本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 s+ ^ k+ v/ q! P6 F' N8 v9 n3 v9 B2 ] 转帖 h) c& h, P) g1. 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) + P& y, o* V" y- m0 b 1 j* {# X! i! V: w; p' R例如: 9 h0 ]$ H6 l( {; A C% `; b4 d, R4 N& v* Y
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)1 \, w! @" B( L. s |0 E; p: E/ K
0 F: U; N& W9 |6 s+ b' K( UThree 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。) : G! y' I4 B& p 6 N- U9 M# n W4 CThis 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), M# u- H7 B; I) ~
* N; n; _0 q; U, g. q- O) @
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?) ( d1 D% z) ~8 s: [+ v) `% A, R# C3 {$ a3 v6 C8 ?
I 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 s* t1 N7 R$ A8 c7 |5 x3 X( Y9 I o" Z1 e: ]& l% m; T
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) ) K4 J! y' z( y/ I& W$ c8 U; B* N" F( X3 g
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!) - B. R( F& A% t" r, H( U2 R0 ^$ b* D+ I
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)1 u( t) q2 q- w8 [1 X; L
1 k# |; }0 i/ `4 b6 W3 W" S
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。)" m5 } j+ p- Z2 s5 Z' n3 t3 P$ m, A
2 X$ W: u- |5 @3 r$ }8 Q) g2 lPlease 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?)7 O* U. V; b1 d2 m& o/ p
}: h1 |1 v. T
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! ' ?" X; ]- s/ W5 Z. o+ g1 q: c 0 r& U' @. }! M! ^$ ]4 A- g7 x' V& t5 g9 Z: X 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。" H S3 C+ }2 E+ w2 f4 E) W
+ `+ Q' C, K! `( i! S$ S( Y例如: , U, W5 X; k) f( M( ]6 M 4 ^; ~& j' i/ }# p9 U( ^' EAt 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) ' b$ Z) n8 B; O% x# B! p5 M, [3 n" i& H
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)8 w9 o$ {% f6 X4 N9 W% _' A
( U& d) H3 j0 ^% \- o1 Z: kI 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) " M3 B: C2 J* u- u. W 6 d5 a% ^6 K: R/ F* h6 U7 hHe 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)" I$ Q0 X& j! }% d
" l# A8 D L! {1 Z9 @& p
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)0 I7 Z* O$ p3 J: O8 [/ A/ t
, p) P' C. Z' m8 E. ?' u- UShe 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)6 ^( r5 C: e. g9 `$ G# O1 \" _% }; U
/ P+ V" P9 n4 D \. I4 z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 \3 N) M) g0 I7 ?0 t
; x# C m" ?) `. r, p8 R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: ; X( I8 m9 }2 |8 @' G! K 0 s0 Z+ M2 t5 x* Y7 d6 |/ d6 B3 U1 hThe 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 b y; k1 R! t . R! o/ \% x7 T: R+ Y/ HThe 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.) 1 K$ S! {' o) ~: l- Q6 {1 W7 b 2 r& h1 G; \' @& S3 |1 nHe 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。) 7 [2 ~6 l) b6 L l' r $ N( ]- U( {9 x& K( hHe 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)1 b7 K, x6 g; K/ t2 B7 N
3 h' s( x8 U* m, v
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) * O9 S: `+ u, S$ M0 I. i6 A5 F2 k/ 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) g; J( x" x, n+ Z; C( R# Y& Z. o" A7 w+ `8 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.) & i7 A' H& y8 u' R! Z9 ~' _ & {: l3 A# p' n z' C# }1 h1 a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % k' j# E' O' A, k+ g! V ' h; X( z) b4 t r3 | 1 e- ?) _( F! O" E3.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」。) N% U$ k. u3 i9 w( Y
1 W! h3 B* e$ J' V
例如:4 c) c5 `5 H4 B t
: K- i! } l# g9 j3 o0 NMankind 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); T E0 ]: H$ {, J
4 \+ e9 x' d: fManpower 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) ) s f; N+ }. I: L4 A7 c: u0 F- m0 ] 8 L3 H8 Z) T2 c" V3 s4 E6 cThis 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) 7 m( t; r/ P! c/ b6 _0 b& @) ?7 `: {5 d8 E2 Y! K! y
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。) , D0 |" W+ _! `8 l, A7 N& Q$ |3 O6 [
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。)& \0 I$ L) ]7 ^* v
" ]) t* p) `* u- K' J; o
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) % V' U* I1 z; B5 D2 s1 P! p ; P! R+ U4 y8 g2 N$ l/ NCongressmen (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)% x* J6 h: l) N+ {0 `* y8 q* n
e* M: p+ w! z \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。) 1 U, ]% `( ]' [2 L1 z W; W* n) ]5 f) @8 g1 N# k0 E
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。9 p) ?3 V. Q' ]+ x, E4 ^
5 l$ {1 {3 z/ `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:5 a9 K- _3 y& x- l
7 _! H" v% g+ K
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;# ]' D) ]7 _$ t. `% p9 i8 R1 Z1 J/ i
$ P7 k$ g9 V4 `( u) U8 H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)。 8 M4 N/ O( s6 ]2 p, N