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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)& R. W1 o& U6 `. C9 C5 v- o; Q f- R- }
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. e/ y# H/ O# p/ |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) ( I5 L7 f: r: r# {5 F7 t2 _$ h7 }
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 `- \& w" O5 f1 i; C4 t7 Z& ?' Q+ i# F
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) ' D. J: h4 B! l: R* o N7 \; Q5 [# ?& E/ G: Q9 YThe 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?): f* U6 N! V% t" I
j& F1 o* l9 W8 S1 kI 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。). F7 L/ C( J: ?3 @! g
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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)+ l1 ^2 @, ]1 K9 H6 y, O h
8 l7 @# I5 J( [' L- P% \) c CWe 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!) : \6 f8 Q% e1 ?& Y# U; X g( c1 a n1 ~! a/ M& r8 o" P, ^
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)4 |; U2 L/ @& E
" f9 z I6 k$ k4 l. y$ G6 \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。) # L) C b% {" c3 q: N1 E% r) l( i) q5 |: d
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?) - Q& }* s3 E+ o7 w" o & A: t! y& ^1 W8 g7 S# e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! / w& Y2 u1 d8 g8 O( b/ U9 D# t 7 Z8 U$ E+ W/ Z( \* j9 B5 s+ P" k3 F/ A/ r& V4 h 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。 - [) F) a3 L8 ?" x) ~4 E1 J. e6 V5 n$ A5 Y7 G& [7 _4 V/ j
例如:5 E4 Q. z1 A+ Y3 k5 `( T
8 i# U3 B# Y- w3 R8 CAt 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)6 j( D9 @) O. J L
( h" O1 n! Q9 K# i# Z" B& q# ]: NDespite 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$ a, n3 j# S" \, G5 R- e: I) ~% ?" `0 ^
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) - G* k$ G# Y) v: I+ V# f# n ( \- ?( r% d3 J* o2 p4 fHe 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)" X6 a5 g. d2 J/ ^: r
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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) & J5 X+ p, ^1 Z9 I7 g9 E * d' ~' n- |. `2 I& A' V% o3 [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); L' Y" W% Z& R: [
7 _+ ?1 m/ c7 ] lI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 U) W6 t1 h4 ]8 a
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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: % T) B2 b( J& J/ Q: u3 i6 v: t% S' s3 N" A2 |
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。) - F8 a: s8 T2 `% n4 S) c8 [ 6 Z% K. P- e' r& ~) V5 s0 H1 SThe 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.)' w8 F4 w! o2 u( D
' {5 z8 w* D7 x) A: KHe 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。) ) F4 N; f. `2 e7 e+ P* M" l! E5 K& h3 H) T% I8 {' F
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)+ P5 ~( @* V3 q
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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)& o8 B2 r3 I; @5 [* ]
% w% H- e8 A; r) w2 w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 L5 F9 w4 w/ i; ^2 o! G# O+ Z- O! o; |" @/ M" I$ {& e
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 5 i& r! A! n3 H4 C# t" F1 x) |! J( B7 ^/ n0 U# r
8 A0 u( Z! N7 k9 u! i: t 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」。 0 [- y4 a* F' R( b9 n* ` , T [# |( F% Y N% ^例如:/ z8 ]9 l _- \+ N
0 k$ \- X) k" j' o5 J1 R2 oMankind 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)$ l C+ v! Y% _5 l
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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) 6 ?0 O/ v; n6 J" i8 `0 [! C7 B( C9 C! D% O! Q; r' F0 ~" h
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)# v, P/ Y2 B% Y# W4 s {9 J3 c# `
. N" c0 H6 [4 q$ Y# n5 V* LHe (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。) - n7 B% c5 M i1 }! J7 c/ s9 j, T# y$ x3 x
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。)* d7 u' d5 M5 V; J4 c# {2 C5 u" [( u t
. g( g3 I M! e+ o! TPolicemen (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) u, o. U2 @4 J& N/ j- T7 e4 |
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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 M+ F3 w. D4 y+ C- k$ H5 Y0 Y % N& j. v, {' T5 i2 u& JStewardesses 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 Y; e# _9 v$ ^; P- Z4 _2 r* N! Z N1 Y3 D5 O
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。' J3 }. Z+ d: X; r8 a$ K, F
0 @4 f" z+ O& P* t5 _: D9 _' @, ~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: q2 }& t( p9 c1 ~" c r 6 a$ a% g/ A0 I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; . S3 U( B; W7 z! L: h: b2 l- u7 D# v4 k$ C- H
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; 6 g2 \2 e0 f4 v' J, @6 l- j" s. O% `. ~4 x4 @: h7 l8 U. C
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% c" ]0 e; ~. M. a
4 D4 \! R. f4 l4 h0 z对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;/ z9 s% o3 r8 y/ P; Y- Y6 w1 D
! ?6 ]) U4 g! B$ p( \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:* U5 Y1 P* E. q- t3 s) n
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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)。 k0 q! U: V& @; \ M9 X9 l
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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)。 3 A5 w6 R3 F% N; h