本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) g/ ~% G* @/ P& J, b2 s! X1 }( G" Y/ S [7 I, R 转帖/ s& s. x( K$ q
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)* P: m- P% i1 n) q' ~
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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) % o- ]% j) G4 f: F0 N s/ D - B# s% b& I2 T. {4 j( X3 K7 YThree 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。)7 H( ]& Q6 L. S- Q, n" ~
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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) $ L7 c. D9 A2 `/ D" X# H J, e$ g % R* {: u' m& V: V* mThe 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?)/ o6 S* O- {2 _6 h
5 X+ N, K) h# w8 T9 b$ dI 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。)9 x* D" \+ k6 \8 H$ _" `- Y
- M& L. N1 F7 Z/ H& E% |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)% y. Q$ C# S" ]) k, r) p7 W
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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!)* x+ {2 O3 z! f, T1 \
& }) }# Q' b) n) \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) 4 q1 H5 b# D6 x0 d4 w 0 A% z7 X+ v& K) a# K! y3 {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。)! i" ]& M9 i( 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?) " a9 h$ o) H3 ~( i/ s; Y4 h: v) M. B$ Z0 M* M1 B- F7 e
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! # ], x3 h# w" z5 w+ j 2 z8 f0 k- c0 l& l' h, k+ `. \% o+ _ 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。$ C3 r/ s. v' a$ r, s
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例如: / b; z2 ]7 u2 g- k# k* m! M3 q4 V8 U, e( M+ a, y
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)8 a7 z* K; N# y$ S# H
. _: P: o* s' w" sDespite 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). U/ e( _. w2 U. w W
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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) + i! G; @7 k. H; q q6 o2 x7 Q) {- J9 V, r0 W' |
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); C: ]0 G+ b0 ^1 v$ H# M$ l0 w4 f
7 C! w) {+ f3 ]. \& n9 D* B$ x/ _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) # {' c6 N0 \0 W$ Q5 p2 T " v4 X9 P+ b8 F7 n8 CShe 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) / r+ W4 w. t% n0 B$ g: t ) d% j% Y6 X& Y+ c& YI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' b* O! R; G" s* C1 g
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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: ' L2 v2 W& z9 c! q 5 E7 w* W+ L7 F8 ^- l+ x' oThe 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。)+ j z1 J% ~; H# u g8 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.)9 ^4 {- x% \3 M8 i! q
" e# \- K6 Q+ b; R. f# @" IHe 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。)8 _( L* l; Y6 s" E0 d8 M/ b
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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)2 z* ^( \8 S8 _3 X* d1 U- }% }% ?
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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) 4 U) v% |& ?6 F( A' C' n 5 o3 f, O4 e( Q# v$ K" V- c9 W+ r# WEnclosed (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 B) Y# B2 a! u. E& h
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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.)5 W4 r' }8 u2 W# l# w+ c
# n3 a3 a( j4 Q此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 K. o4 l; J& P( s: l+ s \ 7 c$ w; J2 I7 K0 a. v1 ^' u' v 9 {2 c+ J' R0 x. A3 w0 h3.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」。 % e: L0 ]& D9 \, J( m& H' o& S8 L * W/ Z1 s) s6 x. w* z7 o2 W例如: 6 K G1 Y/ C, Z f( W0 K @ 7 Q" Q4 p0 n) ?2 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) ) @+ [5 d6 ~% S0 g+ R( s: H. A: R- O |, K9 @) D v) ?7 I
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) ( L5 {* X& }7 h+ C+ H( S- X6 L* k4 Q- o
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)5 l+ o6 K" S5 J
8 j3 J/ `/ M4 N6 k' D1 P" J8 dHe (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。) : Y; N1 I4 g+ t ) T9 _1 T$ y: k7 a; B" ^: A, {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。)8 T! \$ z3 e2 [% X' }, y2 |
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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)6 p7 X* u* j3 {4 N' t
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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)6 ^; s0 `, ^! d& m: D! \6 G
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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。) 5 x( e. _! w5 o2 p& z$ R # P/ T$ k# T# b9 K2 p5 r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。7 C0 k) s) D, g) f. r) A: N
) H8 `# j' A9 j8 J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:) C- q- y* [) a
, e+ c/ ^; H/ E- j/ c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;! m6 j$ \: K. Z# W5 B! w3 S
- Q3 q( h% o! P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;1 }. }# q2 m- e! i( C
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% f6 v2 a1 N `" U, B
1 Q. o% R3 r7 G" A; Q对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; $ h9 E0 q8 |) F v; W, P d) g: f* |# {8 K% W2 n# `4 q2 L
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:8 s0 l7 ^5 P/ Z! _
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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 u' _$ @3 H5 G0 g* n& @1 j# k$ ^, `8 a
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+ k: H- A/ T7 R