本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! M) d; B- ]/ n0 T7 W7 b0 {0 h5 E: M, t6 G% d 转帖 ' t" `" i" z' t2 D8 [& R* ^ @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) 7 M# B: }: i z# c) a1 b: B* D3 v/ D- R9 R9 e3 {& k# u
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5 }" u/ f7 S l2 `2 e4 tMany 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) 2 M4 w; g# m7 q2 l6 B& F) K! S, Q% L2 k9 l. S& _
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。) ! j4 b- Z" n2 I, Y& g" a+ n# ^1 T) h$ I0 ~) Z+ C
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) " C0 H* m/ u+ f% [! k. v7 Y8 b 1 a) W* {/ Q, b7 xThe 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?) 7 U C( |" F" l 6 _3 d4 a& T1 `% | j# ^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。) 1 W' M% }. Y3 M/ G $ z2 u4 g% v; S8 `5 b- ?2 QMr. 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) " {7 y+ G# g! d! E$ Z" c2 O2 D3 L. @3 B5 ^0 n1 r" D1 j/ k- R" {
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!)0 f% u* @4 P0 y4 r5 L
( v& k; g0 R- B2 b4 t, kWe 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。)0 @. Q+ A* H# u2 l8 y
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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?) + w# N: e" h2 Z5 @% V5 N. T% K: p; E. G X) A
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 j0 q/ N' }. P0 o! I; {
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# C, N4 ]" o7 U& ~$ e5 f 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. z. }8 [" r
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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) 2 H$ z- r1 P- }, \$ }( M7 T( w0 f
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)2 K. r0 G- h V& m+ j
z5 w! g$ s) K. `! n0 {& j- II 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) / e3 A' W- H# E1 F! p" h 9 y7 z; k! T6 x& L% Y) XHe 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) # E$ j- V8 S4 F) y9 D3 Z9 _# G6 `. y) M/ ?
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)4 ?0 T; F+ Y1 q
( R: m8 t# {* U+ R2 fShe 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)" |& x0 a' o. X. }! o' Q
/ H/ E4 U# Q' n' K* x6 Q3 O8 V1 bI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! R0 s# `: A7 z- \ y' H0 L* S
' T R" B- d; L+ [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: - g4 W. M" o( \# s" h- a. o5 r2 J' Z$ N) |' x
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。) & L/ p( I% h9 z6 k 5 g2 n3 f4 n1 j: t, \! VThe 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.)! D, M" m: c0 j) X6 S
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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。) ( |: B; Z$ G- z( U0 q; g+ i& _' l, v4 _/ @# q2 W
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) & }) b$ P& z& a- Q9 L & n7 B: m; T: } G Q) ]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) 0 f9 Q, w1 X& C3 h" n . a0 Y9 e7 y- \5 X5 L0 I( b1 PEnclosed (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)" b" l" H" \0 A$ e: s( d# k
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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.) + u8 W/ q7 H$ U/ H 7 x+ ]7 E( ~& V( I此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 J+ e6 m' Q% v1 z4 W6 ~
3 |7 X7 A; T+ h * I5 r) J* s" j% `- D3.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」。, W( E/ y% U2 r
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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)( p% w- _- V$ e% C- s# P
; n- x8 M3 J* W) `: v+ @5 KManpower 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)* F/ k- ~" {) |6 i8 l9 g* G
( ]1 {! z) t9 n( t0 k3 EThis 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), U7 B& ^6 b7 s! Q- W
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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。)$ {* l! E G$ Y& _: F; z6 X) e
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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。) 6 ~1 [2 Y8 I2 i9 j7 T6 Y# K7 l ! T# |& D# G3 V2 K5 b+ VPolicemen (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) 0 ^, z0 Y% `* z8 T9 x6 E& n3 \ 1 ~& G( O' r8 [, \9 |5 ~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) ' q, _7 z( \* [4 V+ G! w' s( M, w5 @ ^( w! \% L. H- m
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。)7 ^: T+ P( a. u1 ?
- }$ R: q+ `6 B2 P- s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。 ' j6 j% V1 s1 a" x5 s) c. D- r: N
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:4 B0 B: a( o. d
H8 X6 }' ?/ Z4 _1 L1 R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; * \0 y7 J2 @2 p3 c1 l6 U) M) q* Z* _+ _7 k) e
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;( |/ p, m5 J2 H7 A& P# _# U6 W