本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , j3 V0 G! }% H& v* c6 p" I ; j% `. q9 f- C* k5 i5 |转帖! E, y& q0 v: _* F1 U" J% U
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)( E5 ?, W& N, K8 t& M
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例如:: F/ O$ q' T: T9 A0 [6 o- b9 ^
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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); ~: l- @6 U1 f9 s# B8 d3 G
' G- {+ Y% d. L; T" [ w4 R, o$ QThree 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。)* p3 ?7 ~$ r) A9 ]0 L
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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) ! ~/ \6 V: |( C$ Y0 P" K0 v , v, s8 v; g3 O! A4 p/ YThe 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?) ) A4 Z( V7 T4 i1 C5 D* l) W & q! g9 F+ f+ K6 N& E0 tI 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。)8 r; Q4 Y) x( S
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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)0 G' l# Y4 [4 ~0 t( D- g
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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!)# w! K* _) x7 n, O3 S4 m% }
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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): `' ?( \% w$ q
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We 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。) 6 k1 H+ ?5 {2 w( y( e: }9 w/ V8 b5 T5 m7 [- L* A
Please 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?)$ X- h& N1 E3 T3 U9 b
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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! # V5 i0 T- s2 i* K+ d3 e' p" R2 I, Z$ G& B7 v+ n
) H- X2 f6 i" K7 P1 O G' z/ _* T8 P 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。4 D5 Y# m. Z$ G1 i" g
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例如:7 u( N- ~& Y$ [! b+ A
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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) 9 d; {1 t# f) h4 `0 U1 N v3 @+ F; `' b$ l0 s; e1 G
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) 4 I( [4 i( A0 E& h z: K4 ~0 u; i) e( M$ O; Z7 I9 W6 l
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)3 ]' y' [! i% ~" f" i6 V( u* ]
* _0 e7 E$ M! R+ T% k' ]; bHe 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) # W/ L/ Q, c# }% |6 A5 Q: ?% E, L3 v1 l5 @9 i4 P8 G
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)4 W w: @4 t2 z0 k. O
# A0 E% C/ T4 ~# c0 E) cShe 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)+ }/ _+ J: I6 J7 L
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 0 Q3 G0 p$ f3 j3 f% t) c, C# D+ b" z8 ~
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:0 w4 m4 g* x1 C# _( Z
+ K& I# r# R/ N: D. b+ oThe 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。) " ]5 ?# U; ?" V$ i0 ^+ f8 g* f9 \! c( P
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.) p0 B6 Z3 b. `, V' q6 A' O; I7 c" k( z+ C0 R
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。)! [1 J6 z: X9 V( `
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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) 5 C) O$ f, t; s3 G3 t0 V/ w. k" D5 m! ^- K& v. q
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) * m6 l' K# W! r# ?6 `; _: a$ M- O4 l$ E) M# Y( {6 G+ X# D
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)) _$ A n; W6 ^* D, ^
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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.)1 g- j% d, V2 j# a( _8 H
2 T& I6 V7 _- p6 a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 I# Z3 z& ]1 A) g3 }
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4 O, |# I8 S; i- [$ x: M 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」。 ! s7 l! x, Q: g* |9 j 7 z: P0 K# f# R8 [+ W) `例如:+ D2 ]% z7 v0 N' Z. y
: R# R5 ~: [$ u0 y0 V P3 GMankind 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)4 c4 ?# i. H3 z% T
6 p, W( [0 W: ?. _- b5 {6 y6 QManpower 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 ?' S8 n( L7 G
; x: U0 K* r( l2 r- D2 XThis 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) 5 c! V$ ?( F' C/ g/ F6 n9 q" ~( u) V4 }0 u) e: Q3 U8 v
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。) " W3 v; N' C' R; j- f! T* Y6 Z/ j2 r6 M6 x
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。) 8 i! m6 O+ \ W8 ~! [; s) b 6 V1 | n0 h3 N0 |9 N6 {8 APolicemen (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 N) o2 B3 e0 _* o) c; z# l8 h$ S4 M' |! l$ v W' j8 V
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): U3 d% K: ?4 A! T0 O
, `7 }& ]4 H4 u! v3 t& RStewardesses 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。) - [8 R1 k, J9 t: K/ t$ y$ k: c7 ~5 i) S! Y0 Y" J9 M
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。 4 ^5 W. Y: G" p# _% j, S3 C L5 B- r6 h$ h; g/ {
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: : l( Q' u7 s) d2 p: _! t! `7 b% `4 B
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;% ~# |4 Z$ e8 r
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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;! G9 y+ k4 ^0 x* c7 _- ]
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;( u; E1 \5 I8 x
2 m0 i E8 N8 G- M6 _7 q对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;8 I! ~7 u% n8 c) q0 {5 m
8 a9 m( d- c9 ]) a4 @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: ) o' i& C# t0 V8 o+ G3 k3 ?$ N2 o# Q& i) }4 m! x
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)。3 P( ]% K& D3 S; Y- J
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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)。 # S4 [4 e- c' w6 [& e+ `$ m