本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 X9 S9 j `7 V & D( S5 Z" r8 L% @3 Z转帖4 p C% d& K6 H
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)3 [- z2 v- C1 q
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4 ]! _# z! P* bMany 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) : H6 `: F# w; m3 ~ h( ~- H+ I! m : E; d6 Q( s" o. @+ O( g* Y4 gThree 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。) + K9 u9 F3 j; H. b9 [3 p: D ! s- Q0 C+ t* Q" w6 qThis 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)8 q& L) |/ A! r- h; v% \
" I6 Y) ?- f1 b2 d6 IThe 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?) 7 S# ^2 U: A$ a P$ `& o2 d. G" \. k3 E+ }% C: Z' x: n! A8 \
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。) . D1 |9 {- W4 z8 Z- |9 R- U, ~. V
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) ) }* v) t! i& q& k: B# o4 v % e/ H3 Z4 H# B: N( s7 e7 |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!) ! @, [7 P' m; O9 a( v6 Y: G : i T: c3 z+ hThe 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)8 O+ {1 ]9 n! v& w7 \# @
* C$ w) Z+ o5 u$ T: k. cWe 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。) ; ?" y* e) _! M " M/ e- g \: t$ }7 k* p# ~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?) ! B5 t0 p& O. _ 9 \* c) e4 b$ z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! , g: O9 U7 {- ], p 6 g2 l8 e4 Z& C. O( ?1 [ / p. ?3 S9 o- n. B+ T1 L+ N! E) J6 i, [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。3 t/ q7 g8 e5 f0 X! G- X
4 s ~6 \9 I5 e) W; O: y$ H例如: ; J( S1 d Q1 b) ]: C# T/ J ! A2 E3 ~% p) f. w/ x! U. ~- o2 wAt 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)! Q1 j0 G, r* t* N- n
9 c$ N/ j9 T# X, k: @" a& rDespite 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)% A$ J @% s% S" F2 T0 H
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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)2 H& K6 G6 D+ K6 u5 ?8 _/ h
8 v( @* a: o: Z4 |, QHe 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) & @9 j$ K1 M8 @: a* u" `/ }0 H # `; J2 m+ k3 Q9 i& eIn 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), ~: U: \0 ~. @
) u0 _3 W5 e$ I; o0 w( lShe 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) ( Y/ U! `* r' ]5 R; W7 | % C# G& V$ Q9 cI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生); Q m; B4 `4 q3 R
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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:3 s% D( u8 V" D' c
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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。)4 A9 d U# ^$ \2 }! ~
% ]# `. V+ H& _+ h* j% ]1 `! tThe 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.), Y3 G( A6 F8 ?; ~/ @
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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。)9 ~+ y' @; Q& g, X, K
1 H- b7 U2 F4 [7 p; vHe 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) - A& r: c! K- ^2 s: z: X& Q" k ! V3 L6 L# M5 l! u) L2 ^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), b9 I# p' P, g% y, s! d
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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)( N8 |* |' s0 K3 [7 C
8 `. j" h. m% N( P* u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.)# {! e9 _) \4 o+ Y& s
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 8 W v) i q3 u5 E0 O3 M2 p. N9 t5 R; I
3 e* i U- ^* G' D% T0 b* t+ Y; y1 y 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」。' C$ e0 }$ D5 V) n$ z! n3 l
( E" ]5 Y, ]3 |! B' e例如: 5 z n" o1 K% l8 H1 a% d" ]( F- D# ~8 S: J8 W
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)' P+ x+ L$ P3 M& ~1 g: H
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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) 3 G6 I0 M/ j0 H " h! V1 ]7 n9 }8 ^+ [6 CThis 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) ! x0 f+ \/ l8 I- Y# H- H ! L3 _* d; S, Y2 v: xHe (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。)$ i' Z; S$ R% B) t4 x0 s
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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。) 0 x' x0 c8 F/ R: a/ i: ?' A0 P- b4 d
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) ( M9 T( F4 S' f. x0 C2 e' C4 _+ W' v8 d* b0 n i; v4 |
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) % E4 [9 g* I4 U5 I( Z2 m: H+ p. o' b* K0 X
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。) 0 M9 @+ o+ o1 r4 a$ y " \! }- Q9 V3 T4 H' z9 ] u+ ]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。; l9 ]; \/ N7 d! R6 F
* |* S" ?1 T7 [ j, g' k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:, W& t4 B+ E+ S# K4 T: P
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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;0 U' C e3 T5 F4 f; e, |+ R$ v+ O