本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 i9 x: x( F( {( a8 q: G+ g6 S( d ) n! B) a" o; H+ N' [9 V+ L转帖 7 W' C) v9 T' `' s6 W' K, W& T1. 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) 4 Y- J' e0 u- S$ |/ V+ Z0 g M& y8 I' N/ R4 x3 O
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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)/ l o& C) o+ ^% F# K
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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。) % `: a2 J5 {/ c0 H3 I * U8 P# t2 B X! S1 F* JThis 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) # D# m- u# M+ l7 }; l ) a' Y' q0 l: _/ j8 D- ^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?) 1 G0 K: ~# E% w + [7 M4 k: U0 m1 w! p6 t! gI 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% u" S6 ]$ `+ F! g 6 L0 ~3 v' y# O2 q/ i" }+ f# e jMr. 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) u4 F9 U3 y& V( @) D% O' }5 m2 a% U
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!) 6 h7 B o* y5 b) i: r9 s ! T( x( R+ b( A, K$ }' k7 bThe 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) " Z. R/ x- F4 m3 E \3 ^8 {4 _7 u0 U l" 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。) * [; [# G3 G. t' @1 b- m* o7 G4 W& K; R
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?)' y" |: R$ M6 ?* O" c) E
! _* u# W- H7 N" Y5 R D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! . I4 U5 b3 t2 Q+ v) M, r" O) H7 D
* ~. N$ F6 w* j5 D5 p6 i [ 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。( Q( Q- _0 `( B' H
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4 b |4 p D4 T" P9 z$ |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)5 O' d7 D- a6 X9 b" ~/ m
7 \: j. H( H+ q! i: R4 @7 yDespite 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) H4 C0 v0 {2 L
2 T7 ?# \" x& m2 hI 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) 9 i: [* J; \- k; a' I ; r2 x X! u& T Z$ 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)( \9 o# K% j' h' X. r1 K
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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: b5 }3 ?8 b" N ^: n2 o0 I2 [" Y0 v
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) Q# v8 P1 T. b1 l6 o
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)- G1 a9 i9 y/ e9 g, v" {
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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: 5 B- ?2 Z. b9 i3 j! v) m! P 9 s% ^+ p) N$ |; W# eThe 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 t7 @3 j* ]( n. J8 M6 b' i q+ q$ L$ E5 \$ \% P/ u5 X
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.); J2 g4 u# r ^% T! C" b
|. x- ]2 c8 g1 K* ZHe 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。) + Q$ b a8 y% p; ~) x3 {6 e- b - A4 N$ t, | m4 x0 rHe 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) 5 ~1 ~: t8 h" N2 ]4 P 1 u- \6 z! H- C# P! F* kWe 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) ' p5 ?7 L# b) P* ]$ m# Z, F0 r( k. x1 A# b2 z
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); [ v3 S. A h9 ]( p
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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.) ! [4 r- {* f4 \' r- }, h# N. L0 D/ N$ s2 j
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 # N9 X% Y* G7 s" v+ L: d! y o- [. x
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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)5 F7 L! z) q; F
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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)# Y7 y# I! ]. A/ Y/ q9 [( ?& D) I
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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) 6 u1 Y; } }2 Q$ f4 O. \2 W # t- }/ O# y D# V! D6 tHe (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。) 4 |2 W2 g1 V; \4 [ / O1 E/ l& a6 q2 i# t$ WMany 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。) , o& P- @+ z* f F4 p7 e4 N . h% F4 t$ T! c; O2 hPolicemen (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) % [3 e& V% Q* }5 C: D/ v' Y6 z; i5 ]$ ?$ _# V4 i; B) Y: f
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) * g. m; q5 m7 x1 y2 l& q! q& v! ]0 T( V8 i
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。) % O5 e9 Q' Q4 H. R8 @0 g& g# d4 l8 P5 j6 D) [% a" A
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。 6 P6 E* E* q4 U7 y3 L- N ) c1 _7 S4 C1 d8 @7 }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:6 P6 {5 f- }' T6 j" V+ {$ t% i
i1 a. w8 H- g0 D+ t0 n, t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;9 E; a( y# d/ k- K, F! k# P
) f7 z# w6 l q, p1 b+ J$ F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;" |0 g6 [& b' E2 D2 ?; ^
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; . L4 e8 Q+ Y$ W6 |* _; Y: g & a$ Q; K3 w& C对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 6 E2 `; e/ H8 w1 z* o" u- L" u4 {; V' N" b* P# N$ J
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:) ~/ R J+ u2 v
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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)。 9 Q2 a, K! [$ }9 V4 _2 l: C. ^4 ]0 T6 d. k; e$ h7 P3 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)。, c- i+ M. \' f4 K) F1 b