本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) [5 p6 K" ^" X$ `4 V) ?9 }" \- o' Y+ z( n 转帖 , U7 q8 n% T R9 J8 e1. 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) , H1 L E: z( B( _ ; `8 t8 j( r2 i例如: " ~, K1 N8 }+ j; {3 @ % M( F; w) V1 Z% H C6 n- zMany 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) * a6 X+ }2 ^, k# J0 @- a- `( Y2 K! l8 D6 N8 V$ q, 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。)+ J! T5 w3 P1 f
( K- k. w+ R5 a# W! GThis 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) 5 d2 B/ ^6 J) D4 ^. f* R' a7 i$ P( F
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?) & M. h) `+ Y% U' R' C + ]' R: c9 P; T$ X: OI 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。)- w5 X7 R+ ~$ o! \
, h2 G: @) A0 [2 g3 H- O2 a. aMr. 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)4 g! n; X1 w# }. T2 _4 P3 V! F
( |, @7 N! e# [$ ]
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!) 9 |% g5 n1 M: q* `$ J; Z+ R0 h& W. @9 U5 H7 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)% \6 d1 o% P/ \
- j( Y0 J T9 r" b2 S: F
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。) / {% N4 a# z# f% f/ E3 C/ q3 m1 C 4 M- ?) G8 C% ~6 b2 zPlease 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 o! K: q; c' v! ?/ C! `
T2 d- ^6 H) T* u9 a8 [
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!( ]: ]0 L& N% d# P2 ?
" s+ I1 \; o' f) u+ x) m- n* h
6 ^7 M* F* O5 N) Y9 T) L) J& H* L 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。 % k, b* U( j& B( \; S f/ B & i$ ?# m: i! d( j* W [例如:$ K# h4 u9 t5 E6 l3 _; D% X: k
7 }7 g0 s& m t! D. f7 F0 E! JAt 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)# L: t5 K. l2 z$ S0 L; E
/ B: u v/ J i: x9 L, aDespite 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)0 A6 b1 L) q- s( Q! l
" g/ F" u2 c2 A$ X; `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)0 s l9 H4 P' y8 F. Y
2 E4 V1 m% U$ G$ k' D2 U' \+ a: K9 i
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) 4 h: M/ E1 t$ u v$ x* N1 ^ " G% G1 \4 ^. d* w; b/ Z: w# bIn 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 J- x: K1 e7 l) B7 y5 q( s1 ?2 V/ O* }9 w g
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) 9 T! f; n% S6 ^( A( X7 Q$ `. m : p( L, E, H+ m2 M3 b8 g9 y5 @I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; z( |& u0 A) k# l8 [4 k % ^) H! }- s0 a) |( p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: $ \) t4 R1 p/ n9 N7 P& q* b- E! v* f+ i9 }2 I
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。) 1 x! C" w8 V* o# A1 X + [& Y! P: ^3 h8 G! O9 i: I& L) qThe 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.)1 ~0 E: k+ Q( t! ^9 ]
5 \9 F3 K% |- q6 Y4 K
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。)7 }0 l/ w; R1 E3 F- ^
: ~! J4 W& y! R2 _2 c* s1 d. F# {; }/ _
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) ' I2 _' L% U2 ~# o( p6 i; l- D& i8 b2 z+ A# `
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)$ d# @* F, [4 D$ b( H; E2 x0 X
& {7 [; K0 M: UEnclosed (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) ) s9 t6 m: Y9 J% _) B , k3 N( d' f' T' G7 C& N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 d) O7 h8 c' Z1 _1 f) D
' h1 O2 S3 c7 a$ W6 b8 B
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , v9 Q( U/ k9 z+ X; q/ H, e- }$ F* C
5 A& n' u6 D' b0 B 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」。6 q2 s# D4 g( c- Y: V
. L; O F3 m& z1 P; ?- {( m
例如: - R" k& O# K' G6 y6 l8 y% i; w" E ; r2 [9 G( K* }: i5 V2 E6 A' r# Y$ CMankind 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) / Q) D& f$ ?$ a3 D& o* J+ c# r% {* X; j+ r) B8 z
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) ; D% F& j2 ?3 ^7 G. u1 U6 s2 Q3 W' L3 w( T& H9 I2 V
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 O0 q7 M0 M, B! @% z. l/ {
) K5 w. E' a. v! t
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。) + V+ g( Y; k/ G7 J3 g + x' \# {0 a6 w% g/ P' O3 R/ hMany 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。) $ y5 m$ n2 R% B" w. G% @6 ~% m
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) 0 b) b) J) z4 y5 R; q# M* Y! ?; K6 ^9 L6 j
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): x& ~7 ~) ]6 u" c. o4 Y; @4 R
5 h' E& \0 q7 U( g- H1 Z
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。) ' F* q) d# G* f4 y% a) X 7 t) I- |& ?9 [1 U0 B$ Q- O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。: f" z" q# P# [, z' H
# p) J9 v% x& u, w& @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: " I1 q1 f# P3 @7 d4 ? k - X" C& H- j8 D* N6 [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;& U$ d! a {# A# E2 U
; k8 P; x) X) {. A( s
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;7 X5 X3 D/ a2 B J% o: l
6 }' J6 l+ \* ]) J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)。 " T+ v! O" Z- B 9 q3 t/ d% }7 G4 I4 t3 a3 a& s) t3 \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)。 ( h* Z' i: A4 H1 a) q