本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + H2 J& {7 g. S
]" Q& B0 O; a; i4 u 转帖 6 m$ z. f5 Y* r1. 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 o( w" b/ d( \ m/ S/ P( i- `* W$ ?$ F ?: d
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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). ]9 [; T3 q" ^/ P) X. 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。) / X# J) g0 v7 L3 F4 o- r " G% U( H& a" {This 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 O1 H7 \, T$ X& o2 U ]3 R; y 6 I4 a" t( C0 v& i$ s" f; eThe 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?) 0 [6 `( e" F: M- B+ X8 J1 t' _1 G8 L0 _) V! u
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。)9 B# _. h' u1 O: s% [
, q$ R, D8 p5 GMr. 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) 2 X4 a0 b& z" K+ U, d* S9 N# V1 O0 D, W1 a
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!)* e2 p; {# S+ y# ~ o7 b1 h
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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)7 n7 f7 p$ L0 L% b1 N; O" o
! `& {& n% r: k8 I( O$ ?2 y2 dWe 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 \9 y" q" {3 C
7 e# I5 B1 L! F4 j) j X" U* L4 l! VPlease 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?) 0 r0 U* t2 V! y ) R) H c) V: Z' n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!7 p4 r' D% g3 |) k
: {" a2 Z4 ?$ V4 E3 S9 A8 Y2 Z, |% d) N! U+ v) _8 m; o/ {" y2 w& 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。& `2 H$ I+ E/ Q# F
7 {+ \* t: b5 U6 I* a X! U! l例如: 4 P; U9 s9 x3 C+ W: g% R+ W6 R$ L4 K6 u+ T
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)8 q( H$ A9 z9 P0 g) i, g) F/ P
6 f: k8 l) N% A2 KDespite 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)* ?9 p/ \2 Q8 j# Q! R1 H# {
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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)# Q0 y: q! T) A! e, J- Z( @7 f
1 \5 Q: p3 x+ C% C5 M7 PHe 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 `5 ?7 V4 L+ f" Z6 g4 D# R& H
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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) ! a$ ^/ A) I2 s( O8 J " T% W. w9 Y Q& y3 O NShe 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) ( }- o: V: g. h+ W/ v 7 {, i% Y- a' [# F% H+ `! i% \# p+ aI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! [1 M# Q/ k9 c6 m0 U
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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: ) \* ?; M' z9 j' x) M6 f7 K6 |+ F& a/ C3 u) Z* u% B
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。) 9 m K/ c4 F& I* v$ \- j( c' Q $ F3 E3 ?5 K: DThe 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.), y$ D4 `% n! W. n3 I" s
+ w, l& Y9 u3 |2 a( @4 X7 h+ AHe 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。) 4 O) i. `. V4 [) d G* |% U% y3 e8 s% N3 R, [' [- X5 Y
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)9 A9 U' X, Y9 X' {9 Z3 R4 V- t
" E3 p5 s3 A2 f2 `# j: p6 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) - R5 u! P. i( V; h5 ` Z3 `) K 0 Y. F, G, z2 X( w. X; lEnclosed (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 W; e) S3 Z& i$ W( G! B
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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.) : y# @" G# \- A; _" o6 M 1 a( _+ n* W Y, V- {! h7 |此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。3 b& j+ F4 @& @4 ?# m/ m' ]
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" [* |, V; S3 ]! f, s$ ] 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」。 a& @4 }8 o. k9 `, |3 [% t& x8 f- e: s
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) W2 \1 E* n" |0 \+ iMankind 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) ; d/ t$ x) X: A+ G/ _) D( ?8 }4 m& t0 N- Q, N g4 I/ _# H
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) 2 h0 J( ?' `, `! {' c5 s8 f& } ' P6 C3 a" y& G6 N/ R: I$ gThis 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)1 ?9 N2 Z$ z* s" ]5 B: c% }
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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。) 9 Q T4 s2 X: Z7 Z4 b; B' I5 _+ R O/ Y
Many 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。); C+ O% e7 u, Z1 c4 S) V
0 B& [7 @4 E+ dPolicemen (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 ]: A5 |3 z3 T
0 G6 h# |- J. `' ?; S. Q0 vCongressmen (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) - u8 ]4 Y4 ]' j) N# G- E5 b' t- |/ d) o9 h
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。) 2 \0 }$ j* w8 F, F. l0 ~) N U! ]8 L! W5 W% W0 h) `
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 B0 t% W/ y) D8 t6 ]1 m6 \1 O5 U, Y
# `+ }) E. |7 {( ?0 C. M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: $ K' t! ]+ U/ W. S; e9 j 8 V* f( v9 W, a5 s' B& D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;9 f& L& F3 [) _ [' X4 }$ s9 ~
5 y' D9 N3 R0 p# h+ O; 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; 4 j+ V& T, z, w( i " Q. g" g4 H! n3 J% e1 ]对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ S7 }3 F; ~# o1 w* W; v 3 g7 ]9 z+ F! c1 _' U' R" K对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - D) D$ q, J; b 8 b& c- ]( w0 H& x" J5 Q5 ~0 d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: , W, V y8 P c- v2 R4 `2 [ ; b. t, G. ?4 i; C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)。* a$ q9 L3 [6 D! |# ^5 F& B
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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)。 : }8 E( _6 F( t2 _' ^/ \