本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * q# _5 D; s7 v' F; R
# ~+ Y! j6 [1 | 转帖 % X) }& L' |; X k% h, Z1. 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): }8 O- h5 u) G( H% _% E' ^% f% j
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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) 0 r' Z/ C" Y3 T5 T& C, L* R% X6 M! w / v7 s+ X, b0 v4 j8 [% b# fThree 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。)$ P @& ~# w+ {
4 z# ~7 S( x" Z% [' R1 s1 NThis 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) 6 r3 x7 U, L: f" Z: |( H6 B# \ c* X+ u, _4 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?)( ~- d$ X2 D. r2 G
9 w3 X( T$ b! ?- F7 K( w% e yI 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。)6 j. o0 I1 z9 t8 R( c1 I
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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) / u% [( B8 T9 C2 I( W+ d5 |+ {, ^9 e1 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!)! A" O g- R6 x4 j7 Z' |
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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) 6 D+ r0 L. @3 k0 s& o6 M$ Y$ f+ W; J4 g" 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。) , s0 v. z# T, S: i; Z# s& [ 7 p: t# b& g' m4 p" L/ sPlease 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. b8 W) o& k$ O1 i. j
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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!0 e) K- O) {4 F" g2 c
3 t" P2 D3 i& y8 A2 g" v: g( l6 I/ c% D4 Y 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。 & V5 x# v, l H, S+ a2 e - ^1 \, e& d( O. Z: N9 ~例如:5 \# y. X* A7 x, g% q( g# q' z
' w3 C& h- U' j$ BAt 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) |) x1 Q$ M5 h3 X" |: D/ E2 b/ I" Y. r
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) ( @% _1 |. F; y- Y. v& ?9 l9 q$ @0 E9 Q& T3 w4 J& L$ R8 l
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) * W% P( c0 C H( u+ W/ e1 v: ]: e" j5 P0 f0 @2 @0 a
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) ~2 x8 ]) Y2 I. P# J# [3 Q# e 9 r. }( v+ F) A# T F( hIn 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) 2 X: M2 B! b/ F; L/ y! Q' N; h& E5 a9 w1 [6 G* z$ u
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)* u3 \/ O2 l6 M
& \. W6 o% o* sI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): T1 h; D& J" G& C. t7 g
5 N# i0 s' q6 ]% B& F. G6 H. U" G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: ) l! U- n4 d2 F- q. } N Q$ L9 D4 x+ A' H5 G- u: l. ]% @2 k5 C
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。) 3 C w2 R( ^1 r0 u+ K' z% ? - @- o4 k5 a: j4 FThe 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.)2 K* h: N( ]1 O: B4 b) u' m
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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。) r8 Y4 a; N: k. z2 T* Y
2 I9 |( R; K4 EHe 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 o* N+ X# g/ K8 t9 X3 ]5 E8 q( Z0 K5 y% F1 \0 {" @3 I
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) , k7 q/ b* @2 N. A) r 2 U: o, M/ l5 |/ {. _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)9 c. S. @, T( I3 V7 @5 Q
5 P/ r( j; q" `: `4 F: }" b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.) 2 `% I8 u2 }( f: Y8 z6 f 8 O" _; l- }3 i) |8 a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 6 f( C) C( `# Q' c2 M/ B o , X3 A' P1 j9 B! Y8 _/ r0 [0 Z. {( ?# G 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」。 9 S- a5 Y, Q, b0 N1 @- \) Y+ T- X# h* a
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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) # [ K, H0 z- w. I7 A$ @6 ~- O7 g1 j& ?' L* {4 t- ?
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)1 v; c* M" { f( z
- a [# X9 b5 l: w# JThis 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) & b1 x L. F- N ~; u' u: [ ) v" G) V- ^7 Z) Q0 h: o+ F) zHe (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 t( y7 \5 {; n ( b- A2 u5 ^& m* d3 W* H6 w! S- hMany 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。) \7 m2 Q7 I0 u' ~9 B
+ ^ E% y, b9 `, L7 ^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)' p5 D, v( ?& |4 K* U0 u
2 o3 v3 g6 S5 H( ^; s* ]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) . e; I% ~, `3 n ^. S9 e& K, I4 P& i1 N% ^' _5 c j
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。) ; D- y( n" J! e% A& d ^( Z2 Z$ }3 G! u! m* F5 N. L+ p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。: X7 s+ i' ~* z7 M5 I5 K/ C
$ L& Z3 \, \# I$ `3 p. H: V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: . L: x6 t* M/ N. U' T; |' i ) ~4 `+ Z) p. s) N9 ^3 k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; P6 _5 Z0 Z9 B
) C1 | K* k" c2 {# O对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;& Q/ `! W9 s% Y9 ]& e' ?4 O8 r
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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: ; F0 q u4 a$ U5 u# z9 g6 [% e. i5 s: D& y9 Z
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)。. Z- x/ Q, Q n5 J
7 ^, d* z' I( B2 g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)。 $ x4 ~+ B( \/ |: I5 C/ r8 ?& ?3 Q