }
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。) 7 b, Y- c+ |! ?, v 5 e& J8 [" U+ V/ V, HThis 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) 1 T( z* t8 E0 C o+ {4 e( v; n6 c. c6 GThe 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?) ' s' o. ~0 [; U! W0 Q0 Q8 K6 ^ ; D! \! i4 b" o- BI 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。) * z6 z: x/ b' f1 K 4 H0 Z6 w3 i% v# Y- _/ uMr. 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)- U& Z' M. w2 ~, N% s. C
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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!) , n+ f$ C& |! n/ q5 Y3 Y1 J" \8 J( P5 h7 c0 e4 p
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)1 m% C( |5 [! I) i( a5 u
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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。)9 y1 o; A0 ^) h: z
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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?) $ h7 \2 S2 L+ U# i4 P6 I8 F- ?2 [2 U' C
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! % y5 ^ K# z9 p6 t8 a+ _5 y' b 9 R0 ?6 w) N+ ~. M3 K: ?! l& G z, | 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。 5 j* |- ?# T, U, Y+ }5 H , G4 o2 V! f0 {' g) W f+ P8 r例如: # W8 G8 {( L! A+ N. ]# h( |# N" Z8 ~" l! l+ D# F
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) & I i% \& a* @0 h4 |) K 6 j; f& Y8 @; M5 O$ O$ _! HDespite 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)8 g7 o0 z9 b+ c3 ]# g9 a
! h5 [, d6 k, D8 L6 J5 D# G; {/ I- XI 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) : B0 }, L& J4 V7 D; N' A$ M4 Z1 A& J) J" s: N
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) ' d( R$ Q; w6 ^4 @! {/ l! k& k" J) A, `9 d
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)" Q5 C/ y7 b2 s' W+ K d
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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)0 Z# v7 b/ o2 R* V6 n, n |6 v
% y: G" l( A7 uI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生). T2 M! v0 g3 C* l5 r: s4 c
% _0 q3 r% _, j4 H( z; 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:1 {7 m: ]# M. R# n' s" Y6 F( I
, w% v6 u/ j! p, h' Q0 pThe 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。)1 H$ w T( x. b( B
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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.)& e/ I! E& p. N6 A
- M4 b8 V$ V5 x6 i" k& e2 iHe 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。) ' }$ b# o" U& C, s7 K" }9 n9 r: C& X) A- L. m% G5 C9 q
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) . q# J/ T5 Q+ j5 N6 ] N: ?9 ~+ G3 W! |, [
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)" n- c2 k0 g& g) R, L
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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)' E7 D7 H" w9 g6 l2 z
* p( ~, U4 x, {9 P0 @) h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.)4 B* y* @7 z h# r- c- S% n0 t& C0 }
8 P' X( y- W: k5 p+ e此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" _# `% T+ r1 O1 m, C
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7 M6 W/ x" p+ L% s4 I' X5 k* f& i4 B3.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」。( s' H7 {! S+ _$ H( x! f. D
& O" ^4 x5 i; M' L f( e: q3 p例如:9 {, S( {7 m/ o$ z; u
3 H7 @. J+ d" |6 B: @$ C( T3 f) L! l9 WMankind 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). U7 w8 J( j7 F. D( r5 p
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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)% m; r* O" i5 v# S5 w
! h; ^" Q: W- e; P1 FThis 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) 2 d5 R, N8 [& @ ; @/ {9 @4 k& F F/ U9 W 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。)" D" c7 v- M. X+ U* |& z( Y; B* ^
% B5 `+ ]+ l7 U$ h' d: A1 NMany 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。)6 F! B5 ~& X0 H: f
' I+ P" a- C4 v* ?, T: K1 T# LPolicemen (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) * s6 \1 r ^0 M( {& c8 Q % J% Q! v6 ?: u( S* S' h! h& r6 c; H, i/ |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) + n5 _3 r2 h: {2 [' [/ G/ U: c" a, r$ \3 A y
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。)- N7 H- q4 O3 k; u! `3 I
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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。 1 e m8 Y3 R5 x; t' h( _+ D V9 J8 h. t, \1 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:5 `* E+ q6 F7 g, T* E b6 _! j
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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;% o- W, h3 O8 x3 V+ N% l) O+ G% C$ v
' h4 L& g0 W) v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 Z: J; g. j8 [# v% r) J% {
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 4 t6 c, F4 T0 ] * J- e% T0 O% @! ^- e8 S1 m对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 Q: Q3 ^+ L: l/ b5 }# M' L" L/ T4 S8 g, F% P' E
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:; A' L/ ^" Y* K/ A& @
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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)。 # D5 r) K. m2 a4 e ; a, { F: z2 z" \0 a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)。6 b+ m* g! B3 h& z% L