; _ L7 A8 o. p+ j转帖 # Y& J( C' ^7 e7 A+ e; h, g1. 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)! t( }- B* k; i% E+ G
! B* O) a2 ~; c! \例如:4 x; F* w# W& w R% 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) : d. Q* }. l. M9 E/ |+ R% F% A% i1 O, V2 n) x7 g( I6 j/ }
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。) 7 X1 Q; E' x* u! P" y% K, t8 [% ^# l, {5 [8 j" g) R( h, t
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)5 F# G, g9 H, f4 K# f M
$ W$ _- i: T \# [; {' Z5 l% ]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?) 5 P* s8 _' l; X% h, p2 Y0 q7 l9 T1 I" v) _, q: p* W* y! g
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。)" M% x. J9 P" Q1 I
& ~) R& A( F* T) NMr. 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)+ s6 Q* r6 m0 Q) W
- i" M) K2 y0 i' m- c% Q; ~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!) ! ], S+ `4 p. c; R3 h! {. B3 | 8 w6 o: ?8 o; v# y& [/ f& I# @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)7 d/ k0 ?& W3 ?7 a
5 }$ c1 ]5 j- ]6 Z+ f7 u. G6 W5 F2 SWe 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。)& q. S7 Z! { H
; ^7 T) ~% _: x9 t6 LPlease 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?) I9 n( D' U8 q% l) T8 s0 K
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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! 1 I! y' ]3 c( R, X! f/ A/ s- Q% t
' u$ {) H7 s2 Y$ {- q8 ^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。8 [6 m; V; F+ x# ^9 ^
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例如:/ f4 [# _/ x u6 e( H
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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)% W+ q! G9 e9 Y) M
0 `3 [9 h9 R: T: {+ vDespite 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) 6 E6 Z& C3 I* x $ y& ?. g* J6 n. o& Y0 I6 ^4 @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) 4 S, u1 X9 \# N$ E: |- y3 T4 ^4 X- M1 |/ _% q
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) 2 t) e: ^6 E3 p1 i9 J0 u6 |& e8 M% [( n6 v
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) ( ?6 r. h1 K3 P$ @3 L+ E; Q ' Y, @! N$ a/ T4 SShe 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) - U6 j% H8 O5 z) x; V9 ]1 D2 K m* B0 c. D$ P# D) `# {, l. D1 y5 u
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)% h& C6 w! u" X) v
8 K; o! k4 V- _6 W3 M2 x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: . k/ l6 c) v M$ g1 a6 l$ i. ^ Z# [% q3 z+ l
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。) 9 R, j* u/ h. l3 c! u! ]$ v8 G: s3 b' j) {$ ]0 x9 J2 r
The 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.) + w5 \! z' z5 X+ |: K Q * V* ?6 P, f. 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。) a G1 C1 Y& y" c T+ q
: G: F' P* T) R3 u2 n$ UHe 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)8 T9 w) b7 m z% y6 y3 ?
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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)4 _1 K) ~. [3 I Y3 r9 U+ u& a+ h
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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)& W' i' [8 _/ r* {
1 \ f/ @4 Y9 F# k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.): D+ I3 R& G) k: I' s
3 d* s( @ f/ n Z5 k此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 K( M* J% d2 X
( W8 Y& q! n2 l; ]( a- H/ J2 |( `8 n 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」。8 r i/ p( K/ @' @% s7 H- Y: Y
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例如: $ c: v/ J" k( e' w, _/ ? & E, L: q8 c4 ~1 S+ p2 g, c) SMankind 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) 7 A. y; ]6 i: U1 P3 b" P3 l6 r, P! [) ` : Q& z# F$ c1 y$ }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)9 u) ~, P+ X. b8 g9 Y) Y
, E$ k) O5 s6 }3 M: z# u: ]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) " l) n# p* `) A6 n+ w7 V% t$ l* d+ |/ \# t6 B$ u, n
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。) 0 ]. ?4 H" n4 ~; C1 W- m& |$ g: q, q2 q% U3 C
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。)6 @' H7 l. _+ H/ }- E
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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) 1 [7 `6 M9 Q# j; w+ f* d ) \$ S" w, w% B* U: H2 zCongressmen (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 X9 M& K1 b$ P! n& v ( x4 o5 o5 z/ f C8 LStewardesses 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+ Z$ \; g2 H/ \ Y
* H; g3 f/ k" j/ d2 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。! o* p+ p4 ^8 `5 U0 k9 v4 V
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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:% ^( v, @- o- c2 Z* `5 O' i9 ?
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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; . _: W& L) z$ x, r$ i0 j; b- t* j0 n
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; " A+ z l- R4 |* E5 P$ a* | / v# [% Y3 q3 q1 n" H/ |对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / i+ G2 `* m5 E 9 O* m5 J$ T l4 j3 _, I对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; * p/ W7 j! E2 t6 W4 ~/ N; \7 {/ T9 A' h" b
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:" X0 f2 w) `0 M1 t/ q2 Z& S' Y
8 @( @1 x4 B; }8 `- L2 M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)。: B% h/ `" L% v% P, s
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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)。 , R& N% {( R f0 n$ O: J# h: p& A