本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( b0 O7 ?: ~( \& r
' e8 w H* J$ r# ~ 转帖 , L' `3 P: a. u) Q& i9 b8 r' |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) ( b0 v5 G- `( a! \+ p ) _$ j: i* }: h例如:; k0 Y' e$ N5 g+ i: C9 Q
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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)2 L5 I- u" x* K8 X
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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。)0 Y( J6 S5 `& j( O
) P8 o G' t3 @7 O4 N( c9 }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)% ~. s! i4 X/ }& [5 L( ?5 ~
3 e' w# l; @! }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?), d. h, Q" q2 ?( i) z) s0 Y
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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。)3 X; T& s; U3 V4 m! Z
/ R, T. t% A$ j: [* `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) 4 x6 a5 I! X* ~' C" M/ H, }9 `: Z9 d# S( V% n/ Q* [+ F
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 E/ w' Q2 |# |( Q; z- Y; Q/ Z* C/ C! n, I8 q0 a/ @5 F3 @
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)/ r6 I; A: c! d' H# V
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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。) ) w0 D6 {7 a' ]' P2 S3 t' v6 @ # w1 M' l) ?$ p6 D3 L) X* `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?)7 M" {3 ]# \* ^, L& D! I; }: e
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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! 2 d0 ~5 A3 D+ x" `' z( T# j0 C) d+ [, k H, N
" Z( @: w. v$ m8 q8 r8 p3 ^% R. A2. 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。. v; u/ g0 m0 n& G0 A6 ~
1 p6 ^" }% s8 Y! J. W+ H( l* ^例如:% [- |' i4 T1 b( f( p7 X( v
: j; Q0 L' K/ B( R) wAt 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) . X: ~0 b* A: I. M. ~: {6 e! @' n1 `6 M: Q' A, r
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) / ^7 r% }# |5 q) s9 Z, Y+ N 5 a; J: H4 T9 kI 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)/ r% f3 w$ H! k! t+ y( e7 ~
$ u% L) j6 @5 O1 Y. 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) 2 N, Y. K& ?2 u% a }$ u. P 5 Z% b( B# B% Y# e6 ]. XIn 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)8 r1 T3 A* J0 X* s
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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)( ?/ O: y0 o. \- I' j
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)$ Y4 |. u0 P7 B2 i9 s: b
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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: 6 z6 V, b6 s4 I& \ , _2 y7 ~% Y: U. x8 RThe 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 D7 t! G c; I* n
9 ]' O9 |; Q o; F/ u8 k- \* R# AThe 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.) ) g1 G7 c! ?/ E/ I0 R& l4 C 9 b* }% F) P. E6 ?4 FHe 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。) 5 x3 c! v' d$ ~9 m/ D" m3 p( Y9 z- m
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)5 |* [7 g6 ~' @" Z
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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) $ f* K% Y$ ]4 d 7 ]; |# u* e$ x( B1 R% s- OEnclosed (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) . E" w& G, s- R3 @8 J$ V! l) e7 A* h$ f# ?" }4 w
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.), w: j' V4 e( `5 r% y( a# J
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! H, u) ^1 @5 Z% U q- l0 U' Y
& e) ^; w% i2 i3 Z C7 Q; Y8 L L+ ^, D b( D* B# o6 _, D 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」。 ! ]: L3 }/ Y% V6 c ' K* S8 A& P% [, ^ O# Q! r例如:8 J, p. V0 |- g. a0 b" W
) l6 W0 x% ]: qMankind 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) + O9 b+ ]9 A& w5 [5 c1 \+ ?9 _( g2 O' P _; E0 m. |& X0 {: Z, J
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)$ `/ F$ e- T* l- ~6 P( j0 l* R
" G, z/ N2 ~ P. |5 NThis 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) # K t" }( ] @0 R2 @3 m- o p- u0 S7 D @; ^4 ]" E
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。), r8 P5 y/ B/ A( f6 w! z% u
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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。)+ y* r' h7 \ m" D5 s* p. P W! R
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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)3 Q y, y* ~2 D! V
; r/ C% ^7 F. a& [: }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)7 p9 N) ]/ |8 p9 V+ O
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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。) 7 Y$ p* p0 T/ S- S+ G+ L 5 C8 W$ Q8 V( r2 f* a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。 : t/ c/ n5 F. b4 A) M7 @! E8 Z# ^1 W' B( G4 f3 H# k
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:( q' l7 `/ M) z& K6 D6 F4 b
/ R2 T; J2 V) s" M( W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;0 n- d$ Z8 s2 ]6 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; 7 p/ q* ?3 x! I 2 c3 |9 n H7 ~. T Z5 M对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;' K% [8 K1 t! i
) q: ^& } `/ o; M7 ?! B: P对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! e% J! _3 j: F$ q& C7 n! f - N+ h5 f0 P, @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:, `% V C$ v6 y5 W
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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)。. `3 n) Z$ V, J* ^% c4 P- e
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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)。 $ ~7 t; s- M5 ~