本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 Z) z: o6 H* w# {- 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) 6 [/ K5 ] i$ G8 Q' } S# V7 c5 k3 Q! l
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" D+ _, k" R3 sMany 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) 3 ^9 X9 c s* l # v0 ~4 T0 }: F: 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。)( f# p- ^. \3 h' z2 E- T
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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)- K! p+ M# T( l5 |/ U6 V
J6 H I" n) Q0 z3 p1 CThe 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?)& A$ f9 W" I" `) a" Q
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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。) / {' @- c+ z$ c, A4 _ ) g" B5 L; g0 k- Q |+ O0 pMr. 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 v, D/ o W3 N) J
7 V' o+ r8 G F) z' AWe 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!)5 k/ D1 L [. X$ ^. m1 q Z4 w8 e% R- g; Y
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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)9 L: b E5 F' c- Y( d6 c* W) `
1 v* h2 S8 B: T) V* x1 v$ NWe 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。) ! ]( E! L' u/ V9 y , S4 Y% N% E ~8 r* yPlease 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?) . [, c* ^ T% g7 y$ L0 D' k+ [. {) u, M" G: i) y5 u
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 y$ w& y: ~9 S P+ o & w+ p- k( U5 g 3 \( _4 t! G9 j$ m* Z" Z5 h2. 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。 " H l9 p9 a9 `8 M* {% b u5 Q. I* m6 K
例如: ) U X2 U* F; x0 T7 a6 M ( R9 {. z& n. \# z. V( Z" 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)! M4 ]1 P. B: K7 ?. s4 a
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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) ; P: Y# ]( t2 w/ ^7 d$ o9 l- } H$ s$ |& z
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) 7 t. s! O* s/ w; g7 P 0 f6 a% z; Q: BHe 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)" k# f: c' q [; v
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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). y! m1 I( a; I+ c$ u( c
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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) + U2 \4 I7 ?+ z' V; w8 q/ V# C% f: Q5 h
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 A/ H( W9 w" m9 z1 t7 P% M+ z: F8 y. m! c% S# M) y
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:* }+ H0 p4 {, X2 V0 Z( T! j1 n" L
* ?& {7 j/ a z; Z: r" l, qThe 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。)$ }# M y3 E9 f' _& P3 ~! V! J5 V
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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.)' G' f0 ?0 ?8 w2 r
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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。) $ }* v4 i1 V% f. o! f `: ~. T- I7 c( o. 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) - G# M2 h( i' {9 E. H, ~1 s; ? , ] Y! `; h2 O! t6 f9 O8 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) 0 ?7 o3 J) X1 l" a . l( Z) E# q7 x5 D/ PEnclosed (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) 7 k- c6 F+ z4 r! v; o3 Z$ T7 T( `$ E/ F0 E+ c0 U% Z1 ^* ]
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.) 2 U6 m! \3 y5 h8 I7 y1 z3 R" S5 I" W0 R# Z8 X9 p9 @3 N$ B
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" X$ \9 P* H0 N9 g
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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)1 Y* u) A5 l* B8 e# d9 }# K
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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) / N( e" d x- V2 x0 D# S6 ^/ w. v ! G& S! B ~# ~4 Z3 j- D3 iThis 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)( }8 R r$ y. l( S. Q# `
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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。)1 O4 E6 b n+ R1 p( L' p9 I
8 [ g7 x' x3 T6 u L" wMany 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。)9 w3 I% k. x8 O; z$ x( i' m7 e
3 z% X) L" H) k+ U' aPolicemen (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) & Q7 E1 d5 C- \( ] , N8 r* o/ |! u) OCongressmen (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)' t* p7 t9 k% V$ b
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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。) + c7 s0 G& W" x4 V/ L, ?8 V l6 M3 ?0 S
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。 % g3 W$ k3 I% k! |' f; Q0 m" }! H9 m) I4 W; W9 @; j6 a
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: 1 A2 w3 j% `. {5 J2 \2 J, L- L% [" ~) S9 C' o
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;+ |; j7 N3 t4 [* n6 a
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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; 5 x1 V ^; N( n/ W$ Z$ j - g& r# U# o+ O对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , n; h8 [" R& j 4 B+ P$ x, l/ I6 U/ O' T C( P对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; / c" a0 S/ b4 V/ o/ M2 z+ D' L: K% y* B- M! ?; J$ V
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: & J8 G; Y; M8 |, K/ O) `8 X& d' Z; U* q6 _* _
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)。$ w) j m) t1 `8 s0 Z; ^! l* b
6 B$ x+ D6 |: h2 q0 Z4 U4 [7 T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)。 N/ X0 z% a( b! d% W