本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 Y# w+ k! D0 r& P
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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) " d% o: e$ V% {5 J# T! k1 h% D 7 R$ @" E& d- }4 i" d例如:8 H( \1 i( K" @8 Q( N
3 _ T0 E J! W1 xMany 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)$ y U/ Y4 j' a. a* p+ w& M
6 S7 Z9 n% T8 x2 B- L& t) R7 p( |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。) + J9 q R: r5 G! N9 j3 D' ]7 b. P% L% L* E6 T0 M6 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) ' e5 b2 L! _9 J# j; ~# Y( H8 h1 K5 e( y5 V
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?)% s' I; A+ j* A P8 j/ P, o& p+ \
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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。) , `' F4 {; W2 B' { b8 V( Q X* o1 n6 H3 V
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)0 J3 d: C6 M) h
' a) w: g$ W9 M* X% \% uWe 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!) & ?- j; R' k+ O+ _$ ?8 y; Z, O; z8 u q7 M2 {
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)! v1 I. S _8 f* H- q
# \$ B- u# \ R/ ^; O, x2 @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。) 1 _. T% E* d) v/ v: i, x9 ]2 h8 h, j% Z
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?) + R1 D7 I0 j: Q% x/ y& m1 d% }( E: ?% o7 A O2 L. l% J- `; K
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!& F- F' k, R& u4 n
. k( V2 k" F" @7 @( f6 q( x7 Z/ k! }* A& Y) |% j0 _7 j 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。, j( D; z! w2 P. R. t% J
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例如: ' T/ ], ~7 x- p7 p) g5 |% A8 a9 \3 Y s. f5 u& }
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) % \# R |: k3 q* p1 o+ F" a! n( e) m+ ~: V! J, c
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) ! E1 f% ?5 l4 R0 d9 ~) G$ x. U5 W; O- i5 U4 Y2 n7 w2 {; S7 m2 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) ' K5 ~- t; s0 l! b. D2 u+ H$ S8 H) f7 A - }# K" A0 L y6 y o4 f# lHe 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) : ^/ M8 m+ e. O; f $ s' y. ^" o) C+ yIn 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)5 c' i7 }' R k" L# e2 \$ r2 _
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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)3 X1 T: N# b; @- ^7 D4 V
. T2 ?( y! p! e" }6 \* CI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ R( O; q* k! ^ ^
: p+ H" ~. p! b0 N9 m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:" C# s2 r3 q2 h* W0 [) \4 [; 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。) C% m( |: ?% R# X3 x7 S6 {0 J& V3 _+ f# }
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.) + f& v0 w s- ]# X* K Z/ Y. ^; o' \5 y8 S3 t* B7 J
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。): W# Q% [- o$ W4 M
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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)) [" I% v0 ?/ J
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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) % x9 z* m3 _. ^1 s' J0 Q, \ - \2 y6 B+ p8 P" ?, NEnclosed (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) " f4 _8 o$ X6 ~* j4 P$ U- L1 V 8 o( m, p Q* n- g- L! O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.)8 W5 j) M% l6 n* C" N6 x" `7 {, ~9 F
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。3 _# O& x& d/ E; S; P0 Z/ U
6 o, s4 n5 _" Z: S' J0 J1 q例如:6 n0 P" G% E1 s$ d5 u; ~
/ a4 ? {( m- J; P9 {- v+ yMankind 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)0 Y$ e/ Y2 J& a, g0 y
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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) ! G/ V9 m3 T9 ?+ r! e' j & A& ], D, I- q0 L8 f, FThis 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)) j& |4 a2 ~; @
+ W1 V6 w0 x7 S$ ?: q! pHe (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。)$ B5 J, }6 u% M0 a( \0 U; y. G
4 K* H0 {: R8 {" t4 a, aMany 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。) ! L& v' F5 W% J" U6 {- @7 u7 L7 U4 v! a. l. m: \8 g
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) 7 d4 z" {. Q+ S1 O; D; \+ b J& E2 ] \5 Z- I8 W' F' `Congressmen (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)2 x! o; p# h: y, V
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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。) N' q+ s* j$ v P
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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。8 F+ Z' F% Q( {
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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:0 \ ?: |! E7 r+ A
: t2 }6 O7 }( N4 W% U2 V+ s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;& i, g6 v$ p8 R6 I- f5 v% F: Y) W: z
5 E2 d* b* o" U6 q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; 0 }' c3 k' V! G) P. M- ?" o' u$ S, Y: E
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 k! q4 |2 \& { ^
1 v I g1 d1 x6 p) u7 p4 c对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 8 |8 Q5 |, H7 a: Y1 O$ B& @ ; R0 Q- } b( Z% 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: . k' a& \& `0 k- w" }7 p. h3 Y+ h# A; u& |% \8 a
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)。 / Q5 K! I0 c' U6 P9 }: D ' E, W1 j# ~1 a% A, d$ d9 K; Y* 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)。 ( d H2 f0 b, Y. S