本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 y) j2 I# K- v9 W4 Z( V( i& [3 n
3 n, N* W8 J2 a: o4 f& y转帖 : ~/ M) p1 b1 h7 P1 z) m0 Z. g& Y1. 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) + A7 ]. q" M) u r, j: Q1 b6 k+ K6 C' z& g U
例如:& {5 b: h7 d x3 x# [$ l4 p
" k% k6 A$ @" E$ u8 Y$ 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) + _4 ]" z* S# n5 ]& z) l0 a4 b* Q) h! a0 X* v
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。)' W9 h& t8 ] C- g9 S
) W0 Y( _# a% X- Z' S1 P" 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) i- g# O' U" |! S% F - f! C3 V9 e$ s6 x o+ rThe 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?) * l5 ]6 Q6 G7 U8 x7 { 3 G2 g0 J9 K7 H% w+ T3 B4 T; HI 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。)8 m6 k( w0 d/ u
" j5 M+ a. t$ ?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) 9 d4 \ v- r! H6 C4 u: U( Q $ g2 Y; R$ G# a4 @1 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!) ( i9 \3 o/ l: u- l) i& C9 O, L2 O. X1 L* @2 e" Q% v
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 T2 W1 T8 u- o2 @4 c6 u7 @# t" t& O, J# l) O
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。) 4 T) M" L2 U& m * E) @* Z8 J6 x k c7 K5 ]! j# GPlease 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?) # M2 `' M5 q, T* M9 W1 Y6 p1 I: ]: J/ U6 \
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!* q. s9 M4 s3 w" h
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' ^1 N7 o! E7 f1 x 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。 ' F5 _$ C5 @/ T8 y% K& b/ c% c1 C$ J' @9 F- \
例如: 2 v1 p E# z2 ~- J% j9 ? / D* d6 F+ Y! w- L; LAt 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) 2 x* g- U5 d( `" c: T8 H7 m* |) t$ k; e _7 F0 Z; Z, i- ~2 g5 b6 t
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); h# Z3 Z1 ?. p4 W* ^, q2 w
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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/ c9 q/ g' o+ ?2 d/ R
, W7 F& A: Y2 [( h7 @* W; z5 uHe 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) 7 K3 A6 @" `+ d" w k t) L 4 `$ T. |$ h3 t3 DIn 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 J6 g) U. y* @ 6 a+ C, D5 k; E7 o. d% _3 AShe 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)5 S7 f5 L3 B- o
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ b4 w% A* Z2 l( n K% [, n. H
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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 H% C) j: p+ \5 a- t( @) T1 Q: o( _
( d) j: N" v2 Z" g$ ]: D; lThe 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。) ! k; L( _5 y; N: v8 ~ T4 M7 }/ o
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.) ' |9 ~2 P2 g: M$ ^6 ?% L: k 7 K+ U; W6 H; @! DHe 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。) - [2 }6 G. F1 d! { 6 p( j& q: C) a0 V u- bHe 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) 9 m( g" {: _5 f6 C7 O6 d) M5 A' O# y1 m
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) - m9 b& \* j7 d) O) `+ I& ~* |3 K6 n8 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) . b7 O; c! {' _2 F2 C; ]' h" j- F2 O1 L2 M v5 m
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.) 5 S4 K7 S$ _/ Y4 I6 `8 q$ h" V1 A7 p! d; j) c; N$ w; w% b) u
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 # H9 g3 r' \& J $ J* F% w/ u A! E# { # r$ F8 O+ q1 j5 I8 T: n% Q3 g" @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」。" K. C. F% Q2 L: @
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例如: % W6 t' N& D" q; p: H { 7 R& S4 ~+ C5 K$ O' O9 k3 Z3 HMankind 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) 0 P0 S+ K9 K$ ]& B; D4 a : E" ^9 i1 n9 D( jManpower 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) * q$ Q0 ^: ?8 D2 U. O# h9 z+ C7 M 8 r2 n/ f( ~" k! i- I. MThis 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)& e- c' ]! V0 h; c) h, |
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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。)' T: r. X( ^; i+ J, z
7 n3 F( _! g3 E: v8 O! t kMany 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。)$ O- ^5 F/ t% t9 ~
4 w* _- _: o: mPolicemen (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 k' g& S; y7 y0 m2 y1 \9 A- f( P1 h) 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)2 d. ]% F" _3 D7 t$ J* V. W5 M
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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。) & }: J! A$ w [/ u! p/ ~, V! w+ @) a4 q" ]! i$ g
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。 ' e% Q" p) A* W0 P% y; [1 I$ V2 J: D
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: ( r- M, |4 |; B+ `! M. ~* q# h' a' P# }0 E/ a; C
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;2 u4 Q5 \+ ~1 X& S3 F* p
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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; ) m" Z J' `" Q2 T' `/ v- B5 e; J, L- w+ d9 B5 U
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;6 ^7 f: W2 F. Y% _; {% e
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; . k0 i- a- H; S! }: _ + v3 f8 U. Q! a9 P* w8 ^6 |" }+ f2 G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: 1 d/ {. c6 h. v" U* l7 z8 ~# C: y& u! h5 O/ 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)。 ' Y+ e- C' i! i& `8 \( m 5 G* R8 a1 a; e, U. v# v( 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)。 9 F5 R: ?: {' n* q