本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / H* @4 J" {! Q/ l" h7 _- M5 g 7 r5 _0 `/ F- ^; i转帖 1 w% h9 W# e( Z$ s1. 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) 3 [+ Q: h# d/ {1 V& j8 V$ l3 @6 q0 h; a- p$ e- i, ~; t4 Y
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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)" E8 w, H- x, I
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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。) : D. m2 O& D3 V/ `: O D! \ $ Z1 N+ `: a9 S- A5 T: gThis 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) 7 |2 }7 s @3 x1 J$ U+ x/ C2 u6 d" c3 c+ {3 F. I5 {/ i4 o7 x1 ^' d
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？) H5 v, |1 V1 D' E, ?9 o
, U+ r; K9 p! [: eI 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。); y# E+ _. y- D
/ g' M( E2 d0 w7 w1 O8 r# @2 TMr. 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) $ L% _- P, R ^8 \: R " I! y E3 z& xWe 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！）7 X1 y0 U0 F3 J
3 @2 ]" s# ]5 c4 `. i! ^! YThe 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)% a0 h5 V2 C1 M* ?- u3 r" a8 O2 n7 Z
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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。)' j* C* p; I3 q5 O0 @* ~% j
' B7 f/ _5 L9 N0 D9 gPlease 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？） ! r# s% B' T+ r, W ' n0 I' Q; f9 J' s5 [' 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！" v+ q* G( l6 o, ]) X3 y1 S. Y2 p0 N
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$ E; V- H H8 T& ~$ f6 T: Q3 t; b 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。 . F& y) ^) }# T. t6 {$ y; V* }2 b; E$ |3 w! U
例如： & X4 C+ f) d$ B& `$ _ 8 m6 C, O+ ?) H/ tAt 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)- i( L/ W3 [& E& H5 d
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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） + n/ E. Q( d% r: W. a0 h& @& l5 [. ?: k1 x3 h
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)+ e4 ~; B0 n; Z" c( |
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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） # M; ?4 C4 N+ I8 p' B/ U# j* R. Y" t- S8 c; U; U! 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） % i! n1 S$ @* ^& n6 m! Y3 p8 y( ? M' j5 R4 z* b
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) + F2 d" v7 k2 c / n2 Y# m) X( q1 MI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) H* e# ]$ r4 k6 @% X H
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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：. ?1 m+ F5 H# R& g5 n; Z6 T4 H5 K
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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。）; V! P! Z( r; l. Y
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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 N* ~9 S: b$ o
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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。）" ^& \/ g% _: R. O
9 `9 Q i( Q+ B9 D) D" W7 \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） 3 u+ J8 H$ W8 F( D6 a, p' M$ e7 F3 }0 r
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） $ D, {% `% |/ F( r0 T c" ^9 W5 x" F, I6 S0 [1 V+ x
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) # p; P2 F$ S7 R0 y' }7 s# D/ Y$ l3 r0 ?, i% D
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.）7 P: ^3 a/ I2 z! G$ n, {
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此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。% ]/ X/ b8 [8 ~" z: m1 I2 O
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9 R$ r) t3 Z) 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& Q! t2 ]) N+ v8 i& p- y) l3 `
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$ W; r2 Z0 k0 l* Z) O2 uMankind 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）5 z8 n4 L; V; y* F5 L
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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） # ?2 G- s7 X" h9 E% P) m7 o* O: v8 s4 J' Y) p/ X2 m" G
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）$ H- ?) a$ ^+ K/ D' R
# J# B: F) ^7 a/ p2 ?/ H, X: oHe (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。) ( X4 ~4 F3 u1 K1 D- g: w; {( `6 n+ W- B$ ]
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。) c9 j3 n% ~$ Y% Z9 F: o+ ]9 D( m2 }5 V) s& E8 j) Q
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）) p" x; M5 N& |
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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）( Y/ V& R! b: J2 ~
$ e* s p/ o8 z6 yStewardesses 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 n9 P. P$ K, l3 c5 z1 m1 h: k
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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。 $ [6 j* T# q: @; e" o& w0 d5 o( P" r5 J! e( G) D! V$ S+ y
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：. T% Y, H B2 ?6 J; ?# g
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
