本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 c$ W) z* T5 y( g
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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)( X: _# p+ i$ s0 K" M3 o$ g% b
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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)! T4 n" }6 k k. I1 S) U$ f: E
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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。) 6 [( R4 h# B M8 _" z, l+ F' {4 H r+ |2 k1 T8 d3 J
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) ; C I- S c" e; ?+ ~: [ / ?% K) Z9 y/ G% H. T6 w4 A( }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?)7 m9 u' |8 P4 \2 \+ Y
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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。)( e. j0 C/ M9 ~1 a- j9 I
3 `+ i& n3 R& D! |( [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) $ _- D9 M% x, A0 B& M4 Q6 h1 U1 {3 j7 Z2 Q8 A5 f4 [
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!). @/ \ f) m; p/ n; Z( \3 a
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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). i& D( _9 @! b( ]# X ^
; T. }1 u* F: p) D. c0 \* zWe 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。)( h, v7 S/ Z# q! ]8 F$ N9 e; 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?) 8 Q0 Z& S, ~* n- w! ~3 F) A! s3 M+ i + A/ g' x) q7 }$ Y+ 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! : L$ R& ~- h1 f) T( ? / e9 q" s. d6 p! f( T! o; | z. T, E; T! @7 x* g7 q, ^! l! N 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。 1 ^) x* S; ?; \/ G; o! N1 z' `" u X; j3 R# e/ h" d! k0 x! t3 o+ s' {# G
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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) " B% a2 B0 h) f! d7 I. |0 ~8 `; O, Z5 ^9 q
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): p3 f7 T! H- v# p: [, w
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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)7 R" @" h" T1 J/ J6 |
+ E, s" D- a0 v: m- p5 ^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)' M1 a6 b' O+ `* W! T; b9 \8 Q
( B. d: d. c6 o) `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) . }# B1 \: K! A; c8 z) S* t( b, u! ~7 f$ L% j
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)6 D* H" H* W7 x0 o' u. o
4 B4 y4 `0 |) e8 t: II will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 U$ H; a; X j
+ F$ `3 I* l1 Z) A( x0 _$ z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: 3 A ?3 R [! }& ^5 q) J4 M: J+ I7 A; D# A3 y; v0 Z
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。) , n/ j# Q! u% S( i: |' F0 A# R" U4 m0 H! X ~
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.) 3 ]* k: ?) \5 H6 ]- G' f2 n7 o7 ?# x z1 z" M% H
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。): n! @' u2 J, J4 v8 ?
+ l. j+ i+ m7 {8 s( ZHe 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) # B& P9 }" q/ q" l* o # H: p0 f5 Z1 V$ CWe 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) # |( i* S1 ~7 a' u% p0 E* b! a* f. {4 y6 A
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) 2 {! _; x- k* ?; Y1 q , T, t3 |) H% Q) F6 Y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.)3 y" A$ c% A; g
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。) {7 E5 N& I4 z: A
" q, h* a% H! U4 R5 e9 P- H- _; X0 w4 q 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」。3 q2 x) V9 s! |
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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)/ |2 I; j+ R$ a k
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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) 5 d3 X2 h" n) g* i$ L- W# d- k1 I2 X( n
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): F& ^& b8 o1 j" i! T9 K
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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。) . s' ]1 N$ U2 G! m: q, ? + l7 B, l3 l a6 \. ^- wMany 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。)2 m) {, v5 p' \1 N8 t
1 C# G6 U1 T/ U8 wPolicemen (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) d: {1 T( D4 t
# O+ {; t# ^9 M& |4 R5 T' c0 K) \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) 3 g- L$ c1 Q4 g7 r/ V5 O3 v( K+ D0 l
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。)6 Q- P% q% |1 W; \7 v0 [$ U# y
$ R7 |* ?( d9 r5 D! r# y" 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。 * d6 |* x. z' f2 U3 E1 | & C: J5 n3 X$ Y: S4 Q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: " i0 ~' u# h. W6 ?) l 8 M% p/ t& x& \( b; W t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;5 L, A$ n. w/ a3 E0 C
) d( }$ u- \* Y# X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; $ o& m' X' F3 {3 v4 G* h$ X3 g: E' D6 m/ J: j7 a) d2 N. c" w# h; J
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; : V% l3 U5 J5 F3 Y$ B3 I! k9 M. g/ }( h/ p3 U
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; & z5 A& b; a3 S4 ]( \ , w- I3 Z1 Q, O! o* s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: ! z& r" @7 H4 |4 ?* _' |) [" P/ ?, I7 U: S: k! 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)。" S' W) o! f, u( f. N- e4 L
! g/ U7 j9 F: A: P7 N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)。 Y5 Z3 ]/ s" E" H