本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " Q: q- E4 U% w- t( { ~( M' A9 S8 C, d& @" x: I+ v; W转帖 * ?3 a, X# n. g1 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) - R/ {9 n P/ h Q- v! C6 m2 _ ) ~/ m$ L" G# y/ B例如: % n+ {5 g6 b; p9 l, k( r0 `" T% \- M1 N6 y% t* ^1 H! L
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) # f* ^* u7 N; g7 d0 C0 U! t6 p& b0 r
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。) 1 f) C8 _0 G2 p8 M2 B; |8 t , Z7 w- o7 A" BThis 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) 6 r/ ]3 z/ g7 _6 t" W# V, f* m+ c6 i) @/ \5 o5 ], I
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?): K" }' X. u7 K" H( U
: I$ Y2 T0 q3 x* ZI 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。)$ K2 m% j. F- T
$ W5 S) g3 x" v4 }$ rMr. 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); X! Z9 G: Z1 d/ W' t
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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!)& d0 G4 |( G# {0 u1 N, b
5 @$ w8 D2 Z3 s4 B) h" DThe 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 Z& g% M4 K- e& k9 h4 B 3 ?; ]& h0 V+ k6 B) d7 w) tWe 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。): D, c& h; |4 h0 A
5 C9 j' a5 N. E, j3 kPlease 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?) ( ]; l. I$ y$ l" _$ _0 f0 f4 y0 u+ q I+ F% q5 Y
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! `) P( G- {6 S* L8 S
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7 \0 o; i1 M4 K) v 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 x+ k7 M4 n1 _$ t8 h- R 2 A9 _8 |. N, ?" n5 O例如: # j4 S6 J! U! i 3 J F* e* h" @- v7 JAt 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): b! R. M7 S" A4 m8 i) k
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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)0 f" n/ x4 b0 s. U
: S( X2 w' \* l+ M: a2 UI 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) 2 b% a' D( t3 F9 Q5 i8 F/ @4 T: W1 f7 l4 z- t, B
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) O0 c2 r( A2 E9 s2 S; ~" s f7 }4 c3 G: I/ b7 e0 A! V% a
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) 1 U; ^, p) ?. e 2 a; { o+ U+ qShe 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) 8 x6 Q7 @& G" D2 H2 d1 E ; } l% S E2 _7 d A1 X8 h5 \8 Y$ HI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) $ [0 m) x" @# O! ~* k9 i. L) ^% r. j
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: 1 x+ a1 M% o8 f, q5 g% F / {/ e9 d( _- s1 S5 @- }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。)) R6 _5 B( i4 V& A
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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.) + Q- \1 x$ s! T$ h5 }& H$ E5 m D1 Z Z* J C! @+ ^
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。) ' `8 M& g! a/ M7 u; ?0 |0 m3 c7 c8 n2 o4 \9 L3 M
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)1 R1 Y$ }" l/ j" h/ B7 j- P: _
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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)+ {1 c3 s( H q- T# ]9 D9 s8 v
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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)4 {8 i- D/ u. s/ V% e! m
. Z5 g H3 x! o8 J2 @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.)" |3 `1 U6 H+ X; S3 a% q
' K7 e q8 k8 i; w; ~* l9 T! B此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# K1 a' I, i) C o9 Q- Q" g' @( t- B
" i( Q' o; }/ ^! y+ g1 [4 e$ p. a+ S7 T' f9 y! _: y5 f 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」。2 t: g; j+ \( U
1 y9 @' [3 ?* D例如: `) K+ c ~5 d8 X& h. b/ K1 V/ S$ N+ W6 ^6 d7 _
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). A% h* n5 ]3 r
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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) ! U i+ L0 Y" ]$ q ) u# k- M1 M" x9 W0 R: ?! F1 EThis 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) * A3 h8 g* K' C 2 ^/ [2 u, Z+ @/ b1 PHe (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。)# E* j8 t8 F; r/ j
6 v7 r, w9 J. R" D' A% U( y! [* bMany 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。) 4 ~6 C8 { K+ Z5 ^, H5 D% n2 P: B# l2 c, 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) $ Z5 X" i+ o! c) v1 u) A2 Z0 h) {0 R
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)) d T- ?4 o! j- `& |
# Q& o# Q' e$ y. C) ~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。)- a4 f) d# E9 q% |/ n6 I* A
4 y. `3 Z; B. C" x' W( F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。 " P. Y( M+ s4 T0 g2 z! F, \1 s8 r: j6 ~8 i/ ?' ^$ F
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: 7 D$ x) p3 h7 w# p8 V p( a) ^ + s# h" m; Q t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; H8 l" S3 K% ~+ u; l 9 c3 y- {6 A6 n! a/ W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; 9 Q6 t7 D/ ~- A5 {3 X y1 f " D7 j. I& v% w; Z; W: ~对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 9 Q5 @, F5 }/ g4 ?, g# @) K3 ~' j- J' s5 D' I. P
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;3 t' \% Z2 M5 v+ ^! g9 |0 ~9 c' X8 N
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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: 4 g1 \7 B: B7 y8 }- f7 F m7 Q# ^ 9 `( Z; J$ n# T3 J: L( t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)。 . H8 X8 C( Y. M' x: Z% G ; K \/ W3 d, v0 I. Y1 b1 _/ m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)。 7 X) p- r; e( |6 {6 R