本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % r- x3 W' c; @& v( a
& a; t/ a# Y; \3 @6 w8 h& Q; _$ _ 转帖 7 g. p1 d2 m1 U: p# M I" I0 {, m1. 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% a5 y) T, l5 t0 i
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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)' @: T4 I: m+ \% n, u
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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。) 6 X" q' M: O, ]* y- K3 T 9 s, V1 i+ B K' S) PThis 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) 8 p; E2 M; k" T" |3 U/ D2 _* B6 V 3 Y& m1 }( U6 D6 k; k6 YThe 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?)9 ?0 G9 r% @7 V; i' `& J" j
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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。) 8 t. v8 Z5 U; d, B1 a + x% V8 A- K. H: Y* n& F7 eMr. 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)6 c( p& G$ G2 c2 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!)' ^& O: o- @' e6 {+ q. D
3 V3 n$ r: `5 EThe 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) - t" i& t0 t1 u* E f! { * ?2 s0 J4 }% K* _# S2 R/ G4 cWe 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。)8 F* a) k* A/ f: W9 L1 V
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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?)/ T) N4 v" k( ~7 C
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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!: f9 I. n# i: V8 {# T' |) A ^
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' [0 ]+ K1 U& {! G) e2. 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。 F3 [ n& C, ~5 F
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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) - R& K7 e) b+ p# r6 |" u7 F a% I+ \7 P- o+ O: |2 m" N) Y
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)! N' G/ R* \/ _5 ~
$ r, J3 }- @8 D/ C0 b/ lI 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) 5 p0 H( W# w. Y: ^5 C) W ) U7 Z8 [+ k& h& X* g8 _/ oHe 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)) G" J+ B$ u* f1 k7 d, N: `9 Y
& N. C6 `- T9 X8 X: Y, Q2 \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) + Y& @) U/ i$ W4 r) N/ _! F- \/ s( k$ I1 z/ g5 G( S8 g! O
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)2 _! G( l0 V4 Q7 p- Z3 R
0 b9 j% p6 o) S6 T2 g0 [I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) u6 ?/ F: s+ X' w$ Z/ ]# b# T0 X + Z6 r% t6 v) c/ G2 R. W1 M7 e# 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 E' F. F& f S6 x ~
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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。)* A. E4 {& p } _2 }% q
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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.) " V9 A. A4 l3 d( y! [2 L/ s% H* W8 z* h/ Y1 z) B" i1 T* B
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。)) I+ G, H4 t6 d6 W: o
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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) , u4 Z6 P4 p/ Y0 d* ` ' ^' f$ q& ^+ q. P" c; hWe 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)8 F0 U8 I% J# P% r! J
( ] n8 W; `& S0 J/ C8 W8 `# e* gEnclosed (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) ( S. `. c* E* g! Y6 B2 O0 l/ Q 5 D* l7 Q6 {6 \2 b, j! p; Q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.) ! v1 e/ X" z2 y; e. a8 y. [3 ~* u* A8 A% M
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 * M/ o% }2 i5 U& q2 q5 F# k7 r( l! Q) W7 {. D, @3 o: u
- S) `. T8 h2 x! D3.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」。/ f, U0 Y7 P5 I1 g I/ O. x
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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)& S1 Y0 X0 y4 J. \6 j
) |- [' ~4 l/ y9 R- T) 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); O) r2 `5 t$ T7 i- J
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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) ; \) i( a8 i _- Y: `7 V$ ?- n; b - i/ ]: O, Q6 X6 k2 hHe (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。). p5 ]2 f7 b2 u$ E, R7 A" v
m2 H) c; T1 K7 Q( S* R1 R" vMany 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. b3 g& |) S3 A / |6 _% b9 f9 t' TPolicemen (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)/ N, t- g8 z `, p) @: n
T4 d) w; E8 I4 y, Q$ nCongressmen (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) % x2 {' a8 Z: T y # l" x" _0 q, w- eStewardesses 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- H& o" e3 h
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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。 . ?( A0 _6 h4 x# q % o0 P8 v1 q9 ?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: : R6 i+ ~; Y% p7 E2 T9 @) s& H ! O3 d; f3 Y, R* 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;1 E' N" j: o1 ~/ a3 N" W