本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 b/ X' ~+ l! \% R- e5 @' y- h ; w5 X W+ {, z F8 U转帖 * p& M, ]/ d: a: N0 d1. 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) . O/ m/ Z8 L& G; k, T, B3 F3 x1 @" H* ^8 V, K1 s$ t/ Z" _; T" {
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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) ; h7 C& _4 H$ [% g/ G. \ ; i, Z* o8 `) @1 y" f- g& pThree 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。). y9 G/ w: U7 J/ a( @# Q/ V9 a4 t
' V# @0 \* w2 L8 O. S: H |9 V$ a& kThis 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)& X0 W8 H: e" w! X9 Y: v
4 n# A. t d* ^4 U, jThe 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?). S; O7 ^# ^; @- V7 N
. l% e/ B( x+ }) ZI 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。) 5 [9 j3 [+ o s+ k# H5 a2 T ^6 V5 L) J* X
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) ! S" @; ]% X# f B 3 ~1 ?# N3 ]9 e Q4 j3 G+ DWe 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!)$ u* N. E5 Y9 u1 v
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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): G9 b6 i% z7 S$ x* j8 \
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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。)( w% h9 U' B( M/ n* z" w
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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?)0 ~" |/ u u0 b
9 k! R; d2 @, U( v- E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! ; [5 k0 j# c" ?/ O3 g + e5 ?3 i" U1 T3 Y6 w5 h4 }" ? 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。 & K) \5 C8 d; t& f7 X- J( b9 e4 N9 O. x8 R5 W: m
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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) + g/ K* s' i8 B/ o" i- I; r V/ I0 M" g6 O% c4 G7 X; V3 S$ Z
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) % \ W% k, L8 n# `# L# j% x; g4 R* M) {. _$ 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)& M2 G" v2 b& y2 m* i2 l
: S* L9 a( c" t9 q2 g, hHe 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) ) B& p& L% }; w! g8 _. H * f: k" L6 w/ }+ h5 @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) , G1 Y o3 u- u$ P7 W - `* W4 v7 D/ O7 PShe 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) % D: p0 E! t' W. l( s, z' |5 W+ r) E9 Y- N0 \$ ^7 N
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) & U$ l7 q' a( {1 x# R' l. ~1 U! h* w! ?
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; [, Q+ O5 P% L: M5 H$ H9 N ) k- H: h9 L, H2 ?! {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。)* K1 O; m7 R% n
: Y, Y: h' n. I, G, b' U- D; ^: \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.) & Y: {0 d* ` b9 |8 o / J; z5 s- ?9 j. A- V- P& cHe 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。) 6 k$ H( x5 r) X+ j# r4 ^1 z& w+ { 4 @; q4 O) M3 h3 R2 e1 @' O1 qHe 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) - E+ U0 s% z# F* r& a: I: c1 Z1 D0 l Q7 G# b
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) + \, e Z1 A% V6 S% j5 a6 J' w, W# T1 j2 P& Y8 q
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) : a! I. m8 J" ` 0 I1 u8 g6 f3 Q9 B" ] C1 ~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.)8 v7 |8 W. n+ z$ {
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 6 O3 I. l) F" h! L% X4 o+ H3 O5 ~( k
2 R# K+ ]( R! X1 d9 ]2 S( 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」。% U% L' X2 L+ i0 C) {8 v* U
% Z0 k5 `( D2 S2 f( O/ \! b例如: 3 b& H1 `- l, C# T. T6 t $ U, m1 B% B( J) `4 Z. _$ kMankind 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)6 v) F9 u7 [+ F) B
# d$ j$ E# S' F) `& wManpower 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 J9 v ]- C5 I% Z' `- a 5 a9 o5 N9 Z. dThis 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 E# o0 f. h" o1 X: R. P: N7 c2 h
6 @2 O6 U: y" ^/ jHe (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。)$ Z- f; W& t* i3 Y% Q
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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。) - ~) z$ M, {& z! u9 [" d9 }" w! z4 |* H" R) L. X7 U7 c
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) ' n* g% b8 z& f' k, x 5 E- }. B: c+ ]! p0 T" Y; xCongressmen (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) 4 _$ N+ P# C1 z$ } ) r* d6 Y" H5 E K" [7 dStewardesses 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。) + P5 Q* h$ _# U% w ! W) e+ C0 y, }" N% C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。. O: ?, [7 P1 S
- A9 E! T1 J# J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: , o' I7 j8 Q1 S' w8 |% l ; c1 k. X9 V6 M' u, X% X7 E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;; }& {) s4 n& H7 M+ {- K. d8 m i
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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;! \6 _/ q% B( |
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;8 T, }" x4 q3 N( l
, }% B/ d( M, a2 K; P& X对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;; J0 ?' x) B0 q& l Z0 {# i
& a9 V. H' m) O2 V# v' c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:& }" F) T+ w/ v' a8 K9 i* j: ?& k
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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)。6 n& t# S# e v" f# b6 |
* L4 R9 ]; L2 |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)。 . w" [4 U. E7 U, D