本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ; Z! ]* K n7 L- R: i
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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) " L+ ?5 Z7 x0 ]5 C 3 d2 H4 s1 C7 c9 O( s$ d例如: " U# F/ J5 J5 a9 x" f! h8 y, X0 i. o" @# 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) ' N, F( q; g) ^6 j3 r+ w" {1 ?! Y( Z( F0 Z
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。)( l" B" A- |* w: @% `
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This 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, }! u! t' S- l6 z ( e, u4 r9 f2 F2 ~$ \- gThe 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?) ; }$ N3 E5 U4 r, L8 L2 ?, O1 n; c) b
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。)% @: w. Q* R+ v
# a" }7 H& `9 T1 I `7 @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) k2 c! ~' [0 b2 G5 F4 j4 X3 B `; R/ F5 ]7 B0 a
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!) * W: i. V+ h" ~% l; z+ f* i. ] / k1 u! ^% V: C' r4 F' e* {, `& kThe 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)$ ~$ K7 p- s. ?5 d1 L4 l
( |) `1 |" C# T9 p# mWe 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 u! c! E) B: c" F. o+ m0 N5 m) D/ X/ Y" U
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?)% _' {+ _2 l* k& r: [8 k
7 e Q! q3 M, g" e% f1 N3 j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! ; s [. r- P8 Q c6 _3 r3 c 6 H8 L% b5 o' w+ ^1 c* m0 }# H. B3 h8 R* Q$ U8 M5 W 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。; |; h0 x. W' G& P7 c
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例如: 7 K* A9 j$ ]1 O4 |1 C9 L7 d+ F' C4 O5 ~" G# [; p
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) # P# E$ I( w0 C8 i3 h5 B / o- l6 z* j: P5 D* ODespite 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) - E- O: h/ q* P4 P4 z3 {& ~ @- Q7 K% i C: x6 c. p
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)6 v: ~5 V; v* l9 j5 n
# f9 ] c4 L3 P3 j2 S2 FHe 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) 7 S$ F# b) V* w0 L. E. G/ U6 f& E9 }1 J" d# |# q
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)) f0 `& } j- h/ N
3 N% H5 u7 R% d" |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) ) S6 A+ Q$ S$ {0 m5 P- L- N5 N" j; m8 g8 X4 N, z: p
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) & w: `9 {3 d3 F$ K. J 6 w9 p1 i+ D. x1 Z8 P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: , b' I: R: \: E4 W! Z5 k, n+ m% P9 V _
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 T3 c# I0 `8 I0 j$ l* ]
- m. C2 G% @% A6 s6 LThe 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.)* r- X# r. O2 i9 w" \. }! a x
5 x1 }" ] }2 z- l% J% K* mHe 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。)% ?. x3 n# Q' j6 X& T# T6 I4 r) }
/ G+ ^7 e5 j+ g' b9 t5 P9 K# }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) / R! W& t V# ` {$ f: w' x$ Z5 S , o( {+ o7 Z2 f# j% 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)) |1 U& U/ C, O$ Z4 E+ c6 ~+ Q3 |
4 `9 Q/ Q0 v' a; Q1 w$ Q7 IEnclosed (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) - G" g' v' N7 }( [ . l v7 r' A7 D+ ]& A4 J6 {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.)/ J" l, w, ~5 V! c% h6 V% U2 Q
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。0 G) j4 w/ f b$ x5 s6 L7 ^
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+ V2 ]4 s( o9 c& [ 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」。% M/ q' j7 d* z
" A9 Y j2 w* Q. _) i; n6 F例如: $ C# Z$ B2 c0 |2 d) w/ V: X2 }" [1 c6 ?% W* c7 P: J
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); K( ^; a, A& I4 Z7 v% G( U. d
8 }; R: |- o- i7 \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) 3 U6 O% k3 i) t3 w$ r* X; V0 ?" U# V: ~5 R
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) 5 a1 P$ }$ a, D$ t7 [* t5 D. f
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。) $ A( S& W! c t8 c6 H! A1 Q/ y1 _& N9 z8 O4 y8 a' F
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。) 1 C# J9 h: o( p: E / x* R+ l d- g* n" XPolicemen (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)+ o4 ` V' |- [+ T: T& [
! P* N' z R8 Y3 t6 K' P: ^( V+ W. NCongressmen (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) 0 Q3 _! C! R( H- t; y+ a% K' B! h( `) H
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。) ( y8 e- Y1 `& s" d8 l) w8 a& o6 R5 c+ v$ C; \
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。 ( y* a7 U. r/ r- U 8 a* o1 r% m# s* O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: ) E; Y' Z) W* L! J( y+ v6 B9 U- Y% J) q7 Z! M9 E
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; 1 e2 e/ d4 c9 A* D4 S7 ], G% J8 ^: W' f7 ^" z) o' o' M9 w
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;7 V: \/ ~ `, H5 n7 j# r3 l
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; # U6 o2 D5 l- m! w/ \( G: r. @! K+ t" \$ G1 r/ p
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ) t$ z$ B8 s3 r* w % L/ s. N1 C' ^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: 2 @3 D) s }; y4 P- k . b7 X' S7 K/ }' w \/ g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)。$ G, B, M+ P/ |. v7 Y# ]
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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)。 & R) c6 {7 }. ^