本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 P6 h1 c& K. S6 W
' x5 i0 A* r6 {) b5 s 转帖 ! T- H' Q2 B. G I1 e5 d ?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* [7 ?9 e7 \+ x1 I/ W! l# ^6 [/ N9 B L8 }8 C( |( k7 b
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! A0 B6 Z- f6 @! eMany 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) " C/ k+ D( S! c& g0 t ~ 1 X n; R3 Y4 J9 G; K) R7 pThree 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。)2 u0 p) ~3 e1 m2 [' x6 B( Y
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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) ( X$ K7 j/ B2 w0 `" H" |' m % |6 @' o) W$ ^: B$ h ~3 h3 IThe 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?)8 a% b* r. u* k2 u, i s
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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。) ) o; g+ j* x$ v9 i* Q5 [0 T 4 T: P# Z9 L: p1 d' UMr. 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)+ {* \7 T2 n% I0 h- ^& M
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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!)* k4 W; H0 U: l: N+ ]
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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) / m) z$ f% s: k3 ]1 k* v' j7 F s' K4 _- j
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。): i- ]2 ^. w6 Q8 a7 n
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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?)% ` t' o3 U3 e0 `% t7 A; K
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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!) q1 x# ?) S4 f7 C. e
) z1 y" U1 L: e! U. B! c* \& p3 K 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。: {( A o# f0 ]
5 `1 ^% b3 ^# U# Q+ v1 f例如: 5 V% ?6 l4 P$ y' H0 `+ Y) n6 f. ` {* y. \- Y* q" v2 F
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) S9 Q: M6 r$ z) c# ]& j: ~. B' n( }. }. {
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)2 M+ `6 O" x" N
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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) * r2 N+ V4 Z/ f) _$ G8 \6 X4 d$ Y9 x" Y2 v# Y' ^
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)6 |% A+ `0 @1 |. V& u
4 E1 _3 L* X6 z! A# r F# L7 t8 {8 \$ K& ]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) ) B& p( y% Z% |: A% j' K P0 ]) P6 z
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) V8 |* k. U3 s9 Y
( W! u S5 B x1 D5 dI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)6 y" g1 O. {4 \) b
7 ]$ K" x) \- o7 t 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:5 K2 P, L. n6 T0 S" p9 M
7 `' O% Y7 y4 O7 O7 b; @( E8 RThe 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。) p- U9 N3 s8 W( L% x+ P" v- ^
/ b% U% F( o2 a; |& `3 L/ X7 [' CThe 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.)$ x) g' |* B+ A7 I* x3 r" t' I. ~
. V& Y: {3 K2 S) k2 k- z# eHe 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。)% a' w9 Y$ g! k: t
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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) 8 v6 U7 b+ h7 i, Y; S ! q: t3 |2 p( TWe 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 T) }! R* Z4 k% y
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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)- f! h- O6 n( T) U- T
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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.) ) u/ h& y( t: r3 _3 e* s5 P) l; V0 S( E2 u1 M
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& P* f: N X h- o$ L) E1 {% S
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1 X; c$ N2 ^! p$ Z7 H3.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」。+ m9 R& j9 P5 l5 ?. p( S$ V
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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)$ j/ {; K/ s1 F0 }, A$ T
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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) 3 T! j/ p$ P0 n$ h! c) Q# w' K' ^& g/ U. b. s. c9 m9 j, j
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) ) _4 i9 e' Y3 e, N ! _$ u( E/ p& i- K$ [" CHe (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。)! W" f' U% o2 P5 ?6 Q
" x$ S, w6 k# w5 ?0 VMany 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。)8 g! [$ A* {1 }2 A4 U
" P& A: e$ p6 UPolicemen (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)7 _8 n# S, h& n! }+ E
+ `% V* V) s" R9 @7 c( WCongressmen (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)" v: S+ V4 A+ |) W9 U8 w
/ B. R& b% b: }# }/ L: h* {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。)( @5 H/ l% }; D. }' M4 @
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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。; @7 Z$ O6 y3 `! K9 q
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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: : i# C/ C) a/ z6 X# H8 `& m2 s1 l; U9 a) L0 s& _
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;, s: i6 c; j M0 X9 V
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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;2 t4 T2 l& U c) @% p
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 r! n7 ~) Y6 ~$ b' _% n: o8 M" H2 U( X$ |( G! {
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: S' N C! v5 `
2 H- { |2 w5 z1 e( ~' q6 } M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: d' Y# a$ V6 L! J: g, B. G. e
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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)。 6 P% q7 [* k4 w, l8 i' S0 `. `0 k0 {) u, x+ t
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)。- ~! q. i& v& i2 o