本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - M% x8 r! C, m
, }* i( _7 a" ^转帖 & u7 x* C0 e1 u7 H1. 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) + k4 q7 J( f, V+ |4 @/ e 7 B4 }% B7 M* u' b5 j( q2 _例如:! c1 h& j7 c6 ]2 X% f9 t
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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)- ^$ i* s# a% ~4 o7 K8 m
. j$ U- t1 V9 M% c. c. n$ rThree 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 u: }) D* l, r& a# P6 Y
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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)- [# T( b& w4 i9 l8 [+ m3 ]. n S
0 D Q4 E2 }5 D. D4 z' aThe 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% O, }& z& P$ Y `1 \7 `9 ^- P
+ l* z8 V) U6 H; ~5 u3 v. II 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。) " {: I+ z2 s& y( i4 Z) ?9 V% r8 Y6 a( P# N
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) ( a* D& S) o" g 6 C; a. [' s, I. e3 PWe 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!) ( W4 M% Y4 z; Q3 p0 k' D! K% Z( O( ]! _
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) : D, c+ }- \7 I2 H3 _5 r 0 O8 w2 A T8 d2 P; x' m* yWe 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。) a2 ^; W* w: p$ _1 `% [: Z5 t
1 X1 a8 ?' N: h% k8 K6 t7 X* s) v* jPlease 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?) / t7 d2 U) L5 Y* E2 _+ I7 b; H" r3 }! s% d7 [5 S3 ]
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!- T- D# V- V3 E; \, u
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( [* r4 l: [) Y# P$ R3 `( `" T 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。 ( o! _5 v' Z: x4 `0 x; R4 x8 V ! d" [9 w. k |, L+ U& j- Z: a& c# I3 |例如:; ]0 }5 y! B/ V- z& O% 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)! T1 }: @6 J1 |- ^' ^/ q8 f1 u. j. M
1 U' g7 V/ B! ] z, k! T% T. E' pDespite 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) . t; ?- [4 A& O7 q2 [! B 0 W* i. k( O! m+ @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) 6 z$ m) |0 ?" p9 P 4 U3 f$ Z4 n5 j, P* p% j& QHe 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) : O6 L- |: z* ~; _9 l8 ~7 [& L: b + V+ v5 ~) O' @& t: @: [' |3 |6 ?% q+ rIn 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) 5 `1 }. w# X' T4 q2 G& { 8 i% ?; Z* F. `0 a; }5 T* ?* PShe 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) - h8 j; Z% @" x( C0 P! f" M0 r' K: P. T9 a
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' Y) [' n& \/ e9 k9 X; Z9 A ( y: l, \3 Z/ G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:8 A9 v8 I9 X$ H4 T
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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。)/ B4 g+ O( _% [: y6 U7 h
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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.), l% Y" o/ y! F- I) Z) D
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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。)& `( c& p$ Z9 T. u& O7 V; C
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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) Z/ p; E- |6 ?
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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 \+ ]: G- U# O7 C( E! \- L8 E- _8 S9 d" Z! q
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) $ ~/ H1 B/ z! v1 s) \$ z) a" F' F4 F8 m |2 R0 `: t
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.) " b: _# C! [3 S$ w) ~! O+ w3 _- j2 V# N+ W9 A* {# `- [
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ K8 e6 h7 |( s
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; _9 U4 e$ _, ~! U( a1 A 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」。 : A/ f7 r* ^; Y6 c) Z9 o0 m2 m% z 4 z% k% ~- r$ q Y9 i, O例如: 4 l2 e* H5 f3 @! Y% T+ h5 k6 q* c( h. s# r# u; [9 y8 [* v$ H5 n
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)0 O/ ]) d# C2 k) J
% B% V3 M' G) tManpower 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)2 M1 q, P* G& e/ Z8 R. O
. w2 P1 L+ H8 D) {1 mThis 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 R2 x8 {1 K5 a/ C# [" b+ p
1 H# L2 p \1 W& t& p+ eHe (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。) 4 c( w3 O$ O9 U4 e- i' {+ O' e$ z; X9 u* g8 N
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。), Z" ^* T3 X2 e0 |
& x/ c1 L6 ~* e* U, qPolicemen (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)$ z+ C3 a' ?" V" b4 ?
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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) ' F, P' c. M9 {1 ]9 K ; F- ^1 N8 C# L* c" x# CStewardesses 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。) ' z1 U1 q. Z9 `% R- `; p2 _- M7 {+ k+ F & i9 f4 U% e% w1 B% n" _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。 E, M* d8 A/ h0 }' t
( l. | F2 O/ ~1 E& U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:2 D0 n' E5 J: K4 Q
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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;3 ]! D8 h; q! o& |9 U) }, Y3 x6 u
/ }& Y L6 c6 c5 o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; . U) @. ]+ F" {9 s) o% j' E# i" e5 ?" H. U' |' N7 O
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;/ w6 S0 T% N, }* v0 e) \
1 `6 ~/ b' [# `1 T2 H对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! B5 c; g0 E7 y5 l f) q; B8 Z+ k 7 I" p# b: h+ {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: 0 j* n0 f# c4 O( P) I8 Q5 G9 f# E' y/ f, 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)。 , I7 K& U" }# q8 I / h" _3 q9 q# _/ G8 D; C7 |& u7 d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)。 5 F! i7 w8 N$ W