本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . s0 c: v9 y2 N' `3 k7 ] ! h5 p6 l0 W, w6 v F3 v转帖$ Y6 j9 P; A" h
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 t9 u3 e+ d1 x7 g. w/ H
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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) 6 p$ Q( a8 U( e7 t. _) R! e8 m " H5 b' c7 I: t! y; p6 ]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。). l) k5 R6 G5 V% R* r1 r/ t, v) a
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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) 4 Q+ h7 n6 ^1 [& h0 E3 M) W& ~# l0 x4 Z# U2 j
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?) " n: K, x7 l7 K4 ^* `) R8 C# Y9 q' Q* S3 x5 U: [! Q
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。) / Q+ V6 }4 F1 W' d& I7 X& L9 R) `( E2 u* L) H& i# N) E# Y0 p
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)5 H4 t; c/ k6 T2 ^* T
; r5 E* [7 A" P M$ n& _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!) - p' H& r, O1 V) o* E# E- x( w* R; S L3 }5 k ^9 n+ B8 @5 p
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)" S( ^2 x" q- X$ i7 k
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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。)) H0 G0 s& U V9 z; S
, B0 u8 z6 ]. Y) z% s) r! ~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?): q# P: G1 e& W( p' z
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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!* i9 y1 z2 w d" m" i
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$ y- ]9 I% O; E' F5 b7 |1 N, B( Q 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。. w0 J% ]4 v3 y; o2 `0 c D
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( b, G6 L: d, T' m) e- ]& lAt 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) . K, E, `1 B$ R: H! v2 ]# C/ V( X# n' Y/ ]6 R
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)$ r0 q6 R7 t0 d. v3 c
' L# ^; `1 t; ?) c- u2 QI 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) ' @* n$ V9 }' g# C9 W$ Y) _ Y" D* O5 a! j& y" d' b7 Z
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) * r/ J6 X* E3 ?- \4 w ) o' W4 I8 Z) k& a; O5 r1 ^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) 3 u+ a' o: l9 K; L: e# V 9 ?6 b% w, I6 S) NShe 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); w5 e z- c5 A* d% ~/ o3 P
2 l: G. A1 D( a( F- z iI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 2 ?" o0 G3 w# }% }% G- Y. f; V. l0 M( ^- I+ J
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: - }9 i+ O( r }' t * d% C' D5 h f6 {6 W& sThe 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。) 9 t& s& G2 e3 Q0 i# N" A2 n+ d' V# _5 ]3 J0 V
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.)! C. L/ N$ V6 G
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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。)" K# ~" h# {7 ]" a- d( w% y6 j# s
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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)! c; I7 q; r" [. f9 t
) v: D) I, Z/ V B! N, CWe 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) 7 q, w* P# b) z* v4 q" J7 p s3 ? 5 [* h% Y1 m! t6 H5 i! R/ @" rEnclosed (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) ! H9 [' x' b9 h! Q/ n0 _" [" B* x. {3 C
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.) ) a& h3 k8 [7 v9 \/ L" \2 r$ L- u) U+ H! X9 R1 w! Z& y, Y
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ) u7 s* |+ L5 R, W' p* {5 {& |" d! s
/ q2 z3 R* u; Y, u& K3.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」。1 x; U6 m2 _2 C' s* ?% X' c
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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) ! E' `5 k c h ; ]! A- O# J+ `6 h) gManpower 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)8 {) ]. @4 f' g) J& b+ A
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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) & |' t% V! v1 O( Y% S0 x! Y! L+ ~6 ~4 A T6 F' y# r# d- l7 g
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。)' k4 f! x+ U4 |1 S3 Q
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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。) 9 j) B+ v4 L7 {. ]2 m6 @: Y6 D% _$ h# b C. `
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) 3 W8 ?$ |3 r: ` r! d& z3 g# G+ |# @4 F; k+ [
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) ; v9 S/ L: x e; f/ Z7 m9 g- {; V, a" O8 E
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。)3 a8 h8 n- C9 ~( i
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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。 " Q; O/ a3 d3 m4 [ e0 q% _! n : i( \7 g& m0 L, K' _3 _+ Z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: S$ H! k; M6 M1 y$ Z- i U
5 h' G6 n" L0 l1 F5 i$ ]2 T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; / x" @# f5 Q2 G6 O* Q - a* y* \5 O2 p3 z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; 3 D3 x }# b9 q: N% D+ U1 R ; J3 S+ z/ V H- r2 O对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ; v; F1 v; k1 H5 m$ o/ @+ T. w9 Y4 q6 V
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; @7 D/ `9 s& R3 t' `
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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: # L! b( S' G0 D+ {1 @2 m% P 5 S5 o/ K2 J0 r& I8 h# D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)。0 i" d1 t$ @' V/ |& u7 L' V" u
4 R9 g; _% x2 D6 ~$ }, ?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: B, s& S( j' U- \. d: Y' Y% v$ w