本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) `* Q4 w1 e; J7 h( I" J* h d 转帖7 y- s; \2 |* s4 o2 m' d
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 {) P1 R( T8 B" o3 B. y6 G7 B9 l , ~( e7 L% Z/ q5 Z例如:5 ^+ P9 G" c& b$ t$ q* G
[5 O/ Q9 C4 t& \6 {% |
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) + O l+ T6 L' J$ L 7 z1 t% P: I8 h5 R# V$ wThree 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。)- j" {) N ~ `; n3 q- {( E
. C3 f7 x, o1 ~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) * U! }3 d, l$ I3 f. F, z/ H1 Q* d/ {' a$ k, L# E/ v. {6 R, l
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?) % k5 _; B. B8 L! Y1 _( h % j& _1 m. {' y" S% |9 z% AI 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。) ! `4 G; g. j& B! G* D! a3 ? $ K! k/ G; b6 I+ \' m, 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) ; w. B3 S% `$ c8 Y/ W% Y8 q" ?6 J; e" s$ t
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!) . g3 H3 u+ m; ~( L8 B $ @4 M# B& t6 E9 T+ W) f, TThe 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)+ n% e. r6 g* N& O& J
/ E g/ |5 \) ?& [! }$ D
We 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。)# y' m5 H9 I3 K; A" x4 _8 D, T
7 I4 L+ b( B" u+ H) f8 y! i6 b
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?)+ a9 n; M5 ^- d2 W, T- w% x2 G9 D
7 p/ a( F; J' r3 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! 3 ? f" N" ?9 m' V e! {# u5 D4 M4 N z
7 \" ]2 z- O- T2 R3 s# J+ u: J- @/ _ 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。8 j% g: J* t8 Q R2 {0 W
/ y, c8 {" C) x
例如: , l% B3 k/ i9 X! |. w, I# ^* v8 D( t, W+ c' }) l
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)* x8 M) H7 X4 S8 [# ~
" T7 _- a$ l- S0 m! k9 G- N9 W
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) . U% ~4 G+ \3 T% K, y2 q! P2 ^5 F- \) S, j1 F4 O* |& `4 E, @
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)% `: ]6 G+ r9 @# u( L
* Y ^& z# R. |3 f# \, [9 P' ~7 m
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) w! ~4 M& ~: d" I) i1 _& R! O5 P& J
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) / m3 Z( K f) c8 E+ i" \1 l5 H+ O; L" C
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). N( t; a7 X& y% R3 {0 d
4 X% r0 p: i6 j' P Q7 ]+ x- {
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 x( H& @& M. Q; x" X+ u, |
- U5 ?3 S' u% E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 D/ S3 O( z% H. `& i: d. C 0 j0 I# J* Z% @- N& j, ?4 LThe 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 ?+ \: x7 w% N4 F
0 F0 S. Y: n6 c7 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.)8 ~$ m- p! Y$ a6 s9 V6 N3 e( j
/ ^7 ]$ H; A: I. e7 P
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。) * b4 j7 q" p4 J5 ^$ l# d& e; }+ Z4 x3 Z9 L; L0 J% ^6 B
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)3 r/ l0 M3 |, i# `
3 @; o& i; z3 q, T! MWe 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) : d: G. _5 m% e$ D! s, z* ~* B, W( w/ z( P1 C- _8 S0 ?7 s
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)2 M" _1 R: @$ P4 s2 z$ M
4 G/ `6 e; J7 h6 ]5 |4 b, d7 h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.) $ ?* X2 L" ?6 f$ O6 R" g0 B# ? # o7 A9 F8 y5 C, M- ~9 _1 J此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" Y% ~$ W6 M7 y& ]) Q0 I! k' K* Q
, @ C( M. |8 N6 I6 W2 a
5 F7 l g( @" y# r, ?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」。/ E3 ]6 ]2 B% U. H
& N; w$ h% y. f" U, G! ]9 X$ G0 d例如: 4 E# P8 ~) s& A2 z% {' b" n8 }1 H- C0 w, s2 c3 S& P
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)! z$ v2 L L; m1 J C1 @/ o
8 V( O3 f- g! a0 XManpower 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) # q4 s. U0 D7 [% m9 w% S2 _4 u, Y* z$ ^ & D" _) F1 h0 PThis 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) , y# p9 G% J6 y0 }; ~+ z$ D! Z" y( }7 Q$ x1 [: J# U5 a8 d* g
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。) 8 C9 r% @) ~8 x" v7 J/ y' l& c5 Q$ ~1 ^( R* \7 U& L7 R
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。)3 b+ j& w$ X3 Q" N6 J2 [9 i" d
1 [* X: O# Q @9 V- O; tPolicemen (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)( `& Z3 | k' z6 B# Q
) s- i2 T8 e' ^* I9 m9 h7 Y; r# }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) / ] W* L. K- \9 ]- X: G% Y3 p3 y* C 1 }# L1 d3 z5 X7 ?7 M5 h7 jStewardesses 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。) " f4 s* k i* X" D: h; S : ^4 m+ c6 P$ n' K2 `$ V$ h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。3 R9 Z* o& s3 J9 S" n0 L
( F# I7 | ~& Y
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:( N3 x) x6 Y2 q7 l
; Y8 @* }) Y$ ^7 _! U" e* z9 s3 V
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;: r/ p- a1 K7 j. v% ^" m
+ L9 S8 n* U' ~0 w/ X( _
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;; d+ o H+ j+ v3 c1 _* N- z
) f' \0 c' C9 \ L5 u/ k
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;" D4 s( W( n. }: c
3 i+ q' {, q; {) N z* \
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; x7 }5 {- N8 a& J
, t x% X' \$ V# w" I
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: d5 S* s7 U+ b1 c/ D" Y+ x) Q3 o: [. p* w+ q' ^1 v
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)。$ Y6 i$ t+ Q' m2 [9 `
3 S" I( B9 ~2 s' D( o% o) e) S* V. }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)。: j8 f$ ^- Q _$ m