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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) # F7 {) q) r0 ] % V% D, W9 P1 @. j0 K7 g( i例如:* f6 B7 C1 ~& \- u% |- [
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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)- [# r6 U$ I! Y) U: R! z* c' S j3 Y
: Q" Y! w ^3 _$ }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。)0 s$ P; U5 S! @6 V4 M8 G! s
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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) ! U$ j, {4 L& n/ m% w5 _# Y! r/ w: T3 g/ c5 y
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$ h7 H3 [3 M5 [ ' H* s0 z" K; j A- B4 S H3 rI 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。)5 x W, Z9 e# k7 y
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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)9 T. J! r$ F' B9 l! u4 S
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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!)/ d. F. B% A K( k# K5 Q8 h- L
9 h& F1 m. z' F/ w U$ r' e+ 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)& q/ `' G0 N6 S8 x% O. x
% z. M6 r8 Z+ D9 G$ i" G% i xWe 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。) / y3 \, f* U/ v P( n 4 I: w' E; r. `: a8 TPlease 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?) M" L" H. G0 B8 x* d
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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!3 C& ~3 n& i q& o* }: G
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' H! r# f' ]0 L 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。! e$ _ ~" ]1 _
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例如: 2 F. O( q1 h8 T+ P , }; W- N( f7 e! t2 b+ {* \( KAt 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) ) f. W) I! F: u0 X2 `& z" W+ [8 L. i5 H% R% z
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) # T$ d K" i1 `$ `5 s \" j! R3 o* ~+ m2 g( a1 K
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 ~) ?9 `0 h) l4 v' j) R& C 0 x: ?. ?: I& g* {# ^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) ( B! Q; y V* P# y4 F, k( S9 z7 l( _1 t2 y
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)( Y) ~) F3 b# i8 U
/ j7 A) X' @6 s: s9 DShe 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)4 g X: Q& W6 }, F' Q6 Q$ d
$ W/ k! {. T4 y. I0 gI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) T Q1 v+ [7 y , b+ J, V1 N* N0 w5 R- i- M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: - j. X, D3 G4 h ^, l5 H( v) L4 O) f* t* h$ Z# M
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。)8 e4 N. j% m6 g
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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.)+ o6 u# g2 U4 `9 P) i% @7 R
$ F8 F" Q1 L/ u+ }: T& r" VHe 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。)2 N$ g8 z( \3 ~3 G
9 \. X5 u- \9 Z6 A. E. ^+ tHe 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 `8 q- x9 k" I/ c; ^- _, J3 J% _$ z8 \# P
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). a. Z. G* [2 G5 V: y; X- d+ o
' a& {0 H! {% H' S PEnclosed (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)6 u6 s# z8 p$ S/ K# H4 O* V+ ]
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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.) / v6 w2 C9 y) |& t! X9 u/ q. a 0 Z: K9 ?5 `$ C/ ~* }7 M此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' g+ g: P4 h, f$ g , Z& ?3 P+ Z* Y1 u7 d% p7 J: d0 ]% M8 h; E1 } 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」。0 l8 K" a5 f3 ~$ Q/ R+ S
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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 {/ n4 O4 g0 C9 a- i( p 9 `: |* O0 @' D; HManpower 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 p* K- w4 j0 M4 g' O5 p" Q3 l, g
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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)/ o! W- O, O9 {* |0 j6 O
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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。)- S7 o) W/ u$ `& {8 S+ j4 V0 u
# R% Q2 ]5 H3 h9 r5 B2 N9 v$ b/ LMany 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。) # ]8 D3 H# Z0 t# q4 f) e2 P2 y+ K2 ? ( E# c5 Z" e1 {" |7 C8 @% yPolicemen (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) 6 l' _, Y, k# o4 C# r& n ' X- s1 a3 T* T5 l# C' I% rCongressmen (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)- A4 B! J* C6 }& [; a
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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。) 5 S. e" O- E0 S& {! z4 Y4 Y& B d M6 ]' |% d* u5 ~8 a( P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。- W/ P) l ^- O, ^
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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: 7 A3 ?8 v; Y( |% _2 i" z! ]: U. v$ Q {4 q# _" c0 p5 ^' W
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; & y4 x* W/ ]% J1 f3 e% Y7 _ L7 A! `5 o+ ~: d( z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;/ T) `: A8 r' h
0 b5 E4 H, |# h2 @) L. p$ {对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;6 q/ x% f$ s' _) P
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: f8 c3 G( j& N" ]8 @2 ~
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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: 8 {2 @$ L6 b2 L8 A4 a+ G- D5 g7 V2 V7 a
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)。 9 k6 }% D) i" N' g" V2 @9 A3 y8 ~: s7 x/ C/ _. q% O( S5 i9 Y/ n
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)。 h+ J* `, @2 Z; ^3 k