本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 G8 t' h0 y# D' n9 U% a: ~9 R1 _9 `1 B1 Q9 g! v N 转帖) B& d% Z# v5 B' V
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) $ ], {1 S! X9 Q ; J9 `. I2 @$ k* u) r% j例如: : M# z- n3 N, K2 W; J b l" A! s, W! w6 @: a) \
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) * u V" {. {3 H$ D5 Z6 b0 |/ l2 ?2 \) S. J8 u" p, d2 J: Z+ e/ X
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。)! u: E, U& D4 K' J0 b( ~
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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 ]( L0 s4 e$ |; [ 7 H9 D, q$ N8 n7 ~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 s0 ?: |5 N( m4 i3 J, Q
! x9 G: Q+ h- _6 KI 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。)1 V6 N% y6 j% K6 S& v
9 G' ?5 U# S: \1 b& KMr. 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) / m# F7 \6 E" j- _( Q+ j % ^, p! p) _7 h4 n4 oWe 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!)' V( t% ?; b# u
3 g$ h3 P) h8 _# 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) # w T8 O9 z9 w9 ?* W- w) y/ r! z 4 L4 _/ i! i- [/ s2 t, yWe 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。) 8 D- k/ b/ l0 A* e: j7 w% T0 N5 x) F! v8 ^' ]
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?) 8 G* S4 Q: g9 C, G- g6 C( v 0 i4 E, `/ b& p/ E3 u+ S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!5 X# a( F2 Q/ C8 L f
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0 t) c$ d7 q: G0 G8 ^8 @1 ]. K2. 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。 6 u% ]: t; x! e3 N6 w! a/ J % T9 R( [/ `" o例如:* h* q/ e9 Z9 V. ^. W
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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) * e( m l' M; Z6 \7 ^1 r- @ 9 h [" _) n; iDespite 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)' ^" R3 ~$ ?3 C
: y" u4 k) A0 l6 ?. JI 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) {& H9 A. `4 @: y6 v4 g- n" c% I F) _2 R- x4 k
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) ' h5 b' t' H! a. O; ? S. v ; h; J. G7 n( O8 SIn 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)% e# Z* z$ N) ]
1 V P0 @. W$ V* T5 EShe 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)0 d; ?2 l/ k/ W. {2 a
* V" E2 Y0 L2 u1 XI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 4 }9 z: V% g1 I, k$ h6 ]5 r6 t- e& g) M" v+ 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 P0 C; i' g0 W! k( U# O* P. M, Q& S' N' [
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。)5 {9 o! y5 E- a2 W$ C. r w& d
! V1 l. g1 M& u! XThe 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.) Z% `+ G7 Y3 {8 t( q
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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。)# {- {/ ~4 f% T* ?' b; o- e
; s) l" Y0 ]1 F5 @5 ~' R) ~+ }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)0 p9 q7 o& E9 _) M
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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)6 P' W" G9 T0 L5 E$ B5 [ |1 t" x
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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) - d/ ?: T2 u- ]" \0 ?' N7 e5 J, T7 N% H: n. `
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.)$ R- C$ M* c# r+ k2 C4 u- m
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - Y9 b$ B; q# w - p# g& `( z4 E$ V5 S) x! q7 T: o# [1 S6 ~; l 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」。 # t- b7 }! a2 ~; }6 C1 F x) f# {: t% M8 ^2 y. `例如:. X' ~+ |7 _' `8 j+ b
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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)9 b L, x9 R+ N( F* @( B+ p! ^
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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). j" W' k, p& E8 n4 L
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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)* v8 V% |/ q. r" n- ]) o
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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。)% e9 Z- w2 G4 g* Q" L
& f; v! g9 j JMany 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。), ^, H0 d8 a6 t* S- f
$ t; L$ m( q: b- f1 o1 pPolicemen (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)' w9 |: N0 S( [/ |
$ b6 R: l" H+ | U; [3 ]) cCongressmen (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) + d+ ?( P. F% I' @2 m( I& b6 p& S6 {; Q
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。), r% o8 x/ y8 V0 B
, @$ u F" H9 I0 J* b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。 7 C4 D+ Y- A9 t& A 3 ]6 X( Y3 J/ S8 A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: ! A+ b- m% x5 {% b. K. ] & T/ Y4 K( c# y, m; v! `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;# ~6 K6 Z% g: y" G4 H9 z; q
4 o( C _/ I4 j$ p" x# e6 h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;. d- i% s( U* e J& d# s
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; % l/ {6 Z! h& c% U0 e. z+ x8 U$ Y7 `
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ( |' T6 h4 ^% F $ g% ~; Z: U+ |4 _% ^/ s5 h& x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: 1 |' E' Z3 z1 ~$ q( ~ % h f, D5 C0 W: ?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)。 d2 a, T/ V3 O/ R* `# M * h$ M. ^/ O/ ~7 t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)。) b4 ^) N& H1 d+ x/ K9 a4 Y/ {