本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 ?# n+ L5 `% ^0 K, X& o& [/ W0 S6 o) N( L ^ 转帖2 f0 ~1 d6 l) R( 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) ; v; }/ ?$ x2 l4 ^9 E- ^! k* U" Q' G% y6 k# I! w8 \5 P8 m/ Y
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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)! q; L) A% T% x
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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。). s* i$ U' [+ t3 t5 v
, }( D/ T0 [2 F8 JThis 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)5 ~7 x$ d# R7 H, _' x) y* O6 Q6 r
3 F9 H; Y3 O4 U; }8 e. ~! {. FThe 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?)# H. T- r2 d: r. a7 y% J2 [% v
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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。)+ P$ o& O9 C8 k
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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)3 F+ ?$ Y6 ]$ d; h' s
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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!) 8 A, F+ [# J/ a: j* O, r* Z" g% u2 B3 v7 V5 _
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) 9 e6 A/ t+ |8 h! p, ~/ c" O' X7 P. f- S5 y% W' J
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。) + B( e( `. p8 K: k6 L6 k% c % x( h2 }6 i. B4 w0 Q6 GPlease 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?) 1 R) n; w: @: d5 _5 { 3 ] Y7 N; l' |9 w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!8 {/ y/ S) G+ w) E6 E5 }
$ ?9 C1 p& I& }! m - }, B# Y$ C! `1 w2. 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。 7 z8 x6 D! D. ^3 c1 _" z: K7 a: C& b3 v p& y! [5 x
例如: 2 M% F5 G3 j1 T, d: U; R } " l0 ?% z1 E- p6 ~& O2 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)% c$ n' K* l" O1 Y9 u
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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)& @, a, b% l1 }, @0 [* V
# o. }0 |) ^3 @" ]' PI 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' D% F3 J- C* F |2 i4 y
! L" O9 R4 x* m% E/ PHe 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) & I0 q2 A$ H) c1 i % M9 J* N4 [0 |+ k( [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)) @' n D4 f# r" B0 w5 X
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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)! R9 k! ?6 l- f# j! A8 O, }- l
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( _9 u+ k& `# t6 p" O6 c
. Q3 I' h/ e. A/ j/ _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: x- [& Y3 x7 \: W8 g
. l8 x. u; b; l/ V' cThe 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。) ! L" \ e7 a; p$ ?1 k' g$ Q/ `. h
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.)- [6 |2 g* W C# J- m5 |+ ?
8 g( s6 ]" N/ i9 K( |9 dHe 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。) , C' z) u( D# A; U' J/ S( y0 E ; a& I; u' ~2 L' `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) ' x) n7 I/ Q8 x4 Q T: \( ~2 C4 b9 Q) f, }& _5 }2 q2 r
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) 3 f) L( v& p) Y+ o6 Z& y" ]9 e2 @9 n# n$ 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)" W1 q* N8 Q8 `
: {$ u: \* e1 E# f+ S! Q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.): {" V- ~0 n+ O4 y* n
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; B1 c% x! \7 J' g0 l- S4 o. |
+ a+ ^6 R# P/ X8 |" ?0 b) g2 o/ m例如:) q: C1 ?9 p% ^/ T1 u. A; Z1 _
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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) ! P. \' {# ?7 h( [7 ~" Z5 G; o" r# K* 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)0 a i" D8 ]! L. d
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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) f& g. Y* A. s! i. C
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He (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。) & Z8 p5 Y3 q- G- r/ l) E% F% _) x9 l- H! F+ { E! p% ?( }
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。) 3 M6 ~& V' t$ j9 j7 F6 b: |# j4 G* @6 p) m# Q" T
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) * h2 A; Z5 Y0 D5 `1 Y : o+ n. l# z ?, yCongressmen (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). j A3 m' C1 h+ o$ F
! Z- I) ?6 g# x( e( xStewardesses 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。)$ B/ ?( n7 F+ B" l- ]' S. o
$ u p# H! R7 f6 T8 {$ M9 i1 y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 Z$ s! ^2 S! B9 K% P
) @& O1 o" F, p: i2 z! 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: * v# m- M, P* S) r7 E' A6 \. }* K D. |. t8 i0 x# G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;& J/ B2 W% R, V2 Z* G/ v T
. c) H/ G! J% t; _$ z/ {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; " n; A* Q, n5 Y4 |; b) h, O8 g7 r, E9 G+ p7 f o3 u/ ?) G9 E
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 {/ C. F' m8 Z3 [9 R, E }. k6 c: [3 [3 w' h1 B
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; & |$ Z, D1 S8 c5 ~ ! \* v% E% x8 d$ _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: 1 e* Z* n3 E/ x5 c0 g" i/ q' z$ ?3 L- L4 M& U! o
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)。, p- M# Q4 ]5 F7 I/ e
3 ?3 |' J- F7 D' E2 t$ s& Z- E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)。2 S" d5 y# ]5 R