本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # O( c/ t% \" o- a5 q5 i, A- c- p. b' M- ^' H 转帖$ }8 q# R, S8 s+ B' 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)0 s% i$ @* v2 v
$ K8 h4 q# M# y( ?( G$ [: ]
例如: 5 y( e- G) i1 y$ I' _- d ! G) Q; m* d% kMany 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)* }" |8 {* N$ [' h. P8 j
% ]6 L; D @5 _+ X8 k' A& I% N
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。)+ U7 z' s% j8 w/ M N; U* S
" _* a/ ]0 C& D2 t. J5 LThis 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) + e) _: z& M, P' P6 d& }0 z* q$ W7 x
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?) - [9 W" P% Y& H& I" s4 m$ Q% F' n. I6 f7 k, \6 ^6 f) m
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。) / v4 Z, A. J0 _4 j5 d! w/ b/ ] 2 |: X. Q3 R# T% k9 S6 o7 J7 wMr. 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) B* }; H+ W V0 s4 _) m8 S9 _! r
$ p0 J; X: f" Q) v! w# _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!)4 v g9 d$ B! Z' F
) X; C: J7 l8 J# }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) 0 W# W- L: W% Z , \2 t% K, ^/ {5 }3 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。) ( \# }. u: {0 ]& J2 _& {, y" t9 w: T7 K+ U4 m$ e
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?) ' d6 e1 @% h* b8 X* D7 o ) f' r+ P2 b, \7 _ c& 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! 1 A4 W9 Z! b* [2 \- q3 d' x4 Z% l: R5 b6 ]3 K
9 T( c! I3 a! @: T) U3 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。 ; v2 d! l4 x* P / E( ~4 P; N/ e, O o例如:0 k) l+ a4 M) i8 R" n
; n' P% s r" H% z+ }% M; ]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) 8 O5 {7 P' `( V$ _+ p1 ] % J) ^2 m) u& t* z2 y- N2 rDespite 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) * F3 D/ A1 j9 I 3 G4 X) y1 p3 m$ d( VI 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" m# `. W" B * g2 C) f7 q+ V- {/ U% q+ zHe 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) 3 I5 m! n, y% k' p, J. U$ y8 h9 n. l) z& } @& z( F* s' D* n& r
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)# e2 J4 I8 D6 i" ]% O
2 m1 H' e/ U l) U" ~8 {; b' ~
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)) I* K; k3 y) \8 _
; [- w( X: u) i. H( y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 _5 Q( {! F9 M3 ^, F
7 S; Q% |6 v6 n1 j7 s, [9 t
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:$ r( N* l) r+ c; s3 O" [0 p
0 f/ R% f) x, Z; k
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。)2 ?- S+ y: j, N. p
& e9 |$ U4 ^; P8 P& j, `
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.) * ?+ W; [, a! K4 z( w% {% X8 ~ i 5 }! z; {2 X5 c& q8 P# Z4 z! y) QHe 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。) . Z; I! q |7 o v9 S" } ! B! c5 h! R. I# p6 ]$ 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$ e6 e& s" X: G
& D3 o& p+ A# j. t, d
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) * C" N7 x9 y7 Z* } m7 M9 Y3 Q+ v+ Y
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) & a" B5 Z: l0 s/ H7 F 2 y4 [& F$ ]" B; i# D |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' G4 u3 q' K0 z2 J6 }* ?3 L$ E/ L) J % M6 \( i; f' ]& T) a& e" l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ ?; c. M/ R- \$ Z+ [' b- }
3 a( {/ m0 P: H
" ]: g% f j6 ~* T$ T! c3.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」。 % a% \& _5 [& j% T1 r5 _1 D5 b( F( R- l$ h$ y3 s8 y
例如:- @3 _ E6 Q3 c& [& M
0 b. h: y3 C5 v$ v
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 h1 m3 K) ^, O1 Z, V
$ e4 o- W: Z5 q$ L+ U1 N0 O5 G
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)& D2 t* L0 z6 {6 x* Z$ V
; u& n& ?% f1 l8 hThis 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)3 [! B' X: \8 \, O
: Y5 {6 O3 @6 J* v1 u* F! U; n7 N
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。) 9 X2 s) N* `' v8 F" P * y- ^+ X1 t9 d2 q6 aMany 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。) * T, K+ w! w C5 G & r& d# J7 }& e7 ^" Z! wPolicemen (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) % [; x9 Z! k+ s9 N/ i0 T4 }% @$ ~7 t% c0 L+ q' Q
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) . v% t0 b% t0 R/ |% }; | & w: F0 i( |/ {" ^! G/ F' S% i; 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。)' G1 d8 ~. Q# K& @
4 Z# J" L a$ \( d. C2 L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。/ N2 Y P4 k. K& z" h
" e& S6 A% x2 m @对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;! e r8 K0 G( y2 L8 \( N4 m) q
# _( {* r8 ]! c& t9 M3 R. s7 n
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: % J% s7 R1 P9 W# r) N' Q. H7 A: K3 H( T
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)。* g7 a8 x8 ]0 _: N
$ B/ y- K0 X% f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)。2 G! c) Z ^, a& T