本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # P% L6 {3 w/ u% L
& t+ h% H0 q1 m1 j( j# K 转帖 1 }# e1 o3 C( D+ y, I: Y1. 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) 9 C6 J) N( i) Q9 M C c 2 k: c0 Q; I% Q; V6 r例如: ! E3 _' w4 J1 `" ?7 F( j1 m+ s# q _6 c& U- n7 I
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)# \+ N; q( @) D$ b
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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。); O* [7 v" q1 P3 Z5 _3 v# p
6 u L; o7 r( q0 Z# g! bThis 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)1 ]9 H& T5 @1 x, c9 ~
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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?). E4 N9 O, o2 r: W. X) k% m4 k
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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。) ; D5 l+ A) ]/ H/ x6 V2 O 1 W9 v6 Y# H) I' F# J( {/ b" e* ]; MMr. 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)3 Z+ ]7 h) ?3 \7 f% u# {
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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!)% b8 r1 F/ R0 f; j/ B1 a
! e" G+ k8 S$ \$ `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)- P6 a; r9 P4 {8 A$ S r+ L
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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。) 4 P8 T6 g0 c6 g, u1 D. R7 Q) F6 N+ f4 u7 q) Q: [
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?) ! f6 K0 @, H+ A; Y* C1 n4 M) n! P3 [6 m7 s: i( O( V% q
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! $ j% ^; y* \2 b5 o$ m) g, j5 w$ X
% R+ J9 i. \+ s* V- G 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。 5 x( F9 M4 }1 O7 w9 \; H & c0 e* ]. y$ H b例如: ! ^- [. S; `. r$ I9 x% x- ^4 c$ _2 O$ w3 h# V* y
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)% G/ Z/ r2 ^" d( m) n9 }/ n
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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) $ H6 B) Z, Z. c1 O D5 e4 r8 B8 _9 f! [+ V' S& F k6 X) d( d
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) r5 g c/ F6 Z8 L. Y7 Z4 o. { ^$ }1 `6 i! z4 v5 THe 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) 7 q2 y$ N9 f% `) f: \' v6 s, a. d. E, d& f2 @$ z- d& |1 r& i
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)! M& M) {' |9 G% x# d; v% H
# ` l7 n$ \: O5 S. Y7 v7 OShe 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)% x+ r0 a3 }8 G4 s/ }; [3 F8 k
9 m6 u* Z$ T- |% Z7 v7 h7 ~I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)/ r4 g( X- s1 m# v- s0 ~
& D8 _! ^$ u+ U2 ?) Y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: % s' ~! E& a2 D8 d0 V* n( a) j z/ w- ~$ F7 g( ^; d' q! n3 J* V6 D5 j
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。) & V( |2 @/ Y1 [& u4 a 7 r. r6 j" c" A1 @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.); U- w; M5 H- _2 @+ C6 k
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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。) # J0 l) O* x3 z8 ]9 _: y2 b - O1 s0 O O* k. A3 |; SHe 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)# v" {6 u9 Y' q7 V- a' }
" C0 D1 n0 m! `4 q: o% q) a! W1 y3 qWe 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) 8 N& y$ j2 q4 `# y2 K5 ]: {3 I) W2 ~
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) : ~7 }( I! j$ ~! c( e F- B0 `6 ]# Z# q+ N& q7 O
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.) 4 \$ p8 [5 q r8 x1 j: l; r; p6 c6 \7 t5 e
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" c2 y# L. J: g* d9 M
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: T/ @ C8 t* D3.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」。% F+ J- t& _% s- m1 b
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例如: 4 s, q) f! U1 J q6 L2 P% D% E& i( P2 Y+ p, S
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) $ |; n* G3 W& K' I$ E& V8 |- V" | 6 C; x9 `* o' U/ k9 I4 ^# q- b1 j5 DManpower 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) 2 r D1 a8 i3 g* T- N2 l/ T 8 K! b C" a; Q* J/ VThis 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)/ e' {* F2 U1 ?
" {% V2 ?5 a( I: L6 V9 n4 THe (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。) - f: I% G N t. h4 u: Y" s2 J* d
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。) ( E3 s6 a. Z$ B; S5 Y4 f; @( T3 w $ D y! v, X- z, O$ J. x; Q9 bPolicemen (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 N0 b6 b* L6 U' P- g& q& O- J% U: c/ P \4 e% T8 l6 G/ C
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)' ?" T; a8 S& v8 F. u
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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。)/ z( ^" k2 I0 Q' T
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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。2 L g* [) V5 \2 { e# i% u
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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: Y4 H) a2 o: N8 Y8 @1 U! c% Q$ \
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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; . @& G6 i5 Y$ I! P% i + u: W1 x# R" `: ^* Q8 d7 w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; 1 v4 g+ g: ?: ~1 @1 K& w3 K1 i9 C$ ]! R
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;9 g5 ], T1 e) [ {& j
5 ^. O J4 F4 X R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)。& Z2 V0 |. |: F$ O