本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 N9 `- n7 ^1 d" N
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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); R% u# M7 I0 L% w7 i( K4 J
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例如: ; l: o# s5 _$ p0 k- B: z6 }/ b3 Q- v) t9 f+ H0 z# F
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) ( P/ M# L0 ]# Z% @9 X. K1 E * R8 P: `, ~0 j/ N Z2 D1 i7 tThree 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。) 1 G; V7 C9 _( v4 D- X; }+ j2 Q; o+ p* U
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) / f# ?: b2 G0 ^ e; x& I9 g6 \% G/ u/ U3 L, a$ i
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?)/ R1 C6 \7 x+ K/ o7 _
9 ~) R S& t' X3 k/ H( \ kI 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。)6 }2 D2 r( W" {* ]' Q: C c+ m
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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)4 G$ Q- X/ f" ^
' t g+ H3 x1 A1 n6 D5 V. _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!)0 y0 M8 D# T' u6 p8 N% b3 c ~% V
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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) 9 Y, j5 u- o0 n) H8 k9 v " Z1 N) a" L; T7 s9 ?4 t$ VWe 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。)4 D( [: Y* }5 {- R, _/ Q$ h/ P
0 t( R' p( F2 q9 z5 M/ ?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?)- Q8 P! Q: j2 G0 Q0 m( R; {
( Z$ v3 d8 x e" S& B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!. m P1 H! Q+ S: A1 ~. [
7 K$ L% j8 t/ ^8 } 7 Y8 K4 h6 o, J- p) g) S" \( 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。- A. G/ }: e9 k2 l, Y9 q! c
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例如:6 x& h8 R7 q/ a1 r
: H: P0 L3 X) _9 U( c' L4 lAt 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). l9 P. h; j1 u
+ k8 Z. P: g5 n$ K$ G* r1 I& CDespite 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)" S9 a9 D( [) v8 ]$ E5 Y& n+ R# D( M& B
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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) . O3 v$ Z* H& e* P6 O$ q8 B. j5 W9 K ; d: v( d u+ v8 RHe 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) 6 F+ b( ]" x3 B6 c 2 n. P2 c, @% S" G9 n/ TIn 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) % b7 y4 T# f/ v6 y- D8 T 2 m7 n) [$ j1 ]2 ^2 eShe 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)4 e1 r: [# n( ?4 v' Y3 ^
! n1 S% B- ]" DI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) / C+ E3 l* S$ i3 [, |1 B# J( w3 J' g4 z 3 U9 V- u% f5 Q! ~3 m; Q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:# O) T& ?/ q( a; S* l. Z1 i
% h+ D" W2 N8 e2 q, @& m8 ZThe 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。) . b/ G5 E/ J0 e$ M7 p' { 6 A9 Y ?3 r2 ?$ @( k9 S7 HThe 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.) 5 ~* B4 l& a9 {1 g) o4 r, |# p7 o* ? M' I3 |6 g
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。) ! o1 ~+ Z& P5 Z / ?4 H; Y2 p; O5 j2 EHe 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)+ i2 ?* U. e+ W5 y
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We 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)+ h! C# s" {: k0 w
4 r7 s# ?2 K: D. N- }9 w6 ]. U; o! q0 ~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)/ [4 P4 `7 ^* s" v& H. U
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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.) 7 ^2 v, u4 `/ ~1 v- p; {# s9 c* a% M( u1 y
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % ^: f0 }" H& O# g7 Q9 T" H$ }- ] F6 X+ K" ?
7 [/ G( {1 g+ d, z2 \ 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」。/ ?' {- D# V w) X7 C' g; p( h5 O
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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) . H' K) y7 \1 [9 i ' Z+ p- `: s4 P7 u2 ?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)# S* G L0 L4 |. f8 j
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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) V, L& j0 H' Z6 ^2 k
+ a; w* A9 E$ q0 x0 j* }0 y) VHe (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。)7 d* m2 a; a+ P8 V* |
( f' c2 i" D( N. BMany 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。) 9 n0 V. Y" S' c7 E3 c- F& r) c) e$ l1 o; ?7 Y# Z
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)( W! O; w* K" u+ w" I
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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) ( D( ?8 P0 I' G& J8 e- V# X & V, C" P2 X0 t$ \# C0 d* M8 dStewardesses 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 G# B# f$ f, i& g/ r& e6 Z7 ?: S( L+ 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。 % n) }1 K6 J1 h8 E6 b* r/ z U O* [, d7 F5 m
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: 2 j# m l, f1 J# m) u! _( B " E( y+ F. Y' x0 r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;* h+ N# D# }+ n9 [' s; k) M
& C% r9 ~( X' @9 V1 S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; h/ P. Z5 d" @% G4 k h. R1 G6 c7 v& @- _
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;, w0 }% }- y* [' h" W
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ' W+ `1 F7 N2 O3 Z* Q$ I/ k* N% P/ \% u. K% p3 B) S
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:' A- n$ N. L) e# g
' P( N3 @& u8 U8 `% H6 s0 e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)。' P" H) p& N5 i3 p% c% ]
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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)。# X! b/ b$ U3 w, ] i4 S