: s4 y2 X5 o' V% s3 d转帖 2 R! Y I) t2 p1 d1 @2 U& T! ~% 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)7 _* F& r% d3 R+ r
% K3 Z# d O4 H$ J. s6 K
例如: # H& _5 {' r) x- R: [; T6 e + r# _) f0 R9 o, X7 C- ]) |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): y) h$ G' B4 q' U4 Y V- q
, R' X: T9 A; y
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。) " |1 y- t. Q& T% g! d1 B/ i ( J6 a4 i. {/ t) oThis 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) 6 m2 C& Z* P9 Z6 k% U , Q- z, @8 k4 G* \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?)7 U7 B/ S) `/ @, z" a3 o4 i& R0 v
/ L2 ?) O) ~ F- e
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。) % q0 G0 g+ q& _% i( Q! B5 l. V - y* Y6 T- F3 h* {9 ZMr. 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)/ N( f" J; |1 Y, e, Q9 B0 i
0 i( x, h$ W2 HWe 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!), x0 @. w4 B& w" v4 e7 n
. n* y$ `8 v6 _9 H4 Z7 T& ]
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)+ R4 E0 m9 U, Z( L; A0 m
6 `6 [2 ]) S4 HWe 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 i: ^) W, ?$ Z * `% v) C, [! [" L% D' _8 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?)8 _# i* A4 t0 | X8 ~9 o3 P! F
4 }9 g; h/ \% `: ~4 m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! $ T$ t, Y- u P. ~3 [- O+ z; L5 p3 c* Q& Z* S" T4 v Y
9 ]2 l7 @- Y( A; Y) L; ^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。" p7 B8 J: B; A& ?' P
8 y- {* d8 _, t% c+ F3 L/ I例如: - X: W# ~$ r f' V3 i. d7 @, E& Q- Y. Y0 |" O) w# V$ |$ B4 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) ) R! z0 s- l; ^1 F1 I1 C U8 {& d; W/ i9 Y8 f! k! E1 S3 V# v2 o. 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)5 R* u' O4 u, }$ H. A; j- R
! W2 K" i2 a2 f% l- v( a
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). w' {& b' W* O6 J6 I
% N/ }# h; W! s
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)3 L# Q& k2 n$ l$ }
" w4 Y2 \! [5 r0 TIn 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)+ P- y, [8 b1 d2 E1 `) _4 k
3 w3 a6 d! B6 M* {
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)0 l& r+ Y$ |/ ~0 @; P! ~
I) _$ Y6 [7 [9 |/ E) ~: y. LI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)1 s4 i: P1 ]( U# S C
, H9 i/ ~" G* H/ v# h
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:* ^: I* _5 s, ^
+ S+ F, J6 e5 k$ }5 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。) 7 K$ ~3 \$ j7 l3 B0 m& J# X0 i% d- g" @$ x9 I
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.) 3 }' G' j, ]0 ~! x& G2 S# y7 I6 W! M 8 \6 \# Y% ?# }7 W2 v# MHe 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 Q% @; z# C8 V
7 k5 w) l* l- ~
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) ! U: U1 J6 C$ u, h $ n' f) _1 E7 S8 n. ^8 i5 {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) 5 |/ n* m4 Z/ R; L' _2 C$ D! `: c% J7 h$ f" k& I+ [8 E
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)0 V& d0 ]2 f% f5 ~
0 }* c) w# B$ @7 `# p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+ v3 V) H+ L0 [$ M" W6 m Y7 L4 s/ S/ e- ?1 f) j
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ! h9 J: m$ k$ F" s; s$ s+ ^ ' C9 E" k' N; { & w7 a) w" p, r( v) ?6 P2 c3.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」。2 c% _# f% p- V& |; |
/ H4 O7 T# L' y5 U例如:: _; j2 q q7 R4 u0 q w7 X
' w# J1 n* X5 K! O$ [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)5 v" Y4 D, V V1 I
1 ?4 n- f0 i% A, rManpower 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 @3 @. s+ a1 l
( \; g: O: l) P2 \1 p' E8 C7 `; ?
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) $ u% M% h, P ]" E# B! b+ G2 u6 ~! N
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 k1 u4 L9 H1 Q7 Y z# U* m& x* y, L ) l m( A2 I9 K* c7 OMany 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 q$ z& i9 ^ s- a6 a0 v
3 l1 t5 \2 }) b5 y* o
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) + G E6 @( k2 u1 D5 h; J, } R# c/ x, ~! c! K
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)+ z. ]- e; F8 _6 O, L% P
3 T$ d }0 n. ^+ _9 [
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。)+ p2 t: m( U( \( v
- J$ H# v+ `7 t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。 4 `$ I4 y# c6 C: Y% c9 V3 @2 G* w8 c1 k+ u) K7 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:; s1 X; u, |; h' Z/ Q3 t& Y ?: V* {
9 K! @4 q- s; c3 z0 I3 N) }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; 6 M# u5 U7 X" k+ D# O- h. o8 O. L8 k% [* N& g( Q
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; ' J. E1 j. D, x6 t% T % R% O2 @: }& j' i! Z对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ; ]# Q* Q' z7 T: r3 J1 O. I) W+ m1 f3 D; M0 r2 G% }4 `
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;; v+ A. y7 Y3 U% a* E& b
6 w. N& P: U0 ^1 E8 N" y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: ) a3 z2 C/ ?( m% @ ! O: w0 b0 y" i0 S' z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)。2 r) T9 t1 D$ w/ A/ c
( I) L0 V/ H. P4 ?8 w" q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)。 . k k0 G5 t: b1 T; q! x