本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 X& V4 n, j6 L2 G& c$ l$ F4 O% {5 x" q 转帖 ' Y* J8 ^% Y# t2 J. @& S7 L( X7 s1. 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)) u: c7 T. t6 c9 W
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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)1 g U+ _' u/ C: p) F- Q3 E5 l
5 P8 r* W) Q" M6 ]% ~; FThree 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。)) F9 ~ n, E/ h9 ~4 v9 j+ b5 ]
/ `. H5 `( A; ^" H4 G1 r1 p; WThis 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)$ A+ q+ J: R# y0 z4 d
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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?) [+ J4 r: J) f+ }/ X( j; e6 V% d8 Z D0 u. ]. A: T! p Y
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。)) o+ E1 S) M! h5 y
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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) 0 ~" M6 d7 Z' i. @4 O* k; F6 D8 D ! c5 @6 m6 Q' U: LWe 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 f& N h) k9 s. \: d- V/ v7 F7 y8 M
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)8 T5 h9 P9 e% g; Y( M
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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。) 1 {- B9 F; T. Y3 A6 m/ Y2 { G8 R$ D1 M; F8 w; A
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?)$ x8 ]; {6 K- ^! M3 K' s
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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! ; F! x% F$ _) m0 A& C9 j% X, F+ a9 l% y6 n: o4 U! y4 u
7 d+ J1 T' J ]2 ]4 O- L2. 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。9 u2 w1 C/ X/ d$ a/ F: @& _! k
' p) @4 l: O* a3 y3 h$ v: }例如: 2 G5 _6 f2 L' g! Q) V& o* l" | " G o$ n) ~( o3 Z' r* 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)! _/ J/ J$ W. m& v7 H0 G
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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) 3 M2 ?* p* h! m* j- U# N) g1 U/ i, [% {
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)/ u% p/ `6 F( P, Z+ _* \
2 s2 l4 G `" [2 T5 QHe 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)1 ?- Q) m8 W$ \, f
& X. F9 q3 Z8 ~6 @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) $ J/ G& P1 k8 S2 @2 h; e : Z! b6 E3 M& Y S, c s5 hShe 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)( L. X+ [4 A1 |9 C# F9 W
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)* w0 E( S7 d. Q" J, }4 A" d* z7 E, p
4 _9 b' U% j$ o9 O4 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:# z: }; [) R' s ?3 m
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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。)( X3 z# w. o* P8 ]
; G& N' B( ~0 U9 |2 \7 O1 XThe 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.) ) r: Z$ V7 @8 g" c. t " k4 h& E% ]9 a6 |" x% l* B6 D$ 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。)* Q1 [$ K' e/ Y& h8 Y
& `) u- {" y" b4 X5 xHe 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 R" [$ \' G/ e2 B - G1 T9 M; |5 t: ]5 y: pWe 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) Y0 r2 c4 f* x7 n: a % S: ~3 d. a, f& a H. i3 oEnclosed (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) 3 T) s, Q1 Y% n* H * r+ h; m, { U% \/ g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.)9 O8 S0 v/ O& q$ ~0 O) ^
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。7 M" F3 H6 K4 K( V, H) I6 D
% f; N, {4 ~! W, f! Y) N) T2 [$ M! p! u3 }9 U% H 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」。' j5 X! f$ }/ ?8 ?0 C3 \6 N' d3 n
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例如: 6 W! J% t0 M3 }- W 1 K: y, w7 Z4 o) J/ S6 U5 C8 aMankind 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) / Q$ B% a, ]7 n" U8 [+ l ( G0 t# [% ?$ O, YManpower 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)+ W5 y; ^. @0 c s8 R1 J: i
3 A, P/ ]' C7 f$ s3 |; i+ 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) + ?0 X' @ e' d& q* B, j0 d1 ^. V/ c# g
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。)! I) i( t* m$ O7 J# Z+ }
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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。) 7 k! |5 n* ~+ F* I6 y: v5 x3 [- s# d1 R" a! Q
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) L0 D; C/ D, B) u
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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) 2 x5 ^. s7 g4 r* t# ~: V ! o6 ~4 c& [* mStewardesses 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。)" P- b; H. ^4 ?7 U
8 }+ H U+ E; 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。( U o7 c' x) U3 }6 q# X( _- w) u
; r& d% m% P* c" {$ a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 v. X( R3 u; v, e; }7 X( ?# e' I, ~1 @
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;# Q1 B i% Q% u* P. D& c2 y6 e
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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;. q f$ L: P/ A' i. R4 B
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , M: \' c9 J0 n0 u3 P ' t7 a5 B+ G) M4 n/ q5 k对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; & q" D0 D$ w/ t, n3 \( X9 l- R/ a9 Q% m/ F0 ^) A' ^
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: 7 _1 i/ E. U, o$ j: O- X+ Z/ r) l/ x+ C- v7 I+ @
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)。, e! g' c" z. `0 D
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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)。 + {# B0 P+ l4 m* O5 \ ]