本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 W, |# u7 E$ e0 f: ?8 u$ M: e& {8 H& n2 h; n! N% a' e& }( s 转帖5 ]; Q; @( p' W! g) y3 @7 S
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)2 z6 E! Z+ O/ | a# o
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例如: + O: q; [8 q' J) y" t , h9 ~5 g: P5 Q6 dMany 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)/ {& v k3 u4 d4 Q1 Q* `
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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。)! ~) @6 w6 x: q
* T$ e* s8 t' R# C( UThis 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)$ t, B" A4 t" n8 x3 ?
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The 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?)0 T2 g$ [9 {" @1 U8 a
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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。) ! P2 H* ` a; B7 [ C) R6 Q! H; s; J; B7 v# q4 a- V# p5 V) u
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) # H& Y3 Z. m- w3 w3 i F1 N2 R+ d
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!) : Q3 m1 b+ M" c 1 d8 ^& G$ ~0 qThe 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)2 m: X, c9 L$ b* \0 C; k
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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。)' t- ^- ]7 s& t- Z
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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?) 9 }* a1 h. i* Q8 E c# x( I, o ( m! s. Z) [! S' E" J/ Q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!* l2 n9 @. { h& |2 u0 p" ^
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& N S/ s( T! H5 P# @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。: a$ @ D. A5 ]; H
1 t7 ^( W2 o* S1 W1 ~例如: ; i+ a& p* w0 [- @3 g 0 v* A9 D. a `2 s2 I1 g7 W" rAt 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) 7 \1 u4 z( E7 }$ f9 ~ $ D/ K' `& s: I% N1 p5 KDespite 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) + h& ^, s' k* c0 G- j6 Z" U# M1 y; ^1 R& n5 A: x
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). z- @# C/ `- a ]& ~) u. v
: Y2 s+ ~7 f u; t2 ^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)1 N2 L+ c! s; M# H
; t+ B& E! F7 ?6 e- J# uIn 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)& K( X3 C6 K) o5 v& B
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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) ; s( V) {: R, c# K* y, d3 t+ D! ^2 ~/ p) G: U5 A
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 @% S) \% V/ a- @6 r+ m
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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: " G: ^0 R( H8 q t! M1 E0 m$ E3 i1 Q
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。) " p0 s" d# I: V/ }4 Q1 U " H% m3 H& u/ h, ]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.) : Z$ n& `2 U' C2 v5 n/ s) \) E 2 k: f j2 R" f- J+ i5 s% ]: P1 aHe 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。) ( z2 H8 V; Y2 g1 r2 }7 i( w 4 ^; p6 M- Q& |% L& zHe 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) ! w, T/ e, I I' B2 q* V , u4 G8 v! l' u1 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)6 h1 X6 s; Y: H [0 e
5 I: {% S F+ Z S1 X8 S7 r7 xEnclosed (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 t5 @, u) N3 c0 z1 W) d* q! J* w7 ? 8 p* y; P7 z7 ^- 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.) - H# {, ]6 H% J 8 v5 r9 V0 T5 h2 P此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 : p0 u7 a$ o) z7 Y. n* Y - ?& T( W# E) F: l& S! N2 y1 Z1 [) d 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」。 3 K1 b) b; m& X- h5 ~2 B w 6 K* \, o0 `' |/ M6 w例如: 9 f* o/ f8 w# w. |' \' ~' G4 z * _ {7 ? ^' F" I, f: R' \! Y/ K! JMankind 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)* W; Q4 f# c1 ~3 w& f( V, T
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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)) u8 {/ r4 x9 ]& @# t W' B% X% Q
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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)+ _/ @& P, n( x2 {
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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。): R$ T+ }" d. M
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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。)+ `2 G2 _0 m: h# e% M
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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) * a0 @# w5 b7 S4 e; f2 r/ b5 r- H5 J! q$ A) |2 y
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) $ F3 X6 G; U, r9 R 6 s% J, |- S4 q5 ~. rStewardesses 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 R6 p* |1 U$ a$ S
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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。! F& x, V2 `/ A, H- R9 S' I
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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:/ F- l/ k8 X w$ \6 M* s
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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; g, M! c1 n1 r0 n* y
1 j) q5 K2 ]$ W/ ]( H5 D6 v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; $ J: i% e. y2 Q9 b " D8 o4 Z. w, {& v$ `) W" {" L6 F对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;( C9 r6 u# [2 P' V9 {
6 k. q8 [0 F( A6 a- D8 J对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: Y7 o' D! g. X+ F
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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:- b7 y% U; h; h
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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)。- Q% P% C; I6 s2 H* O! O3 e1 d
& J3 i# q1 E; O. t; K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)。: H) Q0 B/ g2 d5 u