本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 Q, w5 O. N4 q' {- _ o% V" i. Y" o ) R; c! p y9 K2 I, @转帖 7 t% N$ m, O2 z. C( X* f1. 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) ( h! D2 B4 L' n" k' w 5 \" v8 Z1 o' W9 g* ~例如: , Y. m3 [, O( W8 U- i0 z) R: D+ @( b& _
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) 1 S! l! Q0 z3 T0 l. _/ }9 f9 V9 K2 ]( @% D2 S6 F
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。)0 y3 K/ j7 p; R0 t* B, i
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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) ' a+ Q% Y b6 a \1 o 7 {& r" b2 W. x: S# MThe 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 p3 T0 W- B& i3 x
' b+ x" F; o5 u6 vI 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 b: ?! z6 [1 V: f- I0 ]. ]$ j/ m& a* ]$ }
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) : x% w4 K0 _! C7 X. i- \9 B! g & c+ \) P9 A- q6 y7 qWe 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!) 9 X2 r4 `7 t" E8 U; x- u9 N: k) a) f6 T ` x$ s H
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)" ?( y4 ~& {* L0 G
% r9 i- l$ s$ F4 y5 xWe 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。)! `2 Q9 X3 g2 Z
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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?) ' I; Y9 Y# v ^' D1 m8 b& T' K9 y8 T4 F. k* t8 j7 D9 @
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!+ O6 m* t( F$ D+ @
; Z8 H- ?. N8 ~$ G8 }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)& E/ A% F1 ^3 W! {, _' a% T
; t) d/ c- o% ]+ F' CDespite 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) 7 H+ j" W4 u- c ( y% W: U) |6 T, Z, hI 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) : ?$ C' L- P7 r( D! X& N6 F % f8 A$ P% H; y2 x" \. t; _# 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) : D9 ], B# @ ~: J9 J5 B' {/ e0 P8 r, Z9 q$ W4 @
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) ; U$ ~6 Y8 a. l6 |6 B1 |/ i , C! @ m" I7 o# O! V! RShe 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); [+ U$ }. w* \* y2 o/ V
) n( |( x2 ], q+ a+ _9 V5 j. xI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; [; {4 x! X2 c' w0 _' e0 W7 [8 x8 a/ _3 s6 {4 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: ' W# O3 H8 g1 v5 t/ C) H& X1 Q6 L! e* R Y4 m
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。) . f: }, Z* q% o- `( f4 L6 p/ K x 9 b6 O h4 A9 a7 GThe 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.) : n: d; q; s* ~, q9 r( _9 x3 h( N1 P( }6 J: }1 f' E1 K9 ]+ P4 u
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。)6 P/ p) r# N7 F+ q
+ t7 j) n$ l" Y/ wHe 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)) ?* G2 E7 m! E9 I- N' {* j8 q
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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)+ u5 f0 t- j# m0 f& K
1 j& _6 q8 V$ |' ?4 kEnclosed (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) m3 E( [" j. }! u9 Q4 T! R( ]# H- P* p: Z3 b+ D* E, y" V+ R& }
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.) . S. T y7 H3 x& K9 y+ x# U3 m* O+ U! n2 R2 q, h
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 d6 n8 F) N. E! M0 n
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6 Q7 k! _; o/ ], N( J4 L: T7 j& K 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 W+ S) V% k+ Q ^' x& Q2 g3 L- ~ , u8 ?9 L" D+ D' x k3 i# f例如: - s$ _9 d. ]4 C" X- ]2 g9 c; R # Y' F( d; x* FMankind 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) 2 S) Z& y$ w+ s/ z/ |* e3 b5 x) W/ Q . L$ h5 M& f) ~" W+ J {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) ( V0 b5 t: k6 w6 w" P* Q( z% \ # t* r* N- v# n- h) nThis 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)! s8 |$ ]) C% z5 `" b
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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。)- s( k) V, e0 j' l) ]) M
8 ~: ]) W: m: N+ r1 U3 t) \1 TMany 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% |4 S" B7 J/ G2 g$ L# a2 }8 {( N
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)3 V/ u) r6 d4 U: y' `6 w
2 G7 y, x: e% s0 J5 q, A6 PCongressmen (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)3 d' |2 K8 Z. @1 l0 K Z. \
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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。) $ `5 @: R( o8 s, o$ e: X0 V+ c$ y4 m' {; a, Y2 K+ N2 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。9 j7 v1 ?6 M! N) ~4 u) M b. G
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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:8 u# P' _% r+ r2 F( p7 |( L
- _6 z% A; U c% w* X |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)。3 [0 l* R; U" P) K
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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)。 # F& C3 d6 {7 l- v# s* g