1 ~( D2 D7 h& \转帖 ) X4 q% F9 V0 ~$ u' [4 G- B1. 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) 5 e% y7 [' M% u6 l 5 t' E* b, o* u9 i* F例如: 1 S" d& ?; t( h' k! A 0 Q/ ]. r1 e% f7 N4 _' y, RMany 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)# q' X: N c; J
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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。)+ Y6 c4 c1 S7 J, x' Y$ F& a
8 Z. M. t- z- }, t" r1 `, c5 mThis 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) 8 z C8 C6 q/ x0 L4 q7 j, g0 @3 j $ O2 Q; v5 i* `) p4 [* O o0 r- xThe 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?)$ O# C; l, F0 Z5 B
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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。) 7 R- n _* p" n4 p/ m4 e2 k/ g7 h2 c F; V' L
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) 0 z$ s* @4 {2 r" z. ~ 9 h0 a6 i L% w8 t; o8 \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!) ( D, ?" A8 \, F( W( k* Y9 \ / O0 R; a4 x/ i! q/ f: \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) ' W( n8 {1 S: G- \5 J & A& O% j" p, l. T; D. U6 ]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。) % n$ ^0 I( v3 U2 j4 y3 Z% ]( a* ]1 C! c6 ~
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?), d! C1 E( L5 c
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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! Q4 I. F- a. G, i5 B8 S/ r' z
7 w: d: h; V5 Z8 s% P 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。+ y1 f! e4 x1 \: w
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例如: ( M' g4 I2 F# ]3 `$ d: C- W# |/ |3 p9 b3 D
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)$ C- s, z" M9 }) A" z8 L( X
6 u# r9 w* H( d9 t+ v* JDespite 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)8 e, e) q2 C( r
4 _0 |/ S$ a7 II 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) h( y, I6 z S" h$ w4 Q- l# k
/ [ Q* {( H+ O+ l* Q9 r) JHe 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) 8 c( b7 P6 j1 ]4 W0 Y; C$ h3 U7 H ; l8 a2 W2 L& y6 [* e2 AIn 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) . F6 F; n8 N2 v7 Y( [ M/ n/ I, m" y1 b4 o' T
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)$ i) [0 L6 M s; R0 A
1 w/ `) B K5 Y& LI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' j/ }$ C; h2 Z/ [2 I
# w. X9 k% {& b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:! e# H" _- ]; w' {, d' T
8 U. R5 ~- n7 T. T) BThe 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。)4 K+ v A/ k9 ^- v: l& \, W4 s9 p% b
0 F8 Q5 m F: s9 tThe 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.) $ u$ X. o# v: |( P/ s 2 ]/ |7 b* ]' S* X6 r' o& ?% fHe 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。) 8 w3 F. U: ]: C4 @1 q7 x( ^ 8 a1 j5 }4 r7 f: E& e+ LHe 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)" F, g3 L4 Q8 \+ S1 H( C4 @% f
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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) : i, X1 l- x7 o- C/ i+ W6 Y 0 S: m5 \$ n9 \. pEnclosed (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) * X, |8 t8 R4 p! }# ? - D- M, o* _ i! C: e- ~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% D* i/ {) h" {% A * Y6 x9 g7 C, t4 m% F6 m此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ) f& R+ R, D2 k" I! ]; W+ C5 \2 Y2 B! d+ ?! X
3 B$ W% ]6 ^4 S3.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」。2 A `* J* ]' \# L# i9 C( H9 D; K
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例如: ! n; N6 K! v( \8 }" g: r& W0 r$ } U8 f$ d
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) ; Z( {. U! Q) D9 ?7 t. J4 z3 N: s% x- m' `/ s$ d* m9 W
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)# ^! j& l: H+ a+ N0 B
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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) + {- G# @) J$ P' c' t 7 g+ X L% D3 O: k" k; s1 A2 {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。)- Q8 O# N- D7 @0 y* U
: U2 @. h6 N! @' D+ M/ x; Z- m1 TMany 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。)) }( l- ]! ^3 ~, z
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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), O9 W" P8 A+ d$ r2 H7 V1 `
/ e2 A5 @; w: A5 o, g& f, x. XCongressmen (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) : Z! G. ^/ l' u- O 7 b7 {! p6 |4 ZStewardesses 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" t W7 H9 A) i/ \4 K* P A) u0 |" N% D4 ?' V8 ^. {
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。 - h7 P0 K1 D/ p `# `, G& w6 A8 _* e) l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 }- Q; u8 r9 e5 I( l! U7 k % g @% ^/ k2 x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;6 p% W8 b; g/ j8 E3 P' y J7 u
2 A2 j5 |8 m. c% [6 Z* E: y3 P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; , ?7 Z P+ I9 m. S q0 t4 Z: [0 G4 T7 U% k
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; + M% T2 M7 L7 E, U4 Y! Z / \0 d- z' B7 a6 z对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " s% r2 N6 P; y6 c: o/ t* ]. N* R5 U7 _, i% Z w3 j
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:: A/ k5 R: l' U ~2 Y% ~3 D
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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)。 2 e" j( Z( `8 E" ]$ U, A- [8 s8 b8 V* ~; g, u( l
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)。, x2 W1 G' \5 i# `" x; s$ L0 [