本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 & G6 x' H5 s. D. D9 @8 m. ?# D9 T1 g5 e) K2 y% @6 Y. u& C 转帖 % r, c; I! p6 {" w, G4 C1. 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)+ U2 m: h/ h; B9 D9 @
( O3 |" O: r b例如: 0 h- n. u/ j0 v! X6 i . ?' g; q; e8 d4 B+ xMany 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), k; I6 Z8 S3 j9 m' K
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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。)2 ]' G( s4 u# q3 z
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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) $ o0 l9 D' Z8 @# e 3 P, a. y* x/ T2 }: E! n: ~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?)) V9 r3 F9 @6 K0 T- w! ~3 S' v Y; \
1 t8 E' H3 R" [4 ^+ Y* 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。) $ ^" ^) X! k" W0 s* ^; B: X . @( N/ C' ~1 |4 _) EMr. 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) + R3 o( g9 B. L. a u+ @1 d 0 x( n$ D& |4 a. E' _/ jWe 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$ y/ S8 v0 G
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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) 7 V D( ]/ U8 x/ R1 q3 {' Q; M5 E* e
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。) " c9 p! Q/ \" h3 Y1 M! ~# P( _" i* F1 ~: W8 L
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?) " h, a. \- L3 p! R T. l& Z( E8 N5 f5 L! c O" 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! . P) p+ S, R0 M( V- t8 ?; O2 p. ^! S
* U, u" L2 _' b# G: `' R/ m, |1 ] 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。$ }6 U5 @9 B8 x! y% }
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例如: 8 B! }0 F, q, d7 K+ A7 Y 6 ?1 S+ d4 t% E3 f$ y- B( h6 hAt 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) * n& d2 G$ y& J4 Q: `+ q- H* J1 i |
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)1 k' A+ f" J5 h( \" ?" Y
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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) * C3 t: c" `/ U. X7 n' D; X- a" c( x
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) - F) ?* [/ b8 [7 s& F . q; e+ Q- t6 |1 RIn 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) 6 m& J! r. x; ~ - S+ [' ^+ K- \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), f: M: i0 F. R3 _ l6 u, H* i0 R
1 z7 F. i6 o- II will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 x$ D0 ~$ Z e4 _ 1 m7 q* e5 j& b* R; U$ k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:- U% S" _; r8 E4 a
) o6 I* S# B. g1 tThe 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。) 8 H' X0 c; [* y: n6 s1 ~8 e$ b+ a L8 Q* p
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.) 7 E, D+ _) G+ _1 D; H8 D. ~) Y9 k, [# @) e" Q
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。) ! }3 ?( c& w9 K, B6 N " f5 K/ O" {& L4 W3 }. THe 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) . c" {6 L6 q- }$ j/ _: ~6 C $ u( ?% b/ r" UWe 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) 1 N' |2 W$ x3 |8 g) H# }0 d% {* L: f0 J% ]( w, e# d( C
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)( {0 M9 \ \6 k6 O$ D* s+ q' m
8 S: t% |) B+ U, w2 R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.)2 Z% B9 k! |9 R! }4 |" ]
: D; U# k& c8 N1 K此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 _3 R/ p( R t* B- p6 {) |& F7 |" G+ r9 m* c2 a9 t: D/ x
* ], B' T8 C) J$ x 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」。/ U: E7 g' O/ k3 T; v0 N [
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7 A1 w, K* K3 dMankind 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) # K0 P$ J" R" |; s1 m; s. E( y- I" I* t* R' S8 y. y, `& C
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)- K1 W- x$ ]3 u2 W3 Z
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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) 8 R8 ?8 _5 M" ^& l& T+ h% J3 R. {" |3 {% f7 X9 N6 A4 F
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。)6 I( ~0 a$ p; l- T
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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。)5 h$ l3 B; Q( n4 g/ z3 i# J
7 M, Q1 G M( b' j8 H! @0 ^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) / r! o9 v3 p. q3 C( |8 i * u) X/ U) m/ ?( E& }3 R- D% TCongressmen (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) ) M2 [$ _) j+ l* u3 y4 t" N8 k' T5 d8 a8 v3 a. F
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。) # e. A. ?- a4 i9 v' |; ~0 k' `2 H8 X
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 R7 o# C5 S: i1 H2 m8 s. v1 j* u/ H
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:9 Y* g% c* j- y* f1 t
, s( X) b" G f z' f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; " Z& Q" ^% r8 e/ F3 e/ S$ C, R5 |4 z' U8 }
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; ! D5 [7 p7 F' T; L/ J9 {4 `% n - V5 E4 t6 I2 F- `* s' ~% O8 u' F, x对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; " D( b3 k" N" { V. @, l7 q3 ^' q- M4 d) V
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 L2 P9 r9 a0 E1 r6 m3 t% C0 m' E2 z. i }) O5 b
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:% t0 @/ _# m1 W
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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)。' i6 D$ T5 q% ]8 G
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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)。) c! L9 v5 g8 Y6 V& Z; F1 a4 C