本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) \, o+ H7 K' S- p) d) g* E. w
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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)4 G* o- N% E; B4 t8 m! H
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例如: 8 {# D2 B0 D" i3 m4 W0 V % V: t8 A$ W$ X6 A4 @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). C; F5 U" H/ f. |' \- U3 |0 M
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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。) # `/ } ^4 U8 G. B7 w0 Q& p 2 N8 C4 M' t9 {9 |5 s Z( e+ @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)* Q; N( Z# W) F% ?. ^$ X$ t
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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?)- R* F0 A$ I1 \. M% ]0 N4 r! o
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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。) * Q7 Y6 x- Q+ t) R' @4 |1 R8 J5 o4 f
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) $ y: R; A; w+ s- U1 G9 m. B4 |* o0 L0 p6 U( s
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!) 5 ~! Z; U! h: t 2 U9 f. j. A1 G; S5 |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) 7 q1 \3 z# @% v. Y1 N$ ]9 a & X; y. l% d1 T- r" EWe 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。) 4 {3 [8 p2 U+ O' Y8 r; M: a: w1 T7 v3 {4 f; ?5 @$ _/ O
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?) R& L" ?" `# Z
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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! _- _# V$ Q, w5 {. c
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/ K! r. @) p' }# k: [4 b' g# O$ R2. 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。- A4 r: P# T2 V
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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) * U# K0 b' ~' j# c- ?9 K# ^! m 6 {0 A1 g) ~# @' W3 ODespite 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) 0 h$ [# I% M; ~" M ( n- f ~ M1 W8 a, x- dI 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). L5 [2 S. o2 E
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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)* S- f/ B& M( X, j% S o8 G% o {
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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)8 a7 ~ K' v1 N
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She 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) # a4 {/ C3 A5 ?7 ]+ K. \; Y7 V% Y4 l1 U
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)/ L! l0 C" A9 K( Z( l
: e( X2 {! N/ M0 U) W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 b3 V5 W: \# {% o( `2 W
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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。) , ? O7 V5 K* \. Y2 @2 \& b1 D/ ~ 1 W/ X( q' J" 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 ^- |, D P! J2 X- u% X5 `- [& y3 s8 g2 m
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 z8 R9 u! c8 ]+ e0 n+ M1 L' ~
7 g) z6 m0 [# Y) W, Y) DHe 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)' N7 M5 B$ V3 C \$ a
! i3 C, D" \% H3 v1 H1 QWe 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)- O7 u+ ~1 |! x) P+ b) V: P
]# {) S) ]/ ^2 T+ T: i8 Z- u5 }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)' l( F. o1 [' Z" w9 K% t- s
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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 G5 r# a. W; ` V) ~+ m9 |* C" H
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 A4 h5 N# G' B' R$ v3 e' @( a: E/ S% I+ [+ l) \6 O6 r
5 B$ t& k8 X2 L5 m, O2 W! N/ i3.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」。1 r% q# v. x+ n
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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) " d. \) R9 V; D0 _. Y& p* {, |) \; w' Q
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)% `5 ~; V) B: m# P- G
: E/ y: A0 x9 L7 r) v; f& NThis 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)- Q l; Y9 m( m8 n! U
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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。) K' p$ i3 n& s1 x' Q6 |0 u! {+ x' p
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。)/ |3 s- N. B ?9 C) {& `, S2 v