本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # A9 O V! ~1 L, J: u
* {) s/ U& B6 U- E2 b 转帖 ( z& K5 e: p& l( o6 x1. 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)3 @4 d/ }" N/ i. Z, h
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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)9 k4 g6 C/ E7 F/ m W
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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。) ! o+ i) |4 ~. ^6 Q, [ f' K; E; v1 O8 ^
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)$ m' q& t9 A( H# u9 X
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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?)8 \& w7 ~$ Z' B6 P6 g. e
7 B, Q) {- D" V/ o) fI 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。); c3 I* w5 `- E w" M
% k/ n% T9 P0 b' D& D3 a# g) E( VMr. 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)$ P& ^8 _ U" i
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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!) ) ]5 N; g1 D; O8 \' D' e: i 4 k# h- s1 [/ Y& a: ]( F& n I9 EThe 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) 2 J# h* N; j% u9 Z& R9 ~ + V L0 }( h- Q e7 gWe 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。)* u w9 G. K; _5 B" p2 l
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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?)* ]; @- W: K5 E0 x$ I( V
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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!/ i# F. L7 m% \( }" `+ x
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0 O Y$ W5 R1 q 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。: g) F" Q O V! B
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At 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)! d+ h3 f( N& I/ y- D0 P
! f" I r- \' P$ s1 X1 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)( [* e. q7 T( e4 O. ?
# X: q- @9 A& a7 ?* ]" tI 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). h9 m; T& C* B8 |' |: ~. d
! g1 b/ q0 T1 CHe 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)) C6 z6 A+ [2 L0 p/ _) E/ q, Z
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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)! m. @# C, v* r3 j
: I, S' Q1 X5 n# T/ I* M* Y" t- F7 l' \; UShe 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) $ ]5 ^, C% A$ o2 }; U1 c% u8 k4 u: o! n% m1 x) H
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) * H- ^6 [: T9 z0 C8 |3 ]; k m- `& ]8 V- y6 z% v6 w$ b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:: r! Q: Q2 X/ t0 p' r l8 I. M
# _1 T% m1 Z Q$ v, K8 R3 }1 bThe 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。) 6 j! E; d2 E: i6 i 0 |. u' V; ^/ k( G/ f nThe 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.) , a' P* N. g) r" B6 s$ N, L8 ]: M5 ^8 M
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。)4 M# }! C' M `! O: _% j% b
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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)# K+ [4 e/ W W& W1 q$ `
* a5 Q- _/ K! f5 BWe 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 ^2 ^9 C" S% c
8 B7 |) p" q# `5 c& A/ REnclosed (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)8 t- V2 b5 p9 Z3 P
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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.) U1 P" M V. [0 O
: _. Y* u8 q( E, h# A8 [此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" f' a! h1 A7 ?6 Q. A
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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) 6 J3 v; f, a, w5 h! y8 t/ ~ a: E 9 e1 _+ i4 G1 n' ~$ M# N" g# QManpower 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)) F! _8 o7 |) d( r1 M
7 n; J- U. v4 J8 \8 FThis 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)- v9 Z9 O6 S/ g
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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。)# o% M H' {. O. H7 Q& {# H2 r
8 k9 d4 k3 c" q! gMany 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。); F/ g' g6 J# K" h
$ B7 X' j( M5 N8 f% zPolicemen (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)5 S+ `: f( F1 ?) F
0 Z$ Q* g8 T: D' c5 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) % X1 t7 l/ n) A( @9 L0 ]. ?. h 9 U, R- y/ I2 {; r' NStewardesses 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。). T+ ~9 V" o3 [: o2 F1 \ ?$ T n z
/ U H; E0 s1 \9 U4 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。 3 j1 w, P0 T$ z3 r* Q e2 p' b, D0 j2 y/ b1 ?
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: & z$ {8 I% w8 e; H 2 z _7 @* H9 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; ) c* t8 D$ i5 B2 y+ P. F # ^: N$ b% t m; W- x8 |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;$ k, T9 |5 ~2 y2 O
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / d" I7 f% {# b# O5 Z B( @0 B( ?5 T k * z& Y9 N% e$ ~" o. C对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 y4 o; e/ L, ]% E3 x2 Z/ u+ O8 z1 L" F7 r# p7 Z* n+ {! L5 ~* i# r
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: # r8 }; r" `0 _) m. w, H3 {. f- s0 ^ G/ H& |- _+ l: `# N3 a
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)。 8 r9 U6 q/ y+ R4 ?8 a0 b " d; H1 d5 b$ i1 T' H6 |3 C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)。; X+ {. d, B! C4 {* O$ }