本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 F% r/ n) y2 v& k( L' f' P+ @
( k& P5 D/ P, P 转帖) _/ G# c \1 \3 N1 j) P* K9 w- e
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) ! Q3 e+ n. P! Z- u9 e5 f% X: F9 b B8 W$ Y
例如: + G+ n/ s2 ]; D7 ^, y$ D9 c - w0 @: H6 O7 U+ f5 LMany 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)4 m2 u: U& }6 X& s7 j5 T
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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。)' d2 H9 C. A! D5 r# g- 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) 5 w2 s5 D0 j6 a" X8 _( K) H3 O8 P/ u% ]# N/ s3 J! [ |8 U
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?)9 o8 M( f) o! F n8 J4 q" @
2 I! x! }! t/ w2 F4 PI 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。)) T" A! {3 U# ~8 _5 ]# Z
7 P3 F( U9 s$ iMr. 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 w# b# D) Y7 e o0 f& E
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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!)/ x: _5 o4 Q6 h
, N0 K' I, }2 LThe 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) 9 j% | N9 p' F/ \4 v5 T# v! y' a7 ~: a$ ^8 p5 e, @
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。)* |9 E7 w) G% i& f& `
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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?) ' N* S/ N8 h6 Y$ i2 @ ' m* G( ?& i* ^( Z( E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 B- T5 X. n; g3 ~- k G9 s7 [# X" H6 \" b
% I/ y V) f0 `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。/ L( Z8 U/ U% Z8 c% b$ Z
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例如:/ o2 V+ T6 L& d' [8 `
* S o, E/ Y7 q& cAt 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)' o% p3 V+ p, n1 x) V
- \+ j. M5 Q+ u1 B) QDespite 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) " c! v( v- y/ v, b; m 2 d! L1 V; y1 y ~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) ( p. G) C) N" Z4 ^* R7 E# Z& a0 w( t7 v
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)4 l- x3 ~; F. P0 i5 W. O$ Y. X
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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)4 |* n5 R$ J% I% i! ?
' N; O7 W0 s& ^0 R. kShe 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) " O4 }# b4 Z4 i! Y+ N& Y' [5 A" G- ]
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 v5 y& K0 F8 k* U* X) {3 N D9 G, C9 e% J' K
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:$ n; \( x! j* _4 I
% H- Y# `- j; s- K6 i! b/ vThe 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。) , w; |* H! l% C7 ]5 c7 q9 v% I+ H( [/ ~& C5 V0 V0 v+ Y% 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.) 8 ^# k2 B% h7 z# t$ X; t8 r 2 j+ r% O) ~6 G1 P% BHe 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。) Q, l; [8 f, O: k) U2 p
# u) L3 i* W U% BHe 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) " l; y6 D# [0 g- X6 P( y / _9 T2 a0 X* p. r, D" dWe 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) - F9 ]. ^7 n2 N' f: W! L4 l% T1 v+ r # {( P( m E2 L( _% B& n3 ]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)* m; K, H+ ]3 o3 A& U/ J) X
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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.) 0 E9 @' T b- j, ?0 Z& W ^& [! v+ i5 s0 k9 ~5 O; n( O
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。/ _" q' h. N7 M; `' y
% X! ]! \- m/ k9 ~' v 5 R! q3 L3 A$ y' i2 p3.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」。& c/ K/ {! R9 L% }" c, S) f0 g
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例如: , l4 y+ F/ Y& t% q& C4 C# E! W9 L6 x- W
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)$ I+ u% |! Z: E7 X
; i( c$ f9 R+ L) v* dManpower 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)$ y9 S- Q6 e4 M) @- [1 p0 a
1 {; ?& g' E( o. L" ^+ p6 m* F9 H/ GThis 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)2 q! U* Z0 L. Q; e8 \; i5 g
% l2 @4 H$ C9 ~5 k4 X6 @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。), q' ^, c0 ?$ y# |
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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。), f. ?2 b# Z9 j# ^
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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) 2 X7 o/ J8 e6 v5 E 7 z2 Z! A1 \5 x- W2 r* 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) % E6 p0 R5 O: @+ {' S1 m ! M5 W3 d; E/ w, v! ^& `; O- g8 z: BStewardesses 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。) s+ w, j5 H6 u
; {2 [( j$ r/ {, G4 ]2 N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。 # L0 f3 n4 F7 U- Q" O- a* `" a& k+ A& Y
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:* | d* v& G7 K
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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;$ ~; Z# L/ G i5 Q) M1 k' S% R5 p5 | E
, s& K; J: W1 y' H; d; _3 m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;( c7 \+ J) M' O1 N
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;( H% z+ S# h4 Z
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ! ^# z+ G4 J$ T7 ? ; B& N u/ ?. k7 O+ f& O6 C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:! b2 n" h3 {/ @4 G: m
2 d S5 v+ b) E. Q& D4 `. e6 B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)。0 E- S$ m! X3 J
; O" U2 ]3 {) e4 h) l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)。 3 X0 N: h9 k' q: {# b