本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' {6 A3 T- H7 i% p+ \9 w3 P/ ]: q$ \- R4 B3 m j 转帖 2 w8 s1 V: y& M1. 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) ! \; J" h4 B3 u: w' P9 B " X8 d3 i- E9 L- u6 g" r( U7 E例如： + ?3 o5 ^2 \+ L! x {. L % k5 G; D( W2 A4 U6 V' uMany 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) . _1 u) U3 w% d) C" \- U2 n6 @- {3 }4 x) B6 l1 H) ?
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。) 6 o) c4 A+ k. ?5 Z6 z/ Z) j) P8 `. K N3 ]
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) ! M& X# M+ m n4 f/ a5 b9 W) i$ 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？): [0 i3 P# L% i" X
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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。)) d6 h: Z* {9 J, n/ b+ v/ R
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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)! u; r3 q8 v0 i+ i& F
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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！） * V2 R& C" u" y3 r2 B9 E# V t; [# _& X% r1 j1 [* k, G' p% b1 e
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)1 m) C P) W' F2 _3 ^1 _. f6 C# l
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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。) + X% c8 e# j/ k. n ' ?! v, S% t2 b' S c$ {% Y1 {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？） % Y! w) R/ L* h7 A$ g) H& @" x# P
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！ # z1 R$ P' V0 b2 A/ l' D7 q+ c# }& v. {: C8 t
9 v: E( A+ i4 C% B4 l: R! r 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。 5 w; j- x) Q: ], x G6 ^) L5 N. l7 @8 @& c
例如： 9 b7 L. f' r$ j* o- j/ I/ o % A1 Z! e9 q% h6 B: X$ GAt 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. w7 T% g% ]& T2 G) U/ G) A& Y4 R- H5 `
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） + g: I% K4 C9 Y, i; s% y1 x! Z9 k o% O# K, d
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)% `- G- O* u6 Y& I2 i
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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） * j( _, _8 \% Z r 2 j7 W- J; ^3 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）& W8 H9 K3 @. X4 a8 D. u, R 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) - d; P" s: V/ `4 @( O0 L& v/ `9 y' V( ^( O
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : Z1 ]2 e0 W2 R' C. c6 S# s% I0 c; P% J% u- g. x
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：; A- l( a& j/ Y
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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。） 1 W8 m! k/ O2 Y8 D9 u2 ]; e3 q$ a5 [( \3 B/ k _5 v# j2 `
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.）5 s3 e" h( Y+ _ F% W0 r% C( L7 ~( e
9 ?2 c; [. b. D- THe 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。） 5 N0 U& o6 d( |* H8 v( Q2 G0 i; D$ J2 x3 F) x* \2 }' }3 ?
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）( p7 E8 \5 Z& o3 N
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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） 6 m7 H2 c6 r" \1 o, K3 \$ I) X+ U7 ~( L
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)& H* r4 b0 T+ W7 C: I- l
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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.）/ D! L2 s. c) L% M/ x1 O
; m$ {/ F4 I; C( i# }/ P7 r此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 # a" l6 u2 e& V5 w: E- V$ ^+ A
3 ]- w4 p) u% \) L5 ]0 ^7 W3.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」。 9 y, X _8 Q5 R" R, P* ? ! |8 }4 E- B% a7 ^- _例如：5 q1 F' p7 M/ ?7 U: ^5 w3 \/ d! d: d7 K
" b9 A1 ?! ?2 V; o5 g5 UMankind 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）0 F- l5 \8 h# d; z, @$ i
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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） 0 {2 X2 v6 V+ X4 {1 V* c1 m L' B& x! ~" _0 EThis 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）3 J# @) f" z% r5 g. H
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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。)# F1 `6 P- r/ v+ |" L1 P
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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。)8 I! b0 y0 C& ], o( T
! I, g- |& P7 N) j* V; d- J6 gPolicemen (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）0 y Z+ M; A' b4 v4 n! c# W8 ^% q
4 O, ?, F% @; E/ R5 z/ k: aCongressmen (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）7 T1 x3 l3 E y2 M3 K
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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。） & _: b8 S4 v; j/ B, D- N - g9 C8 i. d" Z q" i2 K/ W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。 Z( j3 N- R9 t# e, q6 V" w
! |0 Y' f) O/ e. Z( @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）。 7 n# J! A* A5 V1 P
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
