本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! {( p7 V- s! E% t5 B2 n7 U) e( I# Z4 a; S7 |% ? b7 M 转帖 2 |6 M( l8 S$ W4 E+ R' A( b) ]8 y1. 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)$ B* g) G( k" {6 Y( d( S4 M. i
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! v \9 g. c Y% h& ^. _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) / `! X' S; R i9 X5 [- g & l4 f$ q& r9 [" J1 i9 h$ A8 i% LThree 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 r! d/ X' H% G & I; e$ L0 h6 C3 KThis 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): m# Y) c2 A* r0 N7 m
4 C( Z5 D1 {( e' k; k: `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?)% l# o" |" G. p8 ^( e
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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。) 1 |) X+ ?6 O: k: r8 C3 f& q; v8 q$ t8 Z
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)1 ?! N4 r4 t! r- l$ _: O
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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!): \0 e$ {! [ h2 `( F8 Z, ]
' D$ b) c, T6 [7 u: b, ?; a& tThe 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): m A' ], u e% ~
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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。)& h4 o. j' f6 Q7 i4 u
5 f* p/ T% t" h4 P+ E* k2 F, Q0 PPlease 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?): P2 W7 `2 ~! H j4 q
g( F2 X2 N6 H9 L8 A0 x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!" v; `& p2 c% e# c4 ]4 h! [+ N
( g1 S2 b1 }- s& z5 V' L , N& G L! g" Y$ x4 C2. 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。+ f( ^6 d, O: T7 ~
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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)! X9 a7 n e5 ~! I
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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) ( o, m# S" G* t: x# F) P. K- Y/ s
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)/ o: @1 G6 \+ K f3 E
+ d4 ~" K9 x- Y$ vHe 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) ; d& I; X; D8 z% s: _ 9 v4 P: `1 v( w7 mIn 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)9 Y: F/ t% C5 `3 B5 M; o9 p, Q v
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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)7 S, h. d c6 b6 l
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)" N7 ^. S" n' y- Z& l D
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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: 9 M. B& C6 E8 e; z I1 |) ~8 y; Q n' f' b1 p9 \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。) 6 o9 _) p7 X" L/ p- Q V9 W [1 ?1 E5 `
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.)$ @" k# Q+ G$ z& F3 D" N- m
- a. }0 a3 c, {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。) + I1 L \/ ^+ c. N: c- o" n& X" q" A2 B! v Y* N
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)% s( u- ]" P7 l3 v3 V
- e0 ?- ^/ j+ s. y5 Q& [! f1 |1 SWe 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) & D4 m( K8 z- a% y$ x: f! c4 ^ ( _9 `4 P9 m% yEnclosed (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 }/ j% @7 L9 _7 ?. _ 9 q: e5 H) x/ t0 U/ U. A2 I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.). m. d& Z2 ]+ I
0 R, x G( ?! j" j2 v此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。% o2 [6 ~1 C; s0 \( W* _4 z$ m
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7 z: P2 H% K! @& _, l 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」。 % l1 w" O7 O; J8 A/ W0 @: `, [- V$ d* Y5 y* e" z/ C
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" j9 e% r4 q2 J' h* T6 ~$ \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) 7 t3 U3 t" ~: A7 t2 I2 ]+ I, l" F6 O* l G3 g! b6 @0 K
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( l# \& g. a; y% c4 x$ U
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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)1 l' I$ j: O; _( D- y; A
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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。) " k$ v5 v3 V9 r0 C+ y: X; v; Q- Z, g4 P! O$ g1 q- S
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。)5 D) r9 m7 F' q1 o
# ^: q! S+ |) `4 S) oPolicemen (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 _# p5 K: X' W4 p7 V . X" X, x+ A- qCongressmen (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)) `4 k+ X- a1 r( V
" F/ ]2 u* N9 g" e5 ]6 HStewardesses 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。) ) T9 e& ^) e0 k7 D% ^0 z' h7 T) \# N
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。 1 S2 v* \* y" ?3 y2 n5 y % Q3 W6 g9 v* Q- ?, X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:6 X# L3 I: j# x" O