本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # S, _# N" ?7 [# `6 v8 X
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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) - Q1 R; _4 Q8 Q; Z3 L# a7 c 2 |# T8 {0 j, \' v E+ }例如:1 n g4 s! N( w: }: F
- a# J" ?. \6 R8 U3 l; |. gMany 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) ) b% z0 c1 x% _% O; l# k" W. I) d) N. h6 r" i
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。)( W J( Y$ T" ?) S; }, S/ ~
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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) 6 ~& [$ i& ]$ h3 e2 r) r) W$ f( ^0 T& E+ P% ?3 v- N
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?)1 a$ h% J8 @1 K+ B5 C8 S
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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。); V# s+ l9 N4 w
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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) 4 p F4 l2 U, y! y$ `6 B0 X( E * B2 S6 v& c0 P$ Y7 KWe 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!) - e( x. M& C+ }, R 6 G6 ]+ I. G5 B! @% B3 m) }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) s- f- O: f3 C7 @
1 n0 p% S( p+ k" oWe 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。)* [; Z5 h; `1 \/ @
0 b' D; f7 d; i; t( ePlease 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?) 9 x }2 y2 l( L2 e+ g% O ) v% e& U5 }! ~0 T' e3 v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!8 y% f- d4 y' F. z, a7 c" l% ~) y' K
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$ b) x* v v/ }$ Y+ i% v 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。 7 j0 k2 u1 G3 H& U - S6 c( \* `' s3 Y7 X6 I/ `例如: 5 {. k& n0 Y5 W1 @ 7 u# ^# }' p9 K' \ kAt 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) ' ~. P) k' w. k2 |2 w3 r7 M4 l {* h4 \8 u. a( H1 y
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) ; |$ I, ?: p/ _6 L4 R2 T6 { 6 K1 g0 M2 J- z+ e' K; p2 y, {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) 6 W8 E( B8 l" Z" M( j* \ , ^% J; B: n. r, D+ FHe 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): C: A8 D3 a9 l' f! T
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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)4 Z* D: W0 H- k( ^' F3 Z
/ R$ O/ }, I+ i# dShe 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) : ]* P! M4 S& O0 s4 g' I* I( B- z0 i; h6 j
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 M; m& o# w7 a' q/ K. O) K3 Y
. m$ `0 s- t2 d0 {, {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:% b! J/ U$ z7 \
( {3 p. G: C1 A. T W( XThe 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。)" _1 s( Q' s) P% ]0 y5 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.), C" ~- Q" C- @3 J) R9 x" P4 H5 L
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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. p0 p9 w5 j
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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) q! r5 O5 S# E: h# | 9 W0 o- u* o+ _4 w4 B0 B7 RWe 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) 4 ?7 [0 m6 a5 P6 f/ H4 i. _ ; X9 ?* U5 ^2 }, K3 h2 @/ VEnclosed (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) / }4 Z4 O I5 G 7 K/ V) U6 g& }& U# H$ i' j, T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.) % C+ Q& [. F1 d" r" \7 q! y/ G : |- Y2 Z1 x% l( t3 Z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& E6 `4 D' r+ W, I8 f
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/ k$ h9 \- Y2 Z" _2 S 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」。+ o; J" C" v& e" o
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1 W) \; U( {4 F% A& w; gMankind 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) % h- a2 b( y7 K3 V9 C0 e 5 }. z8 [+ r( Q' HManpower 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)0 v6 }8 Q) V) W" E
3 z/ e# Y6 i% Z( \1 P! tThis 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)5 N" h3 A; Q7 f$ 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。) ! X9 W, k: a7 |4 i' U( e ' J0 U1 D3 v4 @( QMany 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。)$ p# u. M3 V7 l( W( F! |$ Q. b6 ^
- S% } l( z1 ^9 ]: PPolicemen (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) ' l, r* y: n- h$ _4 Q8 B0 g9 }" q3 T5 \. ]
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) $ i5 ^6 e- n: |' @9 A8 F; j: N6 J2 s0 M9 @) \; {( _3 |. G
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。) 9 t1 {# N- f: r& p% U+ t0 O 4 g k9 X r1 o& _: D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。 9 q" i" l& i8 V) X5 ?2 ]! ?3 q1 E6 J: V* d1 m F
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:$ h g) q v; w# x, M. G8 w- k
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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;+ j [$ E: A$ G! A/ M6 {8 ^) w. n
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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;- \$ M% l$ v, {$ d( C, M6 L6 Z5 b
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;2 W7 s% i# `" F. {! R8 h
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;7 B) v% ~9 Y. }7 K1 A& v
T2 c4 f; s% y* Y3 i$ x1 S6 o7 X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)。$ e1 s% d3 f6 |5 P2 Y" g