本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 o) M; M2 E. a, ]* ?+ z
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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) 1 S; V' Z. ]# N! A) a! v1 f + a7 b2 q3 Z; V1 ~例如:8 Y; p- N% k) y; h
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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) : _- [- J' M2 H0 E* Y' M9 X* f1 a9 h: U4 _
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 t1 p& I2 o- `8 d3 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)3 S8 D. U. Z N4 O
9 W3 K4 [2 s8 z9 a5 HThe 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?) ' ^8 O; L) r" F( f # I1 |. Z9 H S" v) g7 UI 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。)3 A4 t& Z8 q) [( \" b b
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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) ) H F$ D+ a$ H( c# M" ?1 Q5 c0 ]# W& P( G/ o' m/ L7 V% H
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!) " J( L- K; {% o' I; D6 s7 \. h7 z1 @$ E
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) # t1 }' ]) } ? : L+ V' s6 R! s" k: oWe 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。)( b, A- R( a0 N4 k/ Q
0 @$ o% p# k& w" o' sPlease 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?)! c1 [1 P ]" F( T
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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& U E. B! b$ x' O5 f" d+ {9 b9 B+ p3 z. g
8 B6 i9 F" a3 {1 {2 ~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。1 I/ Y0 V4 Q6 b4 ]
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例如: / l- I* G/ \2 b8 l) }( t& `( O' ^ 0 b/ H( x: g: ^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) 5 I( H7 _) K, i$ y$ W. r+ p5 Q0 B }- ^" k3 j4 x
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)! L1 n8 `/ }" F ]1 a" t3 M
" W- p# u+ `$ g( u" aI 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) u: G0 k3 s ^1 C4 a/ O
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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)& ?& Q" [' W" f$ v
* g8 e: h1 W; f! t; }+ I$ gIn 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) n; p" B2 b% A1 Y! I; `7 E! N : X% I$ o# Y2 o3 s, Y- mShe 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): _* W- B X f9 W+ Y7 y; q' ~& N
2 G1 ~5 q. R9 ]3 aI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( @$ _9 X+ I) f
9 f; B/ v& W3 M$ Q, K% z1 D. i0 s% A X4 p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:% ?% ~/ l$ u6 Q* h
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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。)6 M: K$ H' Z; W' i! J
2 g0 C7 b' C+ B1 P7 C( c) _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.) $ M* G: x' u1 o: P- p0 e & e4 ~: N2 Z+ @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。)/ E- q% w# \6 b" g& M f
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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)" E9 F5 G- G' O% D- H3 T2 H% I
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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) " \9 {& I( U7 @: z: V6 O4 i' i2 K% g5 w. r# m) a
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) G& f. A. w, e6 H4 l ) u% B3 y" x- p- F2 E3 i* @2 K% i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.) + W7 u1 k* y Q# q9 d$ i7 |% _8 H( x4 @
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 A. Q0 `3 f1 a 8 S! A u) Z6 K 9 C9 I' j. I) R3.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」。 3 i5 s: T9 w! ~6 ]$ D/ \( I y3 i% P+ V! x7 {/ K
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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) ; [/ q' ^6 K3 S2 k1 l. B6 |. y+ D! F2 j3 e
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) # ~& ~0 S% k t3 n( d7 [! Y5 i) ]5 p9 i6 S5 t$ I! G
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)/ ^4 U! Z9 u, H8 o# _# l! l
) u$ w( T, E: v" o4 oHe (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。)7 M8 E/ Q4 ^; S! p( E
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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。)$ r' c/ ^) t" X, n
# R3 \- h* M bPolicemen (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). B g1 r" I# _5 K P
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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) - G4 F) J a+ f Y) d0 t! j' N! z* G' e# i5 f" g
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。)0 W5 ]5 N5 J5 ?0 f/ F. ^7 t% m3 l% s
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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。 3 ?% O7 E5 y: U; j0 x; F, ]" Y$ D# T
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: $ R# y$ q( l8 P# R; G3 l; o 4 f0 b! O. F* \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; % D8 _5 N' O- N0 n: ^ & H7 c& l/ |0 ]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;# P( D1 e2 d3 K- L& n- n: O
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ' r# S2 w' S6 B |7 l- V5 \3 R' ~, V, }) h' R/ A4 k: H9 {1 T; s5 ~
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! i; i0 n' \6 O+ f5 [* Z3 ?1 p J8 z) K' 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:( o3 o, f# I" V
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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)。 & t( E5 a) F u/ |9 q3 B( W $ w: ~3 ~" n, h; Q2 f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)。% }9 q" }! w& i# [, ?4 O