本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 g3 S0 t0 i3 k& c & Z5 Y( W. i8 a/ {$ e" r% N1 q转帖7 M; r, j s' |9 F
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) L* P" `# P, s+ z+ ^; G % z: Q7 `' m. d3 i) I" Q% C* t# x& x例如:! ^9 w0 h( C9 X \: m
% F) }! q* S3 w% ~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) 5 U/ Z* Z2 [! d4 q, |0 L$ E* b3 ~2 ]8 v" {
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。) ; a6 Z( X5 @/ C4 S4 L: I . O3 E0 t8 i a. ~+ D/ lThis 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) 6 |; K9 n, p9 _9 ]6 Z ) ]$ a. Q8 J/ k. b( ^* G! nThe 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?) 5 ~. L4 b6 ~) `+ o! D1 E+ O7 ` ! s" E* U9 {5 iI 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。)/ b$ V8 S6 m& R* q5 O" T }4 r# `/ i, y
3 Y" k0 i6 ]. ?# T% g: l" }( H) 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) 0 m. D5 @7 T, J5 v7 X% N& Z$ \8 g3 w3 z# r2 k. i' d: 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!)$ ^' M( A. A9 v1 k# d
* H- ~8 ^# i& n3 ^' a+ ?% q2 @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)0 T0 Q& i3 F, C- P! y9 s
( w; ]9 l2 K* s+ n8 b0 R
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。); H8 R9 m+ F: C: p3 _; u: ^; n2 V
2 F/ G$ c$ q' T2 E0 KPlease 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?) 3 h5 K* c/ `+ c8 x : G4 j# Z1 [* `. ]3 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! - j" S% V6 [- @% M( M0 `6 M2 C6 J/ }0 u2 P4 {
" u% V0 n8 {3 k; V1 ^: P2 v! }8 o2. 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。 ( c0 \: r' y6 w& T+ H( D/ v5 H$ M% F3 ]0 D% S% O9 i
例如:( m6 G$ ~& g2 z( G7 w) U' G
z( y! y2 Z9 s0 C
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) 9 l+ W) A$ K- m6 p' [& y/ V 6 S5 C$ A1 i2 Q$ y, } P9 C2 b- w# \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) , g5 L, Z, [% ?( G : e4 t0 `! |% ^+ i) {) _) K7 dI 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) 7 R% o1 G4 l" H4 m# e% J+ s & g; D& i% _3 ]8 y0 `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)+ O4 _, X* n1 h( v" T! m5 R
; ]* M3 ?0 h: W1 n5 p) H
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)% S/ f. S4 `/ O# [6 h( K: Z2 H
' v6 c# F6 }6 L/ |, C) E& AShe 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)0 W* V% y0 H. K4 L& M
- _; b8 n2 T( G3 q
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % {% V4 t; w! L" d) Y# v# {- {- |' ]8 ]' ^* Y& |
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:5 D/ F1 Q6 f- T2 l' m4 @4 t( l0 ]
% L% v: L5 U, k# G
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。) ; L* ]% M4 s. V5 G , Z1 L" V( _& J* s& _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.) 3 L: p( ^% w6 a$ L4 ? 1 |: v( P" L2 h' c# s/ DHe 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。)" e1 Z' e+ j1 i3 M- J5 e
) x0 [6 d0 a L! O5 z
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) : Y7 j ^3 S+ y: o/ N/ d$ P " n1 m0 g( _" xWe 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) % x! e8 P; j' U1 F 0 L9 u8 O0 E- y- a; r0 O. ^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) ' @! z# T3 F1 j- z+ M- R" q ( v0 \2 A- T5 r& j6 P. {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.)! y3 v- M3 Y* B- W1 j/ D) I
4 J" K: l& t6 _/ J) q# F, u
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 ?, r) e, l7 r) s0 g3 i8 ?* m1 b1 C4 M% \; L2 N0 m
; M! a) x, L* c7 z0 f% ] 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」。 5 E0 d" Y! ~, }" Y! [7 t * J( Q& l' n" |4 R5 d例如: 8 K+ b7 G8 c9 Q, Y" p8 a4 W & K* O6 P, a+ C8 KMankind 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)- z0 ?0 F$ l4 G: H
# L! i5 M- k7 ]- x& s+ `( 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)" {- c$ C9 f3 Q8 \ ]( ?/ p
6 N0 A, j" ~% V6 ~$ ]9 t
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) 0 M# M9 M! E+ J% f7 t1 P0 U5 I# S* c0 T" ^1 ~
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。)$ D6 k: l" o! [% C1 U5 x) d5 O# }
7 ?* e+ ~% @$ \; kMany 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。) ; Q$ ]7 B! c- W% Q) E" R% y * S* L. D$ K$ Q9 K9 kPolicemen (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) . j: G4 f) f( Q9 n; d4 u+ R1 v3 _' a# z. z6 r3 k9 j
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) * o0 {! o" i# h, m5 z9 y( a- n& K& i. J- u" n( 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。)3 B" F( {( R9 Z6 s1 ^
: c! k( y4 m& Q0 c9 j; x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。 2 p4 U( ^' x2 Y" l. ^+ o+ S# Q) }) z! Z" z: e
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:. d: [3 n9 k* O, S* K* Z" R
, p& x8 L7 O$ r- M1 F, r' f' }
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; ; A7 A' G8 L( d! o4 _0 Q, c) Q. a! |/ H- T) A
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;! T7 }8 Y0 H% _% m, Y% ~
$ z4 @4 @. k$ ~! _' Q! w3 x对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ y: S& z9 p a# w" N6 r) ? 1 |1 y8 Z$ \. \% C, ^. i1 Y3 t对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; i1 w- {. A5 D' u+ T( y( F- e / w2 Y8 ?# H6 W H6 ^5 ^8 i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:- d4 Z8 }! F, a5 g9 o
! |9 S# r, K. @: G6 |
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)。 " {( `! v; b) j( y$ X ! {- b1 C# o* h+ ]; r; V) x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)。+ l9 \ r9 |+ O6 t2 g) k8 P/ `