本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 C3 L9 U: g; o* P/ c
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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) h0 `3 F' u9 }
* |/ ?7 M, @( c( F- n例如: ) |8 c8 \" `' R: P J' M" i( I3 r) t0 q8 p! ^* ?0 r E
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) 6 w! b8 v. N) W6 v$ q* q) e, ~3 x; x
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。) |" p' c) C0 M 6 f% d6 w6 @! _6 L1 B' FThis 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) 2 S5 y9 w$ i. ?) R$ l$ x0 c" r2 k* R' W
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?) 4 v6 S$ ^% t) {3 K! j: I. y' ~! I- U; j2 Q, d
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。)6 E0 c) Z1 E6 A. i: u0 Q. x' W
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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) + `" i9 a7 q& h1 T5 I/ d+ Z+ L. R4 `+ z" A E7 T" _2 y% C9 Y
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!) 4 f6 ]5 _; V3 l , D2 K4 @3 }4 }9 gThe 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)* O8 _7 l* x* j& F
/ O: v9 |. _, c" l2 }( jWe 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。) : d) o$ n. ]' o0 [ . M$ v9 I! n# _! w8 pPlease 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?) - }- I. ]) v# l: Z ; ~# n) d @# p) P7 Q: |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! 3 Z: ~. b# @( L- D2 `8 y- `5 }
3 @7 e! s8 v; Q5 B2. 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。 # [0 K/ s* W- Y$ A( r; `' O$ l* b- h6 ^" [( w. y9 i
例如:/ L0 I. R0 t5 r! w1 c5 f" b/ R
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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)6 o8 @6 }6 t( N' o+ \0 t
! u/ a, I9 ?* q# n8 [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& Q. t0 m; ^' H; P% L; k3 x3 u8 Y, R1 @: Q
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)! F# q- p( o1 t8 ]9 @
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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 A' C; O. o! A, \% i
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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)9 K, @- I- B. c4 a5 Z* p- n
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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) " p. \! p+ K1 E; K. r / c$ e- f0 x( \1 NI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! a; m' j! X/ o1 C, Q5 F
3 [/ f; B) R& ~; k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:- X2 M3 S- Y0 Q/ a, y
6 ]* F# r4 M( q0 x. R# DThe 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。) 8 j5 }& `% P3 N ) i v3 Q% i' v4 WThe 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.) ( k$ s# N( k4 b/ }% ^ 0 a% K0 {' X+ x. @/ o/ K6 ~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。) & S; r) d! A$ }& t; V" k# n" j+ e: W3 G% r% B; a2 C: z, g
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), X0 y/ g6 m* v
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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)+ O1 x) l. h& _4 N2 V! W& K0 C: f
" Z: x& J% O% [: \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) 3 G# w& v8 M6 N, Y9 N! p8 i* f2 y1 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.) % t6 E! K$ a8 H( T; V; K0 D; G( n1 W. V) s R
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- i7 s# _2 ^$ c7 D1 ^3 v" v
4 d- c; z3 b+ O/ a8 |# G; L n0 y& `1 Q! \9 [; \ 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」。 5 ?( M: g& j2 Y7 R! V& N* l. [3 a$ o- |* W: D/ F
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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)* y* u: ]& C$ o
% l/ R, s8 }& p4 e* |% j4 qManpower 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)4 q7 M6 g. A- C- f, v$ y+ o% b
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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)2 l3 l8 U |+ o! |7 h
+ O; P/ Y. `; P+ g2 B; \2 X9 k2 sHe (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 o0 S3 [0 n. i. x$ ?7 g* m 6 }: ~# z4 T) R3 cMany 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。) + i) \ S7 _( H( i. ~ 4 A k- Y% s1 C. sPolicemen (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)- j' L; x3 G7 E7 ~+ J4 _! k
: }; F* K0 i" d5 s KCongressmen (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)- i9 g4 @ T' |( f) u% [
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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。)1 z7 O9 w/ O/ w/ u
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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。 0 U; |4 _- K$ S* V- k# @ 9 e. o' m, Y$ `' ~( |% U! @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:1 t/ n- S% f! T3 R$ R9 j. X1 ]
0 w0 e0 U" ~3 a( J) m, ?# |7 X: w" j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; ) Q5 T- g7 y3 w" a' I* _+ ~/ N, M4 h1 H* D4 u
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;, n9 b6 a7 E( H; z( b. w. t0 {; P, Q
% i2 u T+ _1 n; B# @$ H J# r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:. u- e6 G' D/ X% D
( ?% ]2 u- S& m* f8 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)。+ {0 ~6 L1 D U3 O7 N8 a4 K# y
d' p2 W$ u% z W, y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)。$ o3 q1 K' V* J) q- N! w