本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 `. y( B4 \4 c- Q/ V/ U( C5 v, D ( n/ J7 f/ Y3 O9 B l转帖! b0 Y1 {0 R, c
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) V* c+ @! @4 D* D s* z$ C O7 n8 d) `5 Z例如: ; a8 o$ C& g! v/ K1 s/ H3 c3 r7 q- I, c a( V/ W) X# _$ h
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) & F: }# X/ j. [ 4 `, ]8 y! |" D' Q: P) v% kThree 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。)9 h/ j' A+ t, }/ g* I
! |- e1 L8 D u: |4 EThis 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) J2 B3 t6 U* F
! A+ R) N6 ~, s, ^6 U7 j
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?)1 K6 F, I" m; U' ^' F; q \" D3 o
4 P9 D T4 ~8 l: y0 d. I( Z+ g
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。) . v; c' q9 h, j9 X: O) j& U1 A! j) t! R0 R: e) P$ I+ N
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) 0 l, [2 ^6 ~+ c) F0 S/ ^7 K, a' j& V8 W( U
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!) ) B1 ^6 Z1 r* o3 p " n- D- D0 b. u% X5 `& p& p- z$ sThe 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) 7 h3 \7 B4 v$ b; h% \/ H7 i9 Q7 K( ^) v- | T9 L' t
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。)" V. R7 s4 O% O& n& l# Y
. x9 T$ O4 A5 \6 c" n* }; I; aPlease 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?) ' \& n; K/ e/ ^: \9 ]# J! d6 L# ?6 k" ~# N/ 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! 4 w/ m |/ w! q" s% t- T! U' {$ m7 M
5 `" n+ Y8 F6 N4 z7 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。4 v" E4 z! l7 L3 x# f( H
* I# H+ z2 ?# _5 y例如:- H# {/ g& u8 R) N7 i
5 O" X) h' p. n# S5 S: p2 CAt 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) * W& P) R, v! R( O5 G# _+ b1 |: M1 ?; @0 k8 _9 O' E& {6 }
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) , E r' v; \+ }2 b+ I/ Y5 x \! \2 i1 B* [
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)& A# _2 I/ l; ^" E& _
T) ^( e. t) p; H7 I5 G5 `
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)6 K% S# M0 g" R
" F: a. F$ k4 t. H2 R1 k
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)/ j) T& q. h7 v0 V
; g- r9 ^4 G+ q% _7 h+ q6 jShe 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) 3 s" i" A# l+ |$ U. J- l! v7 ]( I/ g$ o g* A) D M
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) |: k# N+ y8 B6 O0 }+ Z 8 F& @* ~9 j4 J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: " Q$ Q+ ?0 K7 I8 F% k8 J: W1 b1 M/ A ?8 l1 k/ l/ s1 I- G/ n+ AThe 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。): [: J5 Z" C+ s5 A+ s D8 j. D
, ]6 f* q' [) R" @2 ? O
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.) 7 h) W( l3 `: P 0 |- U8 o' Q: i! `1 `4 }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。)1 j* I; y6 M* }- \8 D6 i
4 ]1 p7 a/ ^: d# r! D6 h; H; J
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)$ h& D3 p/ U% E' ~8 ^1 V
5 S( b; B: i0 u( [* E, O4 S- O; u
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) - L/ a5 G" @4 {9 D0 ^% J, B: K) b# V3 `
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)4 x, g& l" o4 k
4 _: W9 f9 g% P a9 ^. M/ m7 s8 l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.) [' x; c: w1 F. k6 `
4 f& C* W9 ^7 Y5 ^3 P- ^9 {此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" A. D: ~& H8 d+ P1 O
% B4 k* @& i9 X
: b8 F, C+ T( X9 U$ s% n 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」。 4 s8 j$ K0 _1 i. B/ y " C& r q& m; L- O) X/ e例如: 5 C! _1 ~; V9 S! P0 k- o0 A: C3 Z5 I; |! v/ X& ]' u7 X" i4 {# ~
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)) w4 l- u! f' n1 y5 b7 a3 ~
/ Q3 f G$ `# G5 D3 p6 |6 rManpower 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) * A+ Z# r8 K. F. H8 s# ]% V$ ?" O% q7 w) h; n
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)7 v% s4 K7 y5 k1 R: s
; q" Y3 V, q. _5 \" M1 |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。) - ?& b A0 g4 @ B; @. D6 V- B* T- s
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。) $ a+ y3 `: ]; w. o6 j5 R , h A: z7 o: {9 n( c$ @; i5 |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) 5 Y# z& A, c; S& u' k' D+ V/ |0 w
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) ( z$ D4 n& l$ J! t- m' t3 w$ l ; [5 Y0 V: g% W: y# I MStewardesses 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。)& H7 O# l" u( T, `# P
% \' D" }3 ]/ A2 O; l: 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。 5 K' _9 \3 Z6 b4 D X4 _/ ^, I# z6 d, L( r
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: & u! J: c9 H- ~+ y2 o7 {/ C/ T0 p5 N& k Z" F
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; 4 k$ c# M$ W' g. K6 u6 B( X. k1 T+ O8 _* o
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; / ^- U8 ~. s: \+ K: P! S w2 G' ~9 o# D
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;$ q3 q' m3 M9 O. B* z
- x3 r) R' I; N2 ~- z
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 9 t3 p/ p5 G/ O( W- N, Z2 r9 O4 \& ^- k6 Q2 E" v6 C& ~0 r
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: 3 A- a& ^: r o! J8 {( [- I( N$ I5 A/ i" I, ^* E9 _
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)。 ) l& d+ A. S+ P$ v" {+ k* z* L( f, N' P. w c7 z4 g1 h* F: n E
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)。 0 x- ?* G4 Q! p