本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 ^6 C( P# ?/ e3 ^- _5 C4 m+ P, W 3 n4 @& c: T0 d. `. B. }* F转帖 ~1 w O% E3 n4 x7 [+ u; s1. 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) : D- k$ k2 q _* ~+ a- g " x6 W7 _2 t" D例如:6 L6 r0 {7 D4 l) S$ U) Q5 b
1 }9 I; h! Z2 o' Z$ z, @' VMany 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) 7 ^5 u6 k E5 b. h5 [5 d4 z* P1 \1 T0 P8 u, Q4 v6 Y0 x
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。) 4 E* @; G5 y4 z; X3 N9 `% u 7 ]* F- x2 a; y: N. `! F( [) q6 xThis 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) ) Q1 g* m5 i% p) d* w& y C( a. R( n& E- u: T
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?)" g' c: W! J w/ ?, E( t, O
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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。)" D4 Y% g- V4 [; j* e
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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) ) C& I4 s1 s3 I% g& V* r7 \0 G! M , p; T: \/ ~% U+ z' }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!) ' v4 y5 E9 C1 x' v" j2 J & v6 F7 I: b) Z1 L6 t( m, |/ KThe 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) . X% E9 C5 [" \4 W- N6 d( W " V2 f8 U0 V9 e; X lWe 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。) 4 H) P+ U/ i" ^, T0 p5 W' I5 x
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?) ( A: Y" X, H% a' X9 q* q) U3 c3 j) H) ~1 s0 n+ f, m3 _2 F' }) m
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! 9 [$ q G( ~, N2 D7 B d6 N. q- m* e2 q8 {
& \, d# Z( F( C- `* R2 M2. 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。: Y( `% M9 r4 X9 C$ e
: f6 i$ G; z6 ?+ N% t1 W7 j例如:. M& Z8 ~' o# H$ L' f4 i
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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)! U2 |- i; E- G; h
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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), K9 C- r/ ?& C. {- a i" J. d- J
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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)% q1 n$ A+ i% A: l) g. G/ z. b
: L# U; m4 U. W- i6 x( QHe 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)+ i' H1 @3 d4 A
- T s" f- j- C9 ~/ _& pIn 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! R+ {3 w- G6 Z$ Z0 _4 G1 q9 _
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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) , r; P! E+ Y2 Z7 ]7 [$ R 3 H; E0 r) E( |* z( n% B% JI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' U1 T/ _4 j- f: V5 l+ \+ G- p6 N* i6 j8 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:2 B9 D$ Q5 F# _, H9 t6 s
; C( G2 |6 L7 g! {1 ~) NThe 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。)8 s+ F5 Y) o J% A% p
8 C8 k' S2 V* S: ~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.): S' D5 m5 b$ k" Q# d0 m3 ?$ i
% a) K M2 H. p& F$ |6 }1 nHe 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。) 8 H7 ~ n b% p0 i5 u8 _ ?" O% Q+ O3 w6 g: [& t4 M0 D
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) % n1 }$ p& I0 @0 E, C3 E' [1 Z: W9 ~ m
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)! u6 y9 S( _- I, \1 P( T
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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)6 I) V' S, x' H
$ O" a$ e; a; ?: L3 C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.) 6 \) A; [& g+ J3 N6 g' F) {7 E/ [5 S7 X' R, V I, H) m
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。: p. n2 |" Q u
# Y+ w1 u3 t* U" V , a8 l( ^+ E& i# s" @5 P3.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」。& }" z/ p k" V7 S# ?1 r+ u
& R# S7 e. p, h9 j/ b8 ]$ x* ~, q例如: & p' |) r& S9 x- u+ c. _ , o5 S: l$ \# M7 W! QMankind 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) & U, J3 M3 l* a; G3 {. g8 D% i T& `, y' n
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) : L7 n! ^6 T/ j' D3 f( [+ ~7 S4 R5 y+ u( q' c% i, O
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) 6 _$ t' e) Y2 O9 k. r: |" y - k! h1 S' K3 I6 \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。)2 @$ j! r% `# U) f* }+ y
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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。) % Q1 I3 J4 W2 Y Z . ~2 P3 U! ]7 ~/ G. dPolicemen (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)# S+ _0 z+ E1 G
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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)0 Z$ K/ C g, f! \) t' i. E
5 ]- j( \) q( \ AStewardesses 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。) + i* \3 x5 g' e' P/ J& M" n" _ 3 k% s9 L& B1 `1 A8 D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 F$ X. L3 ?. W( s* i$ v q% S1 \
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: 9 C* P/ E6 R# ~3 ~0 N5 x . H: z2 q& {) T' 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; 5 N9 V; E4 _* u2 b( E# F- B: X% j* @9 k
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& q- n7 @; J* `* n( w" e/ | , h- E. q* G' u对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ I/ H" V) y* T' o) O