本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 F- l% E! F. F8 d3 |4 b0 N* j+ C* h+ D( G 转帖 & ]) u/ `0 {2 p" k0 }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) : w, A2 n- v. A, ]5 y' ?( |; [" A: k" `. }( F: Z
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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) ' V) y0 q5 \6 o" K2 \! Z) g9 X3 T, E! |0 T+ p4 n) D! h' m4 H! w
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。) # ]0 V. a" I. E- }' A4 H & [# Q! V- p$ p9 k( `: kThis 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)2 H' {6 d) Q0 P9 @& |
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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?)" y/ g2 {: |, B v2 j
# _; `: r, Z/ T8 j! U+ uI 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。) $ `3 }. d0 g+ Q+ i* j' H$ L3 o/ T6 H
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). n, Z* Y2 ~6 f& W
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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!)/ j2 Z/ R* z- Q
% j' _2 D9 ]) z# eThe 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) - \$ p( I" U$ S8 x$ g1 ~3 ?7 s$ ^. E" Q ~0 E. m0 k. M6 _
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。)8 u; `# L. @3 C& V
! t3 R( o4 E7 |" 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?). A! J3 w" v5 _2 h; U3 j6 p
+ }2 ]3 ~0 B! u2 k0 [) P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! $ a$ Z6 F9 q2 I: w# F* {5 M# ^ m" {' f9 F
3 ?5 {- W% P0 d2. 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。 0 T! s" h1 f0 n0 W) v# ^4 T, A 8 \* d% x$ j* T$ Q% x8 ~2 n, d5 }例如:* I1 |& \7 Y3 P. g2 `
9 y) ]5 d( q3 t, 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)- ?5 c* f7 Y9 _0 ?+ s
+ |/ V" D) r3 b* a) m( cDespite 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) ; p- Y0 e; R7 c6 o: b ! J8 S9 [& a W8 eI 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) $ x0 m0 C& ^% n/ Z% i+ L' |! t0 {& j- [/ `0 Q& q
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) ' e1 l& h0 N* z4 N6 P+ n, ]9 Y! F! L- x+ H- M1 r. C( e2 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). a7 J: I$ L$ N/ @' h3 e* s
+ I* E# Z/ m7 F$ zShe 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) - A" `5 Y) t0 K* h7 N$ e1 u& `& W; O9 K0 A: n
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生); x1 c; [4 n. T8 B. _
! w; @- p& B) i w7 b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 a% O7 S' i$ d4 o8 G8 ~: z
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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。) / w9 ]' U- M' M; l5 A" H% w 4 L2 _+ t$ n. t8 ^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.) " j4 c9 s* F' a7 {; ?. @6 g( D- i v. q/ k
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。)/ Y. R! Q3 }* h( |) V
9 l- A$ i+ ~; n( L, 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) $ K0 q; O# l( L6 |% H; a/ k# M
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)2 {' W5 o6 X9 e1 v9 y
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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) ; {, D0 c1 c: p. X 1 N) U2 N! G1 u; K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.)2 [6 N6 v5 l; Q! |/ g
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 {- k! W0 x) F ; R6 [' F' @# G. {* w6 {2 @* a2 t) q4 N' o 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」。% M9 X0 y o. q. F9 {' x$ d
0 B" G1 J' O+ K; m& m例如: $ x/ U8 u7 d' B1 [ R 8 v) `) D2 k% f$ o' s8 u7 rMankind 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)6 M* u& `8 p% G1 }( [
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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) , `1 s% O: N! z : ~* N9 h& x3 Z& _/ d8 S. `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) 8 @& m; e4 h9 Y$ Q X2 C0 M. E) i9 |! q* s6 R: B! ], L
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。) 2 F( u# X4 B/ b8 }" F1 {# | % m0 J, q" \, t7 r3 e9 a& s7 z0 zMany 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。) % j: {7 {8 e6 C ; K0 P! V2 h: [, c/ VPolicemen (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): j8 w* U+ }4 J; G9 Z, w" w( J
6 L" D5 ?: z$ j0 ^. @4 w gCongressmen (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)1 H& S) L5 F9 @/ d# I, `* B/ l
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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。): m# J" N& p3 P3 ~; E) X0 U' M. ^
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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。. x$ ]. {- I( Z9 d* y
0 I" F/ |% p$ |- j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: , C) ^% c2 B: W; L% N( R3 ]& Z& K7 W& l& a2 O Y
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; . b' @: c) o3 N2 Y' j # _3 `: j: U/ g4 Y' [. B* m/ Z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; 7 p. Q9 c( x1 o- Q9 G& K# y |0 y" x; A7 _
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 N7 J# h( }5 ^
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;, R9 \. v3 I7 P \ Q- U
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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:4 n6 z6 y4 J1 ?" n
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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)。 * J4 m$ M) K4 o4 j - [* O# V( W+ o+ S2 N% m$ S0 ^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)。 % c& U- J0 G u U2 ]