本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' Y! p( ~0 R1 X2 P ! S. \1 f/ W# N* R3 Q M. |# X2 E2 S转帖 6 y0 q' H( G2 X% W! i9 D* D4 K1. 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)0 p9 P7 ~& ?; k9 \0 e
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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) + K" X( g$ T# w7 s0 ^) x' L) v2 H" _$ E. j2 f i9 {
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。)" @; e: v( ~, @$ B5 j3 ^6 E
" N; q3 ]0 L' g% k/ M; hThis 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)& i& C' ]/ K9 @- {4 N0 I
4 S: Z9 W0 K) N( J; DThe 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?) . }4 f1 J4 c) P$ q 3 U+ |0 d! j4 G HI 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。) ' s# m0 m9 e0 c+ B1 J$ o, E) w& i# e: @2 I
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)( j' Z6 P% J& c" i8 ?" x
i4 l/ m$ i( w. WWe 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!) & l$ a: C$ Q+ o4 i9 `+ m& s. ?- d- y ^5 T
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* j9 J6 r3 c, j: Q; [+ X/ G# u# M/ h+ N+ I4 s% g* g7 G
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。), P) C( \7 f. a
8 P+ V& p" O# Z( F9 I2 UPlease 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?) ( g: t9 `" f( W) I $ J" G/ o% R7 @) B) l( A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! , Q" |- C! D% Y2 b 7 {, a I E/ ~' X. g* O; s3 I1 m& d; ]0 f 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。: J" X+ E2 A% U/ H" @- B. k& e5 n
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例如: 6 Z& f8 o$ @- [9 \/ ]7 N' C, O( D 6 k" l4 X P9 ]( m" gAt 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) - ^% Q( G3 X) N, ]$ v$ r) K) F4 c* ^& D2 n2 A5 `
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)* f3 m: }" J p
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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) / @% z! E6 ~# x! a7 R' u ) D4 ^3 v) `' u" s }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) E( o# m" [ N9 d: }6 h# j2 n/ g
. ?" D" h3 P' G2 n& Z/ bIn 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)! p2 T. W; P0 ]
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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)' e: b, ^+ k+ N# ?. _
# |6 d+ F/ ~, F% G9 @! N! U) NI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)/ I0 [8 r/ [: {& I/ m
# \2 B9 j/ N5 j: L2 @, Z" E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: * F3 o) f) S* d/ {9 N% w8 s" w! b5 t2 |5 H$ ^; e- @4 G u
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。) d& }7 `! w1 C& `3 P: d( i
. W+ }' X* |( R8 H- _: u+ lThe 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.) * t' O2 ^* E9 o1 e4 e* x, x a0 g+ Y" v- {2 |; I3 r# L% u1 y2 A/ V
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。) U" w' j- L$ F
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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) 5 P9 D" a1 V( Y% k. f: k" Y , }, H' j+ v! ~/ A$ o! tWe 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)9 T0 M$ X# Q. ~& k) y+ Z: o
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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) * I. U. N& t& K: t4 r8 G; ~) B0 B
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.)+ G7 a0 R. a8 ?& R) W' V4 i
5 h( S, o8 f9 T3 C此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 p6 E4 J r, @+ z5 U: W
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: b, I+ B- q$ Y8 t3 c0 a0 a8 \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」。& j" _+ `# E+ |( \8 i
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3 P4 j, U. z0 o; ?9 K. t$ ] nMankind 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)" }5 M' y0 |* o6 n- l: ^5 ?
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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)1 G. S3 c( [' L0 w' x g/ }0 C
2 |: g2 g. }( Q0 q8 J7 k* i# _. 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)- m8 M( K& Y* {* i5 N/ A2 @( U* q8 Q9 d; W
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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。)' G! ?! t/ Y% K$ Q, w4 d
5 r! l; F% r9 P1 Y* ~& j" J( ]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。) # q9 g) A! ?# F; t- T+ d. f9 C D4 z$ n7 e
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)3 x/ l) ^( U. E' T) K% f8 j' L
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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)6 Q% o$ K. R7 ^( q- W# s
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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/ D* P" O0 T- o8 [1 C2 L4 Q) Y( W4 q0 Q7 P
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。 5 P: {+ O5 p" T( {5 `5 b: q8 V1 x# L7 d
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:! f H5 w2 T5 a
6 N! x$ W; r y4 S5 p( z8 _6 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;& T/ I8 A* X/ N0 b, O: f ~, ?
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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; - Z+ s- k, n' X5 t; G3 \' G+ c( T+ K- z0 i
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , A4 y. D8 m- c 4 R! O7 a& A+ s) Z. k, _对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;0 Q2 |" C3 I$ R3 c) N