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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)4 F3 u) C) ?, r' e# D* [
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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)7 P, J! X5 `6 e6 e0 u, E" `7 d" C: \
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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。): O( O, L" Z# O l y5 H- [% n8 l" P
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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)& H& R9 S* \8 ]" ~6 d' ]
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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?)* Y! j M: D$ ^
3 P* M2 u. b( A% e; I. EI 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。) - T+ T& W5 ]: A' Z1 K' p; u& ^( U8 M# v# F
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) . Q" Z6 W& Q. X0 b* }# ]( j0 q8 F/ h! j8 X7 W+ y Z J2 l- ~
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!) r( I# }; v4 R7 K' A6 x: t$ v4 R
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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)! _, h0 L* b2 o! u
1 Q; ^7 N/ b$ pWe 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。)5 v5 a: f( Y5 M
1 h# \) K" f- B6 m7 rPlease 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?)% f9 a" _& i6 x+ Z: T$ q) i
) I4 r4 S& n$ K! V! o; ]6 Q' z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!7 v' V, Q& q: C' X) ?& h$ }( x+ T8 P
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4 Q2 w i' |- x2. 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。 8 P6 w& B0 K1 k7 ?6 E. v: u9 W2 K o+ [9 Q- ]' S% v# g
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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)! s! h, b1 X. S" L; W
7 ]- b0 S+ E% A0 j+ ^Despite 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) - h3 P) s7 `/ c Y1 ~. T `# z9 x- r! A8 r0 S! _3 O( ]. c
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)9 @" Y% r* m7 G; v' l7 L* i+ p/ B+ C
, p- D& D7 K/ l: G. m) 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)6 s$ Y. X- Z6 o# |0 x5 w# R. I
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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) # f& Q4 [) m; f ] / X' r" h- w, w1 j, @! t" m% x9 qShe 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)( h! w {0 Y9 }- m+ T
2 C6 P7 i9 L; z3 S, A9 II will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! h U5 K% k' R# y- K8 ]3 g% P
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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: 3 l4 R. ?' H$ ` f/ N0 z' R - c( k$ H# k/ L- U! ^' hThe 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。); E) {+ i2 Y( Y& s
/ C& g& V& Z: w# N U% f8 ]& H0 dThe 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.)% a7 u% Y: q& O1 w. g1 X1 }9 Y
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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。)3 o% _( z2 z% M" B A" b8 T$ D) T
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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) $ |5 ~3 C$ H4 A5 Y' N$ I 8 H! @! x1 C& {3 Y" b/ D: p N9 ^( ^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)* W1 t5 u/ N+ f# X4 j* ]" S6 _
7 M$ x' U! Z% B% b8 [: C; A2 oEnclosed (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)- @( { m, @. i& ?8 ^8 o% Y' P) r
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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.) & l6 Q) s8 E: B+ `5 v " H' p* C O" H# i i/ }此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 t; ^/ X$ w4 V) ]
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+ i* X( X R8 ]. y$ _, @# I 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」。1 a* P: x* r$ F
6 t! f. {" B) m9 w |+ a' K; @例如: 5 j( ?# G U7 r" I5 G6 Q6 Q# u9 j6 y7 T* T. G/ N
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) 7 R2 |8 r: m4 a1 I2 O X9 J" R' h0 T; `* a5 ?$ x
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) - X- d% K* |: G8 l( w: K* w& E9 R. k8 r& v; F
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 I& f0 A4 z9 u1 z: r2 P9 r; G, l7 f9 N/ z
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! V. _* R* o7 U
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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。) ) p) F: ?" F; t$ N/ W J8 T. W7 H: o# lPolicemen (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) + L4 \& B& H- b; \) ^ - i" X; x2 \1 F5 FCongressmen (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) 4 ?; g0 i F- O" g & G s% e2 u. i8 j& p$ `$ B1 s$ OStewardesses 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。) # B- ^) W5 Z' s8 A& _( k; ~1 [+ a/ @0 z' E! {1 ]; Z$ Q6 B8 i
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。0 @! P! z+ t4 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: % c5 W0 l1 O1 R2 n/ D/ l$ X% N; c; z' i
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 W7 F- n0 T3 F: c1 P. T; j$ I( M6 G& X$ Y# l
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;5 J' ?7 _3 C7 c" r& M# P1 Q
4 q: k' i7 N1 f对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 2 N8 S3 |# Q, v( H" y7 k: k # _+ Q: [7 P% t4 l' U+ D对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 X+ ~6 O. w/ T$ A$ t4 P5 G: f5 l+ q" R Y- d# P8 i( l0 a
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: + {& r1 ?, B% x) x3 B6 w. v& V8 F
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)。6 X+ ~7 F8 a( j+ P8 y# O b
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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)。 7 H: [" Z; D2 i# U8 e8 S/ m1 Z