本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 G# g$ U4 v; ?
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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) ) j1 ]7 z' X" X+ f5 g2 g) Y 7 s6 ~6 K r& s例如: `- k C! ?# j2 p. s. R; y: ]/ x; h( ^3 z
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): c4 `+ }, B! O1 s5 Y
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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。). Y; T* h& Z9 _: R0 c h$ r/ }' `
# u( ~# ~3 B1 W' z, ^7 Y4 hThis 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) - C; `: p8 g9 Y5 a* m , j$ y3 r# b+ {8 C+ 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?) 1 E* R5 j' E4 ~: V8 W* T; q - w% h1 ?6 J# i9 E5 ^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。)2 P8 X; |7 Q, o; S7 Z5 l" r
# J0 }$ p, |0 \" AMr. 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) 2 K; a9 c+ w# y6 a- S5 Z9 V5 ]- r) f
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!) g, H& b% s3 R) G5 L' P
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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) " J) T1 F! `3 p# q O _& N. U2 U8 V# c1 C7 a c! Q* e
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。); K a0 `6 y% Z6 Y t9 ?
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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?) , q3 }7 |2 s: o3 A- e. F4 _ 6 ~5 c/ G9 ?0 u. T) ^) y X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! 4 z. {/ \$ r3 X( l " G Z9 y8 e. a; B( { 0 `) C% O% \5 h7 Q2. 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。 ) w7 J2 K8 n) X1 T $ Q3 |3 _% p O& K$ ~7 t: ^例如: 2 I r" I' L) J. @* z& V 5 @5 ^. S# X" Z o; zAt 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) . m( Q2 K" k7 H _" q/ _4 Z9 }1 P! ^9 \ H4 @
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) $ O' T/ W6 k3 T* i+ e, _! M- }4 c
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): T8 f8 _# l5 f M
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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); D8 i1 Y! K( D6 Q- K
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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 t7 d% A! m% N/ S 0 W/ J( c6 p$ J" BShe 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) ! l- l* ` N5 V0 z9 c; O& _9 T! H- L: i. L4 ?
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : j. l. y5 J+ Z5 E: g. S 3 K$ b) U# v$ x# s6 I6 _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: 4 d1 b( u7 m& q0 J; w 3 S! E( k r# E* @3 N% x' wThe 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。) k& d. c# H9 E. w* G
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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.) p1 `4 e f; w$ |2 J2 x( g: C( h& x' G. }8 s& n; P1 ^, q# x
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。)8 e1 x/ X5 r9 u& Y- `& `8 `3 p2 h0 Q
5 j0 s# n- V% ~1 x }* J* jHe 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) . K+ n2 K# W# K& B7 H : [2 n; B6 i: N) B9 H4 Y6 g& ~+ Y( YWe 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)7 p/ o/ |$ p' W ]4 q* O
8 c5 X: w7 B7 T0 w# KEnclosed (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) % P# m# z0 f% w9 {$ u$ C 1 w* d. \, h- B# @4 s! ^5 Y/ q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.); ]% E6 Y8 F r; b4 c
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 + A0 B/ n- k I& B8 S8 W$ }3 e( A j, P C0 g. O
7 A( z% w: q a6 ?* @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」。 8 H# J) q( B8 l 9 D' D: F b3 ^. M1 O. x8 z例如:5 R- d2 L; O, c( ^4 Y' ~( R
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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) : J- w/ q+ u i, t$ D" t+ r9 L1 h% s& R8 q& X5 X! a2 ?4 _
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) , `7 l5 r! Q+ H* ^. I/ c : E+ B: `' \8 `1 H2 Y+ yThis 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) ; Z; X8 z" O7 S1 G8 W1 { 9 b5 j3 _% ]2 s! jHe (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。)) G7 u/ B& H; G
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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 y* a8 h9 e0 g& x' L' o) m
$ _9 M8 E. w- }1 a5 ]. L8 JPolicemen (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) / }* a5 I, ^7 }* V6 ?4 T Y+ y( C
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)- W: S* v" J( }6 p7 N- q
) F5 Q/ m( h* x) b' [ E. c! \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。)) R: T1 _6 o* ^: {8 W# \( C
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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。3 J# r$ z: s/ N+ {2 ~
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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:6 L% Z* a& }, X- j @+ i
4 V- C% ?6 R' i9 d$ v/ r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; 2 x) F+ P b% R1 b8 ?. ?3 x) Y g0 J4 T1 o+ u
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;3 n) }: N' ^+ M
l6 i: ?: F# f: 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)。: Z. m1 r6 H% c+ l