本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 L/ A6 _; B. `6 U; u8 X1 s- j. _4 ? 转帖 f6 Z' g9 F- w& s- }$ E' x1. 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) / e8 I- h o; J ) L; x. v& z+ L9 i1 ?例如: 0 @6 ?5 J& t1 |/ } " h; }4 e* V) k, m- 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) & D' s- a$ }. a+ L( c ` i3 a/ k! ?5 PThree 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。) ! G6 ^& G1 m% e4 V l 2 l$ R2 J* F. W! v3 e7 YThis 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)" s! b; i7 W- j" j+ @2 G
* Z0 J5 R1 d+ k8 N+ ]" qThe 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?)( M' P A1 u& c; g5 s) [& p
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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。): m E4 O' L& ^
1 ~) _ R _5 U! Y' B" X, ^8 \/ T3 lMr. 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) ( d' G4 R- t9 \$ V. w8 E) |9 e( N y* h! X2 H/ o" {
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!)% P% l+ p% r& U" @. ^
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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) E* e6 H6 c9 x7 ]4 V/ o3 [ r # Q+ M9 n ^- M5 u% oWe 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。) 6 R8 B& ]& V3 h% E* {1 U+ P, U: M3 I" A+ ^* P2 V
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?) 4 P x: }7 T9 x% H* o# ~3 H: L6 U7 K# m) [
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!1 f0 ^, @6 U; C
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# C3 ]/ c9 y8 p4 x' \. Q+ Z 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。1 ?. p7 C! F5 B1 ]
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例如: 3 p) T @' F- e 0 N) s3 W; n7 D9 [5 n% k4 qAt 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)& V r( S7 ?( h6 }! g& u, q
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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)1 G5 |9 _4 Q" M
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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) $ g( V d8 S. I& c( S 9 S+ I* Y3 p: q, G# _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)9 H3 u0 o% |% S9 G/ p% x6 f
3 W+ g. Y: f: q0 [! `7 d3 QIn 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)+ ?- O; R' u1 z' G% R. q
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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)+ n/ g" y8 G8 J. X6 n. i
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 M# I2 V# [5 c" Z8 R
" {4 \ M" h3 S3 V# K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: 9 K& t4 F* l: ~, u; {1 h! ?& _* r3 U, F- Z8 W2 h1 k% m& n
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 c3 N2 }2 j9 o- b: V* w& j1 C' |3 P$ F
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.)4 ^8 R$ M2 ^! u, \& u( w3 ^
2 y: z1 W5 A( L6 w- Q9 _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。) " ]" p+ g9 ~; v$ i( ?& c/ B 1 A8 N# q) A3 s$ FHe 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)- X" P. }# @- a; W
+ ^2 V, T/ F0 z6 SWe 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) ) y. g: E: ?# _" [/ U1 e$ J! x {4 _
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)7 q* ?6 t. V! o f# g p
+ @% a# k9 j* q4 ~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.)$ ~; Q C6 ~3 ~) R9 H! k5 h: t7 t
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ |$ w/ A. e) M. Y/ p
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B- ]! w) _, d& p+ 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」。 1 T, ]$ H' S7 s A, C4 V0 y7 y" I" z. _0 G& F/ B
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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) 2 }6 S. J4 `, S+ u3 |2 Q7 |% s& B
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) * v2 z; C% d6 F! R+ W' b6 p t9 z9 O9 v9 b( _ w) q
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)& k" S1 s! p' t
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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。) - n, q* X! Y) N. P. c& w1 u/ J. G8 w& D" _8 m
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。) 6 b$ f% g4 d0 N% S" R * s7 D4 @; H8 Q; }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) % u$ A& O: O* a& }$ f* i9 n5 H; \3 a $ j! s" R9 {) C8 R) CCongressmen (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) 1 [4 p" c$ T% W2 C+ Z" |5 m/ {) r$ b" d
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。) * \: ]2 S, D$ _0 o& f4 D# P" \9 ?7 R- C! N8 ^
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。/ i. j) N$ v* f
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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:7 q6 b4 i( K8 r
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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;7 R* V4 P1 L% T4 Z+ F* U( A