本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % Q2 R, @( V$ f1 H7 u1 M, N
. Y; q4 S8 r7 D! [ 转帖 # z! P! c: P' i/ u- |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) ) H, `0 O7 T: E# j) s& U5 f1 K' b# w5 c# O9 n
例如:: M/ k) `2 Z1 c5 |2 s# e
+ G6 Z9 J" S0 @, I" hMany 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)% Y4 E# o3 r. h
. f+ c2 B( R9 J8 }+ L ?( ?3 [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 y# K1 T; o+ {! I7 t & `/ _; H# |* m ^5 G0 ~" DThis 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) 0 h$ O4 d3 f/ E, s$ L / q3 P: M: m$ K1 P- CThe 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?)% @: F! B# n4 N" u2 ^, m
/ F$ X3 J2 U% _! Q3 mI 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。)( I3 s0 s5 V0 u- d6 v I; W
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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) m0 g" D" i0 p) N
# q2 k! F; R$ a+ ~4 TWe 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!)( w: M- l: U. Z' h' X/ u+ N' v: ^" p
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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) 0 v! j3 W( K# ]: r' x- ~0 ~8 b4 p) G$ K
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。) . ?0 M$ G! T3 y1 I- L( W % v8 Z7 v0 L& u9 ~/ 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?)4 {2 b; ~& J9 q9 r4 i z
* r' W/ U6 o! \. ^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! ' d( `$ }( e z- Q* o ) Z; j& s+ b/ c* G# x8 g3 ?+ ]0 ?/ m! W" q) @5 K2 h 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。 8 j0 S$ {+ p; O/ `! [3 r : b+ K( H1 ?% r例如:- H* e, S( X/ q5 j- u
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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) ' ? p$ D2 T Z9 N' w+ @ ) z l2 X8 v* ?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) 4 ?7 j+ f9 K7 j! T' W4 S; h [& |; U% h7 f# Q' J7 g
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) & A* U7 E [6 p) a+ N ( p2 m( `) q3 ?! N1 l/ b ~; i" KHe 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) , T2 {5 Y- `* }4 q / x/ `$ q2 `" S8 q+ EIn 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)3 r% p0 Y' Q& ?# Q' i6 r/ c
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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) \& D9 s9 C! M
) d: \0 W5 C7 e2 Q0 {; sI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 R# d7 x+ R' r. N
7 j5 ~; }- o6 ?5 `: w D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:" F7 U% @! l( E# ?
- {2 h; K5 m# Z8 vThe 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。)+ v7 E; y; D' {% \5 | \
; D+ b( x. L$ 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.) 9 H( t5 h- }* Y8 S8 ^, S F6 i/ Q; z' I0 r. g5 o
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。) 1 }- n$ w4 b+ Y& E) k0 }6 X! v; B- X; R1 D& Q) G
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) 8 K- G' {9 v! A% S+ G * t2 P2 L; p9 x( [) @1 \* J6 zWe 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) 1 r+ D2 j% e% `- ^; R) `& ^- ^) j, b# d& B
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) + d* N" h( h' U6 H6 H 1 c8 j) q) T$ M0 ]+ f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.)( J: {2 O2 a6 L7 Y9 b& `$ ]
1 s0 |9 t5 n) T" b9 I* @此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 i$ Y5 c) U) G# I( F : }$ j+ k4 k9 B4 j1 Y* j! {0 a9 h! F" h; J, c: N0 S1 Z7 q8 ~ 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」。 [! l. j/ b. ?* q' u- R" m
7 ?$ m4 a b9 zMankind 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 ^6 g1 H: g* K3 b# ^2 `" J
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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) " F/ o+ V' S- \. H3 O$ j- A6 q! v& Z( v' g. o
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) ' N1 D; T8 P/ `0 X& ]$ ]* J) E1 ^- D) t: u* j5 e1 i; d
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。)1 `, ]) X6 j# j8 F
$ m' B* h) K9 k- w' v; `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。)* n0 _6 E5 y+ p1 Z4 d. o
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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)- t0 X- J+ r( [' I: U" x1 P7 e
, a9 r3 e1 [9 H- f8 P6 K3 OCongressmen (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)7 ^- T( g" c! i
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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。) + F6 `1 e2 A. E% h ; I' n: d* A3 ?0 v* }4 C" A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。 : l$ w0 V: n* _- U" a% p $ P5 ^6 [3 O4 C( [ i$ r: R4 s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:. [8 J/ K7 v3 U# M0 K5 J) S
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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;1 O$ T! j/ b- {+ f6 D
, I, U6 e- Z" R% l* ^2 G2 ]; b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 p# b) h% c( @" q' k' _0 i& q
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 c* |: f: _3 p8 z- r! j7 X
& W+ c7 V+ m" H# N( v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)。 ; b6 ~9 l0 `, y/ A