本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' V5 b; e; t# S: D. v
G% w9 w' j. J: W 转帖 & p$ u# u$ W! C7 h- I1. 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) 6 J G2 v8 F C2 o: q3 T# F . f" p+ d" V7 g5 p3 e( ?) H/ V例如：6 v6 P! Y# t- O& I" n
- ? O; V: D4 r' F4 _1 ^8 IMany 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)8 ?* a# c1 t$ o$ R1 b$ H
3 X' Z) `! ?+ PThree 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 O, S) u# g a8 R, Y } ! s9 r1 U: t* @+ M1 lThis 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) / E% a; a+ \1 }( h! M1 P - n5 U, i& F# @4 o) q8 i* g0 _# ?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？): O1 K5 @% D2 e0 ~7 _
# h0 G8 y! X7 y' ?1 E6 O3 n: T$ dI 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。) * j/ L: i! _9 j# h) N0 W/ B2 N8 h7 C# b6 ~; G$ v
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 v; I* R( T p! a# B( \ ~+ N5 k
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！） ! _' [- u4 ?9 d % r& R- m& U9 q2 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)) c6 m9 r. M8 A) }& W# d% E; \6 c/ M
8 |2 j+ v+ e: rWe 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。)- K# ~1 j4 C$ q% [! F" l
L1 m5 u; E, g- G8 hPlease 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？） , | M7 ?7 V" q7 E0 |1 {; ~3 u" L6 ]% X" Z& c/ a* M
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！ u8 X/ p/ `$ z# k7 P ( }. y9 M7 l5 w" N7 [: s4 [2 G, X3 B# t5 d4 U 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。 2 J0 B5 R/ h j! ]# R$ l$ E. f$ W, U3 k
例如：! ]$ h$ K0 L5 \* X! S
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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) 8 I1 z3 N' b7 q* V8 @1 q+ E4 L3 [& D
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）" v, d8 q: v$ ~) y. O
# E0 i# |$ i& _5 y b: ]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)% n7 @/ Y; E! h7 P0 v1 r) E; n! R
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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）* a! w6 [/ a$ @1 j
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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& X* W# o \5 {1 m. z Z - F" D, [. z; o- WShe 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)7 a# n& O1 t+ G# \7 f
- u+ ~3 L; \; `+ Y6 y4 W9 ?, ^! kI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 A W/ d1 e% Z1 c) i: q; \7 J& q% n$ E' d$ j: ^1 }
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：3 m# B" G) k, d p/ H6 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。）1 @, W% F9 u; d" x2 V9 W2 c" x) ]
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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.） , V- x3 A+ S7 ?; C8 v' w# t* m r* T9 O0 Y' Y
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。） 3 q# h1 v3 W) x' B' h. y8 a* R% Q9 _7 a% _) y
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）2 B7 K4 i/ d9 d$ f; u
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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 O' r2 c, c7 Q; i & \/ y2 W% B- G5 M* [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): \( s; B/ G1 z$ l; j w8 v
$ f6 w) A. ?/ j- Z/ O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.）0 t' T, i4 ?( l J$ `/ h
/ `8 i- t5 _' |+ [0 u此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* J. N/ y' ]3 ]7 ?6 ^$ r8 K
3 s( i5 _" I: k: ]- @4 K 8 N; s" \5 S* [( O3.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」。; N0 \3 v$ R y& o" Z/ j% x4 E
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例如：$ G" p8 e# s5 V( }& R
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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） 5 F5 {& O7 z3 k7 Q2 F# Z" ? 9 u5 m; C! y# Y0 W: pManpower 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 U" A/ D. L8 t/ q) u
1 K3 r1 u$ Q# J- Z) v7 @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） 6 K+ p" q7 S, c * c/ q1 @4 [% y7 y. }+ 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。)! m" L) @% M' K& B5 w4 v5 K
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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。)4 k1 c: _/ V2 H& b
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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） 0 C, c9 u+ C$ ^. ^" x/ M1 y9 _* [9 J# v" p+ _
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）9 J6 e9 Q% k+ u+ J$ V9 L
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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。） |3 z) Z2 w& Q5 Q5 g
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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。: Y& y' x, A% d
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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：, K1 F+ R: U; m% {8 T7 @: }- v
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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；0 e1 o6 G* V6 }8 S1 ?9 B" c
9 \5 P! @5 L* U% \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；. g, A% }5 x% N" C j+ B
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
