本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , q% k% ]: Y, }3 A
& q1 |9 J+ d: f 转帖 % m H* P2 S, D& [! F5 Z4 n3 r I# `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) # B% Z, R+ `$ R/ L8 @/ C, O7 ^5 |% h& F: m: ^ T7 [
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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) ) g \9 J8 |3 V' W2 k2 L8 H9 Y/ m/ K# \- r* t8 T
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。) + A( ?" N; X( @0 {. F6 j; ?3 g: W( l
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)3 h' h4 b, E) ^
2 O/ J B- N" e/ 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 B7 o. K8 Q8 I" L
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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。)% B3 L; a6 |6 E: {! G# k
+ _/ b. \! ^* U8 c( R- aMr. 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) & T# J6 l$ d& N7 q0 N: M ( h( o1 Q( R' Q$ bWe 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!) : @& S0 d- f, T) W* a# e7 M ; q& p1 K; Y" g4 v: o- 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) 0 L T- Y2 m: x0 m, M0 U8 Q. c% d! _6 l% U+ ]
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。)3 w) m) }, ^& b: N
1 c% q G1 R7 ?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?) ( V, C# d& B @' A1 b : F" s7 {5 d$ }' y6 P0 U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! & g' n0 `3 G* }! F+ U" F a) L7 l3 Q: z9 C
( ] \! i4 } q2. 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" R6 T! E3 w. T5 }* J
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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)1 I6 S0 X/ y: M
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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) . u2 J/ K! E; C8 o( g2 `# {( T- v* e" g# A" L3 N& h
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) " X! ~( P5 l: P# K( ^# ~1 U2 N$ N- q- W2 J
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) " b3 @ I& a: V; ]8 S: a2 w/ z. p7 t6 W+ B6 e) O
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) : y3 Y' o' W- N5 |: S/ { ( @' y! C( F/ K9 L; j4 R1 e4 o: aShe 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)7 u+ K3 ^2 M, z+ Y1 u! c
8 s" Y, V* I7 ]3 m9 vI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)- B. _7 s7 |; d6 |
+ B- i0 W; w( |5 a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: ( {6 |! d6 v/ q0 ?- X5 J 2 }+ ]* M: W u( bThe 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。)) ^/ c" E6 S: b" A9 t w
3 A) ^9 `& J& c' \+ C+ JThe 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.) 3 A5 `4 F: f9 j: K- k6 S % `6 `& g: t& _8 X5 F- lHe 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 { S, \9 I! r( }
" g. z' T! 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) |' n! ?6 l" a6 T3 D- i
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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) ( a4 g. \, n' D: b, ^, c/ M! `6 o- f' T( c1 \, _
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 Y8 g) R7 P& Y: F! ~) l1 [3 v7 S / u6 L: H+ K2 j/ d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.) . t5 k3 E7 A$ G, u' o4 ~/ @9 p. y: G) @ 3 B: F/ {# Q; r. z% u此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 + L* F% ? R \1 r% y2 ~! D6 ^0 |0 K' R, e* q, h0 g# O
; @; i( \! O3 Y( O# \- C, s 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 @3 B' L ]# L" R# Z+ u% Z, R$ |: p: B) |/ A$ P
例如: O- Y4 V& s8 Y- ` " H( Z+ h1 o4 F. XMankind 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) 5 _5 H1 J/ k5 B3 {/ L4 Z) K) I4 R
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)4 a! O" n* T P: E9 [
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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) 9 Q" p: c, Y5 D * {7 P8 u# c0 ]0 UHe (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。) % y0 q7 \+ @/ v8 ?; ^" x `) v+ m0 C3 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。) . q% } S: \. `! F " t6 P m* b5 p6 w4 i7 ~2 N3 e2 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) 3 d' C% A1 M ]# W1 E; u6 o! {" s* m( O
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). U8 j d+ s+ m% W8 m, y% K% }0 G
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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 `' D" _( ?$ a5 ?
# L1 w+ f6 p+ r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。. e7 I+ S8 F% S h1 S' x
! H% l& N( H; p' e: u* [4 a5 t: 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: Y& z0 y( n4 |
; r5 J. M. D; m% c8 ?- i( S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; d1 m7 `, \* q! r+ z
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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;" s' n* J6 C; c' c+ g0 I8 L& N2 ]
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;" D( h2 S& b3 n) [& @8 a
$ R x& J5 i+ T9 }3 n2 d Y' T8 G对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;# e/ H% M$ u+ @! ^
% d6 w5 [( E. M/ `" w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: : w' Z! N' y M+ L- K( X# l) E+ K" r+ R' m. E7 ~
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)。7 w! W- L. ~: |0 d: A2 w
/ b8 C1 s; ~+ a" w9 j5 t4 w' 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)。/ l8 G7 h/ u: k8 x$ R# I5 e