本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " }: l8 _1 c1 r1 T N' J0 u) d1 `
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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) # d7 I+ O8 F# O' U p- a9 c# A1 x( i3 p7 ]/ b
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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) ' u! R1 ~; n! r: I7 w + G5 t9 O: w0 Z$ }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。) ) u$ }: M* y( m6 n, [) y9 a 5 Y0 D: \) ]4 I4 X' rThis 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) : l- g9 f$ ~; s9 @2 t' h2 T 3 W: u! M8 b& Q" z, XThe 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 {8 L: A1 c; _5 H5 _& z4 O
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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。) 5 X! U9 y, `5 o0 p: }) t% p7 t+ g* u. N7 Z. D2 L3 C
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) 8 C& Y5 |3 y& k4 m2 x " M b. g; L7 i+ RWe 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!)% v# U" z' w% j2 U2 h
c5 k7 W- b- m4 T1 P2 a+ L* O2 `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) 9 W# R: b/ \, F1 ]3 Z, L6 B# G8 S, `+ }0 Z% `" W/ l0 @
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。); t6 k. I0 u! o- @
( r( W1 y" G9 ?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?)6 w3 G$ X- q, U c- R! ~( ?. o' ~
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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!' d6 Y/ y/ R0 U8 c" [ ?
& L9 F: ^' {4 r8 ~0 Q5 d3 L8 s, b/ H* |0 K9 `3 e% K. r 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。 : ~9 i4 E) y) u, t( B . i& r3 }+ C' b2 t \( G3 T' o# t例如: " ^+ G' B4 H* M6 r ) f, Y" Y! j" {# X6 q; 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)/ ^$ G5 U! L3 Y4 a+ I6 \
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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) 4 r* J6 F( X" B4 Q , q; s3 {; H1 z- JI 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) ' ?3 v- K& G3 S/ ?; g8 _9 ` ( ~0 v' [- b# L C. Z5 q: XHe 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) 8 f0 Y# U/ z+ z, U/ U4 m* ?* b; r6 z) r: O- G0 C) i1 H1 W
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)$ F9 n: ~& d9 h# t9 m3 @$ J% c
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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) 5 N, @' l4 }0 X9 C O7 T7 R' I- u& i5 M- L: y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) $ K# h( N$ \6 M, P# x5 c# I6 n" W1 z( m' a3 x
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:: B7 x" j$ O: y5 k3 l7 b
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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。)' J. T' J9 b3 D7 v5 r, Q- F5 S8 ^
, [! C/ S5 g$ b9 V kThe 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.) & O; \# ~8 a# t( c% u3 ]' p1 `* 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。) T- m! C. N/ `5 J4 a % k8 ]- j. y, H/ b* a: AHe 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) & O. Z' ]1 t0 Y! ]& Y: U" O6 V- e; a8 J; D
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) 2 [) C5 h+ z/ b! J+ s4 i9 A* ], Y$ r. Y6 U: e! Q
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)/ m0 x: B) E2 V% q
3 Q" j5 {. O' p1 j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.) ) I3 |1 V9 c$ ~6 ^0 S F + K2 a- e5 ~% [此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' Z. ^) K# C. \& P G c0 s9 q O$ Y * @' S- h# B3 r' L7 k ; L6 u& U5 J3 ^( U: ?' t3.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」。 . r; j1 A* f: M& _" Q- h- J( L, a7 r; J k7 ?5 H7 l
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% o A4 r0 \: u3 V5 n- p9 j2 Z) LMankind 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) ( a. W4 v3 O$ v/ `( e b6 ^; r( k, Y' k4 x" i, V
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)3 F8 I7 `5 f! e5 @, x r6 Q: w
) ]+ C3 ?- _2 G" L0 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)) L# H( |* x' ~4 T
/ b! i& r8 w8 k2 H5 g6 ]& _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。) & N& a! s, y8 |# i0 S 4 K+ l. x- _5 |1 F' 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。) 6 D: h$ C% N" F, T) f$ S B& E! P2 D7 N
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)+ y( I& r1 s' K4 E; V4 }; @+ b4 y
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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)0 _. L0 U; `. x: _
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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。) 5 C7 @2 b( v2 J# o. k 5 h& u s F! m9 Q2 C: @8 Z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。 ; h' [ |5 M& t+ b0 z( j8 r) r 6 Q$ k5 ~" ?3 _0 ~" v# B& g0 U2 c% 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: ( V9 l& \) M5 J * q& N: V2 D% Y& x* Q) v+ v B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; [/ ] O9 v6 t* ?3 i* v* E& p# _7 H: a# n
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; 8 U2 r) f5 q7 W+ m0 W8 f9 H * z' i E1 o8 h- A对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ' _6 J( w' w3 \: i+ X, U2 q$ ^& B a# t" @9 b7 V o
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;+ |; n6 T l/ k, Z, `; K
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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: % Z! w- `9 z5 ?8 _' W: h4 X0 r' K9 C0 m" I: r ]
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)。0 u+ a* O/ v% t& k, |
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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)。 - R, ~) }+ l0 O+ k4 j! P- C