本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 I0 u, ]5 `. x# C) q5 `7 H( ~, c% `: ]7 ?: p 转帖 4 q7 [& O0 {9 l5 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)' o! P+ g. F& x _/ Q6 c" o% _6 i% C
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; y9 q5 p9 {( d, o" o2 o) AMany 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) 0 W7 R3 v" C. a# C+ P. w& ]2 R . a8 M: ?8 Q( L$ h; ]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。) z1 I A$ s6 f6 p- r# S. r
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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)9 W: r: ^. j/ \$ j( K7 l% G
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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?)6 S# L. ^. m! k7 ^: r: H v$ \
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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。)% P A& ~9 F$ X, Z/ S
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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); X; O8 A0 q F1 R
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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!)+ E& H$ `- y) j6 W1 d* [9 s+ H& 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) ! q( F% T* s# v1 i! R 1 @. G: {( K; A/ O T3 UWe 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。) 3 k" R; j* M, w, [! E& x8 h& l: y0 a- u9 B6 G$ q
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 i) r A" t5 u: u2 R- t# M; N+ @: [5 P9 a4 H6 C; N
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!4 `. e6 P; B7 l3 a% y r! U
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" ?9 f0 T! b- J7 y: p6 T9 O 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。* T0 h8 A4 m0 q7 O* Y5 k
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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) Q& \1 T% y# ?: o C$ v* Q0 G T' w
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)* d# Z& P7 |! I1 }1 C$ I
9 O3 |3 M0 T/ n- 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) , l$ P4 V" k0 i7 v/ S 1 _3 r& O4 W5 H) }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)' b: V! ~3 u2 R B' m( n3 z# D4 i! ^; ?
) P# o2 s& A/ d$ u- k* lIn 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) , T+ w. L4 l9 r' I5 I) t9 ^ g$ ~6 N5 O5 |
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) . L$ n4 p& D7 a/ f" Z4 t$ p; C+ G# p, p) b& A0 j. g
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) $ n9 ]9 r/ X' ]( z* @* x2 R! N$ r" p
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: . k! K' D8 B8 T; E2 L. g: N8 ~" }' a( d( p i( \5 W7 ?+ Q- E* @
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% l/ m9 n/ w# I
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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.)# k: K9 W6 P- P2 X/ n3 N
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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。), V& @& B: `" ]2 e8 `
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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) 7 _7 B; `3 {. W- ^# x& C* C T) c J* `
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)& e* E* @/ [$ w
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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)8 u; X* a2 m2 |3 X; U2 `5 j/ I5 R" f2 n" C
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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 o/ J) Y% q' }6 O
8 J* r; @2 @. Y0 d) T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 i/ E" [, F2 {$ \
' K7 i* d- q( V 3 @! K% y5 C4 c) {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」。% V8 L1 t/ A; G& c; b. Y" A% k2 v. `; W
3 }0 u" v0 e% [- m& m- P例如: 0 c. B$ I. n+ B) @9 A- y$ I1 o. g% U - i+ K% x2 B) A0 ~+ M( v1 XMankind 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 J0 @7 O; s V7 b( x2 d
# C" u) G- q/ v3 _' RManpower 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)& W' P, D$ l' @6 q
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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)2 J4 T& v+ {# `% {! z
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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。)# t# j: ~6 E/ \ o, C( M! |) c
& F' o+ _" }+ K! F% z xMany 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。)( z! k8 T5 Z3 ~* x
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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) 4 n8 D7 ?8 ?0 L% ^7 s( t {# z8 m 9 u0 s5 s4 @: z- B: u. M% KCongressmen (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 Y# Y: ~( }5 e M1 d1 g( o% W* Q) J( p+ i
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。)% o7 d! O/ N# r+ j) r
( U# n4 f; W" k, L! g, 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。 : G* g- F7 [) Z8 m* u2 x/ @" @7 g8 e' }
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: & Z1 u; S& g: W+ ~2 Y- X # w3 m H( Q7 u+ t9 E. C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;7 ~3 s: \1 Z ^. X; G* O
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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;; s" I' ?' _- k, B |: B. R
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; U5 f6 a# I" M9 C
( w# D3 q- q9 b* h对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; U4 l8 c# Y8 b2 }- K6 t4 \+ u. G
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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:; M* l+ D0 I5 d x8 x: X
0 S9 \6 D \* h9 C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)。 8 Q6 Q) W: c9 L2 F. r3 t. n& o: W( Q# ]
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)。 , C: {0 y8 n2 }2 A/ \, k5 b8 E