本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # z0 n+ g8 a1 n
+ u8 N3 X5 p8 b/ O$ I# j2 r转帖! U7 w* M" ~! O& h! C0 [; C+ ~2 z
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) # m! r0 ^ B% Y& c* b* T " Y% ~- @! \0 t# w0 K例如: & P, G; \5 n6 u* z 5 k: k( T9 m% C$ c+ m7 D+ sMany 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)7 l4 g/ x5 p( h: s% P. U
* E8 q7 J0 d) S" Z+ @9 J, ^3 t7 Y
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。) 5 }3 ^; k; T4 i0 U: u, w z; q4 ~/ P1 r0 ]& x; y9 N H
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)3 V9 c% h# L$ Y1 r
5 V( Y' m! F0 ?
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?) 6 ~6 x2 u8 G0 Z" i% F- K# S, s' n! n' \6 |6 _7 H3 R. T
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。) / t! G O& [, q8 c1 J J o; ~2 o/ [. R) W6 m9 f+ A
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) & `! F: `$ p" k( X, }5 W, H1 c$ j% a: j. z1 T% e/ Y- v+ V
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!)9 @7 ?; k0 p P
( \* r3 C( W5 a! u8 O/ r& g
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)# G8 U6 G2 z0 s) k
( a8 V# T+ @, E) p( a/ r8 dWe 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。) / v5 v3 l- X+ c9 Y1 r$ I/ `% v8 a# S- X! L b6 l) V. s* f" b
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?) - n5 a7 W2 C$ r% K' Z7 Q; Z" r/ m5 D9 b
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" j6 H n) n! Z( D8 a ' ]8 T0 i0 ^ [8 H( Y$ @ # o5 t2 k U8 `* \# s2. 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。 M4 A% n2 U, g0 n ~; n7 j
* c& m. z! N: j t4 U
例如:( J- V# \6 X" t* C/ W- F# W
: K3 ]4 D5 X+ e9 K* u. 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)7 t( u7 f0 w( Y
% }7 }7 t9 v+ B3 _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)* a: F b" \0 v' t
4 E0 ^9 t8 t; [: C; 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)# i: ^5 S P) U; B" }2 A; z# t) _
+ \6 z" P5 E, V# B; U
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) 2 O- ? \4 K" g2 d" H , Y. R2 ]! A+ T" g2 C2 ~- M$ JIn 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)6 S3 j% P, `/ V7 d( G! c) P4 n3 I- |
: C7 P) f% F5 f* QShe 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) W0 ?% y: I" m2 o( Q
0 ^% A- a) v. d7 j0 I/ }- x+ G! i
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 0 z( S2 n. P" d/ x+ B- H 6 i) B# Z% `: H0 I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:4 ?6 |# v0 |" U1 y# m
; o6 C5 v7 P0 Q, G( s$ I9 KThe 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。)9 T9 y5 k; E7 C( }
2 }& S6 b; n7 I1 b6 h
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.) ; I- g _6 Q6 l & c0 G: [8 ]. i4 n. u) `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。)' T4 u, s8 ~$ S- B
! K5 S4 i. O" R0 a9 F: F
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) 2 {9 N& [$ f- p9 C* q 6 V- R' R. j& ZWe 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) 2 V v) M" Y0 r# k# u8 h3 W) R, V$ N8 ]4 s1 U! W7 r4 K5 o. j
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)/ P/ f, x, f8 {2 E" }6 o4 h* W
# b: ]$ U3 L+ S, C8 H- T
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.) ( |+ b. d+ B5 j9 M/ k. Z3 R P7 v* o
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# p6 \0 `6 T) { ^: e
2 d$ d+ \ }! `) B. K8 w7 V5 Q
6 S! }7 O. p [6 V" `) k& R7 S 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」。4 y& i& w! @- |% X0 V
+ F- F$ Q J" E, k, [5 S+ I
例如: 5 q1 m' h5 M4 G% E _- g! f# W4 J) m( H6 lMankind 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)# z5 V. w" k0 m# h; t) s; R
- W7 p" T3 V& ~& O' ~! E4 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)1 _) b. U* f, e9 \6 i# x. n* G
* J3 B1 y5 U* A
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) 6 |8 S& g6 S5 D 9 a6 Y; m3 u% w$ Y' _7 tHe (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。) 6 y3 X G: ]: h( A7 j7 j! a( {0 H) X; b. x" g* G8 P/ O* H3 X6 Q
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。)# k) G9 U. u5 } C# u/ t
( D" z7 u5 D9 H' U4 G6 t; M
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) , R. f% N4 u1 j 5 g1 s+ X1 y9 z5 B6 e% pCongressmen (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) 9 ^2 S2 h! n- Q6 f5 a+ s 6 a& S) e% ?: v, l' |7 ^9 `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。) 7 Q N) G% ?% J; E$ R: \" O2 r" P/ W# z9 V. O
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。( T1 [4 n, S) n: [" {0 t
3 |* r" z h2 u
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: ]9 L. s: H" _3 p9 G' g
/ D( u: X1 G& P" T4 J6 c4 a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: 2 v. y$ g) f( K1 W% P2 E* N, B) R5 }0 Q t- `6 i7 d
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 L9 f1 w/ u" I9 z5 @
; j7 `7 f' m2 v/ D' }* R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 U5 c- W9 m