本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 & y( a* _, N, a& r2 b4 Z% u: ]( z" ? 转帖8 ^6 E, l3 \& }4 D. m6 B+ C* Y
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( s( ]9 F! ]$ S0 W8 t ! A9 ^4 Q. [9 p0 r2 Z例如: , m1 [" c8 z( G9 g0 l- M4 V 7 a% C' q: ?9 M* M Y! WMany 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). a* U" Z% L, a+ q
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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。) ) j( j: y+ h1 M4 I 8 M& ^$ l* H9 DThis 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 ], k- H R. |) q q
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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?) * j- j. g; E1 w9 n; z" Q! o+ I9 K" 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。) 6 l% A0 k" s/ L' {0 ]- Q/ I/ ` : f# _0 V% l5 L* G" q- Z8 `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)' l$ l3 W! ^' j9 M# e6 h1 F: b+ w
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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!)! k9 X4 L9 R; O
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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)& d. o$ l, k7 l9 Z
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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。)+ g4 l* P. l1 v0 ^( Y4 k
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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?) * V0 H. b9 `- V& d$ V, Z% Y6 @: k5 R8 i1 k
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! J6 P' Y/ h* F" v" h) a 2 e# d9 i+ I) r8 @- d% s * }3 i5 Z: u, Y: k/ Q+ B# O/ J2. 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。 # N o! W% i/ @- f5 I6 d + Q3 e' J( m. ^$ r5 {% @; ]- j7 _例如: % m3 P4 y, e4 O; i6 N* D Z4 ^! y! A$ E1 L, g5 |
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)( \6 u3 {7 `& \# e3 l
^. \2 M% Z. K# sDespite 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)7 z ~* V4 r1 V0 b
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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) 0 }# u) U* C! s& f- S( t# ~* s8 q1 { o! p' X" Z
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), [5 \. u* v# E
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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) 1 A3 ]$ q" r# e0 Z! E2 T; K 6 o" I$ [% P; d) t- P/ ^, 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) ' }& n# G* L! {1 o) r# B* Z- m
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) F: N8 v [7 g/ F. o% ~9 M% j3 E
5 b* O; P8 g c/ D& U3 B4 ~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: 5 t9 e# C0 F; U6 B7 R# V6 _ B$ R a+ b) ?: \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。) " q0 s* S8 E: k4 I. U3 g. P8 k6 O! m, d2 e
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.) ; p7 T/ M! Z2 R( q ~5 `+ [, j1 u' W/ qHe 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。)$ C4 ~* Z; m, x) M5 ^
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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)/ l9 X0 H3 U H# _" f% C- b/ V
% C$ b. _. c" B x' k" x1 T) k, ~" eWe 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): I) W3 ?- ^+ ~% w
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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) 7 G/ s' |$ d1 u3 W9 G- \ ; q3 C% ^* V) n6 `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.)0 I. e- F& P3 f) ^
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! L# k P0 C! k8 W% W, g
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& d {) \) q, s T' X2 s4 ` 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 y) l5 B q" |) A& Q
1 j' k. O' v; g, z! m+ [4 ^7 L例如: ( r! Q9 @- m0 B) L3 ^ p/ ^3 |$ ?8 D! M0 Z. D: \4 q5 H
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( m( b3 h/ E- U8 A6 L! Y 7 Z9 G7 E, p+ o2 p% H7 j; }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) , e) O& f6 p9 S+ p) ^* G1 w' g% p" K9 l+ S2 L9 u5 g( v
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)- y' g$ E5 k0 j: r9 k9 V" w/ j9 J
) p r7 k4 o, R% EHe (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。) 3 F T, D. u3 Z; O& W% Z: n- L( A2 n! u* w& k7 ?, ^" i- e m+ @
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。)' f: P& K7 \; p, H9 S& [1 n& \% g5 s* D
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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)4 d" v% b( g4 A$ O* p5 e7 T
6 b7 o$ G' I& }- wCongressmen (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) , m, m. X9 _8 p L3 U' r* V ! \( k2 ~0 D! N6 s" I( F% U6 F2 {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。) - A) S9 I- U) {0 l7 h* `- b! p5 K3 I4 m" R1 S
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。% V" ^& ?* v0 U1 c
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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:2 N" R8 i# e! T5 X: V