本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! P, L* J" |/ E' o6 T4 K' E% u, a' e" ~) P& V' c 转帖 " q( u* F- k8 N' q; c/ @0 S9 _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): I" E: W7 @1 g" F6 z
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6 B" H8 y5 \4 e* g$ LMany 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) ' X: ^$ b2 U) F2 P8 T 0 o% h1 u( V, {& \- k$ aThree 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。)3 {% h$ S; o: c% e/ M7 P! n$ M; r
, m2 d2 `$ t" F& EThis 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); k! B0 U3 Z# n% ~* Y
0 e) r, ] Z$ y5 o3 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?)' N: P- m( @- f3 f9 E
8 q% U1 B, ]4 r! F) nI 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。)& N) o" y4 e1 U7 q
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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) M. t9 ?/ S) m! b( [8 |+ i5 A5 `3 l$ c3 W, [, N) 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!): R+ I. a7 R6 o. S/ ~
' F) l7 Y. m: g6 G2 fWe 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。)2 d/ w8 b5 \4 T+ Q. D, u
+ O3 ^4 ^, h6 }4 w IPlease 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?)5 g! M4 B4 R; b: ?6 _
7 r: ^; r, N. \( [% y9 h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!2 d* H( {) H# F, ^3 t, i- M
: m, g; @5 S# k( j$ ]( \$ x1 [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) 3 M+ l( }* L4 {3 _9 ], z: |8 j+ X- p 3 `3 a. z6 ?' {9 ~ EDespite 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) 5 p8 C% K7 s& U% @ ; z9 V) a& ]* K* c, cI 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) ( f, [8 a( m# I* n% P Q5 [. a 7 @+ j) L* n, s5 ^, J# ~6 [& j1 XHe 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)# Q3 `! X8 c9 c8 W7 W" [! ~+ c' V
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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) l. p( I; E4 X' O0 Z/ {6 H
1 T* b1 e; |* Z4 \; b& 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) 8 d( C* M1 B0 @4 d " z0 P% E- A5 f# K, LI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # ]6 T: I0 ~8 c# l% K" V$ M 1 P M! F9 h$ s# u! M R, @! w2 M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:( X1 i2 v/ F5 N, V- ?! J! e' q. ^4 @
* m' [' f9 {2 S3 z6 a2 mThe 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。)6 P/ f: m- S6 W0 r
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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.)- G* [9 I! r. X$ ]) [
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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。) % I) g+ V1 Z- \0 F2 }. a5 } K) v, @7 i( i+ t
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)0 d- _5 e# M" @( O: h: m
5 @; o& N6 J& H' f5 O; R% @0 }, DWe 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) # S! M* H0 v2 I6 I7 e1 `7 X, l/ e* w: G s3 V& G% e
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) * Q ] R w" M! R6 t0 U / w9 G6 _( ~3 h' X2 }: a/ e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.) 1 }4 g" E& X* v$ S1 u* ?6 L: m8 H0 b7 p2 T; Z' l; |
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 C8 G& F$ ^. q( z. m) ^. d5 L0 P$ o3 _* x* z! E2 K5 F
* S; {( e M+ G3 N ]- G 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」。 & g! o* h# ]5 K2 ~ ( G' o4 d1 W* X6 J1 R例如:7 h7 {7 u* @, e$ @1 K* f$ p
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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) ' d; ]+ k% u7 D) t 3 R% q- v" ^/ t* l2 U; m" Q; ZManpower 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)' s7 Q/ E8 ^% ~2 O, |* ~- B) D# v
" v: ^( N g! m) }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 O% }5 f- V/ l6 O }/ a) o) m- [
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。)" Y1 e* V: a+ K6 X. i$ y; y
) g6 q+ T# s+ e) _9 k% B) y# s) SMany 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。) ! W" k6 a; }, v# f$ q; w, Z* \/ w( J) H0 |+ {' l/ G+ Q8 O
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) ?0 t3 w# }! |, A9 p4 {" t$ g7 o, @. R
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) # j5 N. g( r* c5 z- c) x6 m1 m2 v5 F6 R d! y
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。) 4 y: }2 q: s* y7 X6 l3 l8 y( z9 Q% z# Q1 G
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。. @# [, v M3 R3 s
3 r* Q* }" w+ ?3 {( S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:; S. o5 L! p) f6 G0 f6 N' f7 m- W o5 f
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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;, ^* \# f2 A! Z- H) X; s7 L# H. \
" m) A e6 x7 ~0 g0 E& 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; 6 w+ |. b# L4 E2 |$ T/ R' v& }/ A0 z# t
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ Y; R p, h" j4 o) l$ J% C3 c : }, g5 N r7 {5 y: d对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; + D6 U$ U4 b e: s ) j9 b/ V, N# S) k# Q- L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: 6 }. h O! x: L( A6 b, ~( F- |3 T. y7 j8 S- i) _
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) R: g! \/ z; Y! ~% C( g- A# U. I/ \9 u8 }( Z( ^4 e2 m6 _
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 s. w+ j+ [. T