本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 P8 \: S: P- M* n3 t" g) ^. Y/ w8 o, y$ T: e8 e5 V 转帖 - \: S" f8 S2 _2 K. s0 t1. 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 ]: K5 A' H+ @) Q5 X9 e- M9 ^+ h0 l4 x% r! Z: Y6 `8 d0 k& L# B' V
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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) 7 j$ J! ~4 K, z v! M # x+ ^2 Z V% K+ a/ MThree 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。)- I* e) P- d" N! J
: n) H) x4 E+ b( qThis 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)1 U" Y0 ^/ c) C' d) ^" `
3 A3 F6 m$ {5 LThe 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?) 7 t' q( @+ r! W+ D' x4 v ?5 ^* E7 e* g4 v( Z8 s# {
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。)& M( W4 w* ^, O0 |
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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) # s, Q" t" _' Z$ |0 d8 y! j) U/ L; I
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!). ^; ]7 ]/ w! k" y
' u. V+ {4 S( d; o9 ]2 w4 @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。) * o! g4 ]8 w7 F! E# f; P: X e) R1 _% n# f2 `9 ], `& V* Q. ~5 uPlease 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 F/ T0 L7 z& | e- k" Z
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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!7 V4 ?* R- b6 h* w0 r3 i: O1 Z
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0 u' T: h2 c$ |/ p. F 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。 + y, A2 N5 j: B/ o& h O, `6 a. Y( U V4 O$ e! E" V6 R
例如: & Q; w6 f! F) G L |- _: X& q 6 l7 [1 H1 C: ?+ }& AAt 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) 7 ^9 ^. M4 `2 }6 a* e G9 ?% z6 T8 }. B5 CDespite 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) 6 {! c1 T$ ?+ |* I 4 ~. O4 u9 ?2 q- ^+ E/ h6 E" K8 fI 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)* O; M( z, r8 W0 f x
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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) * Y' T% e+ Y/ m( ]& K' Q8 G( J! h" b9 z
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)6 I) A2 T: f# ~: }
& F2 U0 b3 n. Q; x0 s' aShe 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 c1 I& \7 K5 Y; V
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) $ w) Z, I' Y' ]0 M9 N- o. Q8 f ' e/ C" |2 D: j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 M. M& q8 b! {& s4 H5 M2 l% U7 ~, W- v
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。) , }: M7 Y$ J9 R* i1 f! E# d( G. w: h( X$ l% a, w2 x
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.), z; J! ]0 V% Z9 V& M* {$ L! e
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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。)# n% S h7 P7 d8 m
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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)4 G# l. E' ?" ? h& f) Z3 y
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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)* C1 p1 P; Z* I# p# E
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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)5 O3 B3 a" ^- R0 c% K5 u) d
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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.); x# K/ O" _. K3 k$ _
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 X) R( X! s$ Z% T9 E" q' ?9 A. \
2 I- L+ B' q/ ~7 V( ]6 _$ m# T7 w( @ 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」。 4 g, a3 F* |! ^) @5 p9 Z Z* y; z5 I$ r( s) e' B0 _
例如: 6 s# X5 {7 ]% w" D4 l/ T ) S/ \3 y4 }" ]& m! N& K3 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)2 m* E( P' b5 k& G2 G, U& g% o
3 O- ^2 m9 U, gManpower 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) / c; ?- l; f N! C5 h0 m3 y6 o2 _, m: N( b3 D9 g
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) ( W0 N* S! y9 R2 \2 [* E P$ s$ f \3 P1 P U
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。) 5 F7 e2 H# l1 @( C; x/ f4 b C# C- f1 L7 j; z* @4 i% b
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。) & H ?; G- M. g1 U7 k V; @7 {. x! S) L t9 y7 w0 s) _: |5 \# Q% ^
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)- I8 _. I5 Y9 N* k7 G
% ? C4 |7 b. a; WCongressmen (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), I) u9 I. A5 r. [9 m7 J4 U
/ u& l8 w% t! ]( x( C3 J+ gStewardesses 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。): N# o4 X% |( @
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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。 ) W5 l" _7 h5 ?' O7 n5 c / ~+ _, i* F& E+ Y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:9 `" |# t1 }$ D$ e! i0 t% S/ v/ G( N
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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; h/ i( g9 E$ ^& l! t: J5 y9 ?; [/ o& r/ Y
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;! E4 ` K Q" J8 R; z W
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;- Q3 J$ E( Y' H" j
1 f; o9 H" u: o; p对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 i, T% t% _: Z1 _, r1 h) l$ b8 V% |. N+ f3 R1 F
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:5 U7 E2 O" Y! `$ b ~
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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)。 5 K$ P' B1 n" \! W: d f- O$ B0 ]3 I! O h
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)。' p. S4 t6 b4 a/ [