本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + _1 g! [! @6 j/ k& H3 H$ m. H7 l) u/ N+ w8 p1 j* i. z0 D5 \9 ]- h 转帖( g" y4 X8 o F( \+ ~$ c- S' I
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)4 _: I. K- K" z( K7 [$ _
/ a# \0 o" k5 L/ a例如:: q1 o4 Y) Y& G$ K
O% Z+ Y( B5 L
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), S8 [. K" f6 p+ W0 G6 F
b, L$ A9 m+ X0 B% `/ L( k
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 h% F4 Z6 c( x( s! b" {0 m( Q" l$ g2 H1 A
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)2 [3 ?. V5 T9 `4 s' C
: d; |- s! O) Z7 i
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?) 5 w7 }6 H# P S1 \8 c9 y , K% y9 O" c/ {% I" B" d- 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。) " X. Y [3 f# d; {3 t: q L- t - ]' U/ C) P1 s3 e( W' rMr. 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) ) b9 Q9 y0 a& M; E5 h; H( R% `0 y: K! A- @/ [* g
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!) 8 a, ^2 ^/ U6 e; x r7 M. I/ a: x5 X: U$ @" d
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)& M# |/ C. B2 k( B$ j6 L* I K
1 H' d9 R6 F1 W; R5 r8 v, \% y# S; RWe 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。)$ y B4 z5 [% L# z
0 U$ R+ M# z2 i) c
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 \$ Q, R# l8 F- U4 F& G: U3 i" P" b# ?4 C
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! c& V, @. O. q& b4 H" w7 g& ^# p* f- m1 |3 |% T( ~
$ j- W0 Y# I1 h4 A 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。! z: A- v7 Q T
& |2 i. U' S7 S# V例如:2 D; U/ S' H7 s# Z' N, Z
: {3 f7 S1 U( ~$ x$ l
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) $ a0 A5 Q# n% o, v 2 D1 j6 F7 q% Y' S; d+ c2 O: PDespite 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) 3 P% H6 E4 F& L' G9 j3 y8 { * g" \5 P9 }% D) RI 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)5 u9 w' N$ |: V7 q& a6 k
$ T& u) ~9 p2 G+ E: wHe 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) " b. `. }- W4 l1 M- b1 Q* y; ^# V6 C9 }! 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) , Z/ E P! C3 W4 ]1 O# r ; P* g+ T# {$ L! l3 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) / ?! @5 m, s0 T" O. D9 E S/ f( S' ] - q( l n( j4 j H6 d% T; JI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , E( y- B: }2 l( _2 |# @/ f8 Q 3 b5 A% @, }, 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: ( _. s) t& e% I+ _* }/ y" @6 j& Q: l+ s6 k
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。) $ K: L* P8 n/ w$ k* G3 V% r0 A% | & k3 {* Q% l. z! T& _* lThe 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.) " [+ o( i0 }$ @ ) X( g! P1 R, X! H: jHe 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。)2 A, O# s$ o: w, h9 ]) n
/ y* @! n0 O4 n( ?1 ~ T( JHe 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) * ` [. u& j5 B & j' {/ O( k8 Y: ^, QWe 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) ; K! x' o/ j5 F8 I , D$ \- _& \6 W1 AEnclosed (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)! i5 C# p) l; R. z
5 m$ B, t* M$ L% V9 ]0 a; Y6 o5 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.) - F& ~* ]6 C b. J2 ^3 n 5 L( `. x ~5 y: T( k: T8 f0 K此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 5 f5 e0 G, Q% K 0 b% I0 M; e. h5 V Y 8 E* d' `8 n$ Z3.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」。 6 u( O2 J/ x% k" I- p ! E* L+ r* B2 }例如:$ J2 F: j& R; F0 A" L5 Q
. Q& e# C9 Y* ]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) G* c( L: r; S+ [) n 1 T, {; d% B! h0 e& |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)- J3 y; A+ C( f& ?4 K# K& E2 r& b
( i) i+ X8 j% O# P2 O# ~% N9 RThis 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)( e; e6 Z6 S4 C0 @
7 h; ^9 B: g' {" z0 N
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。)% o3 q+ p ?& H. W5 s, Y" g
6 K% f+ x3 w3 O
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。). d+ n0 t6 W C6 X$ T+ C0 m
* @2 s8 G+ z0 L$ Y: QPolicemen (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)2 F4 z5 ~ J) H) U/ M" H3 R
, K" {% e, i+ |: o+ n( Y, }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) ) L" Y) k3 q# Y5 l- Q$ P: m' {5 d8 {0 ?
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# {0 }8 b" K7 N/ H; |& O+ q
5 S+ [5 K* X' E* u8 ^3 w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。- B; D7 t3 x/ N0 h) X
# L: M- `- H* m3 ]9 f
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:/ t5 o G9 g% e% `0 f2 ]/ V9 g' X( z
: V8 C7 _; ]: [ [+ ~0 K4 ?' J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;# G. F* @+ ?+ q- A& {% Z! p: l
3 C) c6 |/ S5 E! L
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; 8 p( E3 A/ C# d) O* g# `. H " o: l0 {: J9 V对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ D# P. |) U# j; T N( _
, a6 a8 f7 d7 Y
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;% I1 m m& k4 F5 t. u1 U* V6 x( u3 ~
* ~: y+ j0 [3 {2 d! ?2 l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: 0 z3 h4 L) O& J C3 Y ; e& I3 k9 b, Z& H4 o0 e6 A. ?; K% P! ~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)。4 ]2 ~5 ?1 e2 K0 h: s; e
3 z& g: e- k; g! n# k6 Z h
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)。 : X1 P. F* a5 R" \" x2 I