本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! y8 X7 l. K- s# {9 j: V P0 M
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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) . m4 O. ^+ o, A; w1 q3 u ! C7 M! R8 O' H1 w, A$ p5 _: R例如:6 D( M; F6 L6 M) W
* C5 K. ]& u9 [( ?0 X# U0 ?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 O3 {, ^& l) @+ T4 i/ l/ n! h( e
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。) , [, a- a2 Q( f1 ~4 ] M6 n/ o% M; Y) c* @
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) ! U( d, q, c: r" O - _* D3 ?8 d, o' j5 T0 c" ~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?) ) h: S; E+ ]- ~& _7 l2 O; f+ Y9 _9 F6 c7 N p 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。) ) I/ o% S; z) m3 P/ Q6 c$ { ' @) Q0 |% z, B: C* C9 ]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) & X& A( N0 o2 S! N a2 y4 n4 b; a1 K2 }0 O
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 F$ w6 p; Q9 k! U) w0 p6 L& o0 C 7 j. G- b1 i# `/ M6 a1 r D% DThe 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); c: ~# m3 [1 N! ~" w
8 y5 m/ w4 `, u/ X# bWe 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。)( m4 M4 f7 X) Z: e
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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?), m. i( u$ t% e, h7 o& [3 O6 U
5 l: C ~2 L) U% b7 C7 _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!$ m2 K4 q- B0 o* _# J
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/ n' |6 I* H- S; P% W3 G$ T2. 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。6 Y2 l z3 R& D' L, w: p# ]3 _. \4 R
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例如: ( @2 v- X/ r" h: m5 j$ ]- H1 Q- _' [! r3 i
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) / C H3 |7 w9 M- s% v1 U, ?" [# A8 d N$ z! O! q" F7 HDespite 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 @* o' S+ k3 y9 c3 ` # h" G' \/ D v8 h2 bI 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)- e2 A! b( a# ~1 E1 i8 | t/ [
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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) W3 {' _* f$ k) d2 Q& t
* z; C, S- x! [0 w3 rIn 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) - q/ \, L9 Y7 M) W h7 U' T * b4 z* @5 ~; b" A |3 W7 H# xShe 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)* h" X, X+ m- c0 |( N1 l0 n2 k
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) l8 X5 z5 Z/ J ; j& d2 ?/ ~, F5 I# z R8 W) _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:& T+ @/ N @: M
+ b3 X- Z R- KThe 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。)8 M6 b2 i/ h z. m3 H
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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.) & X ]1 y9 Q( W0 m$ E% V! X' A- o1 {1 Q' s
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。)) Q9 C* ~) c* y6 g9 I' B3 {, \4 Z
# y. O$ r0 w+ t2 P) w8 S. wHe 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)' A* X7 a+ u2 Q( F4 L: b
$ w, ?4 ~* Z. S0 fWe 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) " h3 _$ ? e Z8 v0 ` Z- |% I, S( H P7 @# X& n' ]
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). {, e6 i* `# L5 ^$ C% i
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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.) , {0 y! J; U% B0 v. j7 m. _ ( S5 D: _$ S8 ^9 u/ D. K* J/ u ?此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。4 b! ^& D- B4 ?) m2 s
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" X1 t5 Q3 n$ _* A+ g0 `) d; g3.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」。 3 f* \" G( z, Q+ I! j( |: n- Y2 {5 r4 e# E/ Q
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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)" m6 I8 M. R, X$ q7 L# h, p
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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) ) @- Y* O: O U) ?. z. z% A. Q7 ]: J/ z9 i0 \+ 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)# ?& u/ Y* u# [6 X4 O+ h" f9 E
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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 K" @# O. Z# P4 g2 I1 t: X& H
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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。), v. ^! a0 n" l: `* X- x6 \9 W
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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): d- Y: q% j+ N, {6 S9 L8 Q; u
# p; n: R( A6 |7 y. z0 b) C+ l! P6 j) YCongressmen (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)5 h# E* g r1 ^! 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。) $ [& C; n) O3 \1 K' s5 F1 ^ / p! ~' L' k u9 V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。 ` ~6 G% Q. t0 X
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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 \ L& M0 j" u% r. S2 s