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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) " f+ N, ^. {2 {$ }8 B & U, \7 V5 B. h例如:6 _& a- z3 j+ \' V* y N6 F$ i9 U# 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) 0 ^/ t O* S8 T( H . O; m7 f0 h' {5 y5 l ~+ jThree 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。); h! O) G+ d* R$ {1 A: w* j
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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)/ V- s2 o8 x6 Y, B- r6 b
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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?) 8 _2 C* ~' o, b' A, | 6 d0 M! E5 X, g9 II 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。) . ^8 d7 a5 g p- ? 2 P k' q+ X: V6 n" @& T3 BMr. 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)8 P8 L- A$ |' A4 D3 ~
+ y1 F3 A, T6 `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!)! z- P+ Q" D+ C! N1 v# x o) K
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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) 5 T8 r8 \3 ^6 M; n $ t2 r i5 W: `7 RWe 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。)8 n7 i" r# e* z) u5 [7 p
9 |3 ]; B+ u& T2 j* A5 V7 s( }: tPlease 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?). ?' d2 w) Z( S9 Q9 o. J
3 f# t9 ~) ` B6 w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!$ U1 J9 X5 d0 u( e/ p. T$ ?4 G! n
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$ R3 y, E! @, X( e0 r. s 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。 + q9 P, n/ f) V/ `+ z+ I( h 5 w8 T5 y7 V9 M+ h0 }例如:9 H% D2 s% }( M2 r9 `' E5 o! u
. N. D6 h" c9 B7 v( c) m* Y% _: l( zAt 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) 7 L7 Y+ a6 \! X2 m ; f' I/ N# V, L& O+ _) U4 |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) $ j: O8 m& |; F2 `1 } p7 m9 s2 X2 Y6 d; ?
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) , e' ~# f3 Z, Y, Y/ n3 C4 |$ r( c/ F3 v7 N
He 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) / K7 ?1 C! j( B9 E' c! u * R: i" X( u' |& UIn 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) " `+ B* Z. g5 g9 A7 Z 8 o& N; l" z* a6 g8 CShe 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)$ |$ l$ o' H2 u+ p" h
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): [7 Y6 D+ X. s
O$ U. _! B+ S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:% y. A' ~0 S9 q# ?! z" o" V1 k
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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。)& h6 G9 }$ R4 T2 x6 d+ ]
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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.)) z7 r7 C- O" J: A1 z) [7 w
: g$ a! k/ h- G K5 VHe 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。)! g9 d( q8 L8 t# k4 O
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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). N8 e- o* @4 m/ 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) 4 t, ~& S' E- g5 o7 I$ I 8 h1 H' B- a, J$ H6 cEnclosed (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) 8 ]9 a4 ^5 Y: W% ?3 n* n - q; z/ G. k( ~) L" F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.) - a2 \7 C0 Y. p# M4 ? ) o0 c( c# K9 T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / P$ t h2 o/ P8 p$ K4 ?) k6 O, ~" x/ Z+ @2 \; W6 i: x/ A* m
/ Z$ j* o# ?+ F$ }* J# e 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」。2 X/ q1 q$ H2 H+ t$ n1 P/ h
7 w1 f8 x1 l4 m7 Q例如:1 T6 s" s; a5 {/ f
5 J& Q. I6 s! JMankind 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, S# j4 V( t8 Q8 R$ `, o4 r( _% b" d( R4 ?: [5 V9 h
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) + L* [! Q- J9 T! U- P - x2 ~! Z% {9 u' e/ ^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) * N; l2 M: R- R7 ]+ t1 C' Z! i3 c q6 y9 A8 h
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。)7 ]# K* L/ ?9 k
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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。) * t* T' Y+ V* X$ S6 S- h" s* ?9 Z) ?$ G u
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)- H3 `3 [& L+ U+ h. k
2 \% z0 \& d, X1 DCongressmen (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 ^" c$ ^- P, i7 M0 w/ e5 W
& g1 y9 M3 X0 f8 e& lStewardesses 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。)! z# ]- l9 y. w4 M4 j
, B4 R! A; ~9 l. a2 Y' Z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。& A# }9 r$ H) r* D! T+ V
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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:0 B1 W# |9 {/ ?3 y. {+ Q8 V' ?$ W1 K