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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); O' J* b! Y6 [# c
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例如: 3 a b& C7 U; ~/ @$ R * Z& ?$ U4 r4 M: g$ YMany 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) 6 S- E P7 r! I; ]4 s7 L! F1 R7 ]! [
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。)' r/ E) |* X7 g) l5 T9 D9 K. _
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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); L- p3 A+ Q% E8 Q3 ?: f, a
+ G' V4 ^( w6 M6 o4 b+ I2 |. pThe 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?)" Q' t) `5 B1 z
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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。) : v" |% x* d) ]0 C9 a3 ?3 d' B4 R" P
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). b! O0 V: i$ B, ^& L# k: i/ n
' U. n$ ? l% D4 p/ n& rWe 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!)& v2 ]8 M8 y: J2 l. r
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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)/ t: j' L6 j( ^5 j
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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 c4 D) Z8 S$ E; ~1 ~5 \5 q
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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?) % x7 v1 K5 T0 l9 m3 }* o- Y 0 O& J: P+ Y8 @. j E' m' \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! R& A5 p' m/ K, J. a* b; D# X
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" v7 i3 Y9 ?. W( j3 B 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。 / e! M/ z& y% O9 c6 A& I6 y9 B9 J6 V" \" ^2 V* p
例如:) p" ^$ k# [2 k4 ^: z
a0 ^* p# o5 ` w! t' b- XAt 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) : b; Z0 Q; X3 I! G( o8 J0 k* T( c, J; M$ q! t6 Z, m$ [: r9 c7 f
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) ' x5 r8 w5 A: \ 4 C* v6 m* y7 F# a5 d9 P5 SI 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)7 _7 g; Z: A7 X- O# ] ~' ~
8 b3 l3 b$ |5 u8 j4 K& ^) iHe 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) # }4 O7 x1 K: t" w2 I9 ~5 I, R: { ' N+ N4 }7 y6 `& zIn 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)7 E, h0 r9 d* y' ^
, L" ?; a* x5 N8 P- ?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) $ D& o8 U- D. M' C4 p; ~! U$ a2 }! K/ Y/ R* H4 z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ C1 P5 H& g5 K9 B+ P
1 F& r: l& T; ^/ i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: ' M- f, \: T r( I 1 V, {, X, A" Y& ]" M0 V/ p MThe 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。) 0 t6 C* F6 H! v" a: [0 | 2 v4 o$ T0 M4 m7 c; T1 g' YThe 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.) & g, e# F) d, S3 J. `) V' e8 I M + \& N% q( ~! c/ L9 r& `& \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。)+ ]/ g9 r/ w4 _% t% b" m. h
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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)7 M* j) H k% I* e% c6 ~7 ]
; _& ~2 \# h# `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)# u* I8 z* u8 o1 ~, g# F
% H, b+ o3 ~% b* IEnclosed (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), k5 Z: O. X1 k- e
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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.) Q& h. j$ D1 L4 [0 l5 T$ q4 ~/ @9 |1 J
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - I- c* ^2 q1 h! L8 H7 v) ~" @, k6 u r6 [3 z3 G8 ?" M; F
, q- p9 ^( ^1 U+ ~ 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」。 6 [. j# Z- D8 s) H4 G' t. ` # [. x- c" b5 \/ P& ?例如: " Q9 I! e# v, ?$ T ! Q- y$ k* K7 ~$ x: D, L; yMankind 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)& s1 M3 t5 {$ Y* W" }, K A
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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)5 f1 z6 C/ _; b$ O! O9 b
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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 a0 @/ q5 z1 H* q4 M
8 g. h5 c' ]- D: I8 |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。)4 @' J, m6 P* ?- h
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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。)) [+ b5 W. z9 }( ]; J3 @
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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) 9 p; \5 { y, C% E. u+ A* a w7 x5 m: E" h# ~3 Y! J5 |
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); ^* H, m4 F V0 D5 N0 B
i) o* U! L, _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。)6 ^: h9 l4 E5 X4 S' \
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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。 9 P: T4 o8 K/ W + O9 v* H2 W/ w/ N7 j0 y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 C: T. p! Z2 H, U6 v I3 \$ }
% b% e) x; y3 B5 w* q/ N0 U8 s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; 8 h( w G3 }6 ^- _) k' U # m( S W# O4 w$ k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;* \$ o( G& A- n( E
# S/ p2 J% ^1 S( R$ L) @- B }, }* s. u对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( O" [1 e! K' f `# d6 i1 J ( ^( {- p. `# j; [+ O1 _对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;0 W+ W3 t* _: Y
{, O$ s8 H% w+ I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: 6 K* o/ B, }, i& k F% H0 \) \8 N- w" i1 l: ?0 d
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)。! D. n O+ T$ ^& g. Q
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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)。 5 i# `: o+ R+ A5 V( M