本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * |3 ~( U" `! v1 d" a3 {% { R/ }1 y# i& ^# m+ k# i9 w 转帖 % n5 A8 M/ E! p2 Y, X2 {. {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) ( S5 B0 e/ v- b5 Y5 { 0 Q; f: h1 O* h6 M0 _例如: # N' m5 F( x" N* s1 o i Q1 M+ Y $ }' @5 E1 O1 N5 I1 {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)# T! }9 a; Q; \3 ]; ~) `
) K0 u7 I' i" zThree 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。) + w( Y4 I0 y8 C& ^" t8 Y* t, m' N( ]" y3 d% T
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)7 K1 I& |' i% z) ~
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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?)2 v3 [3 K% u2 O o
9 c! X% y8 O! x! x, S+ O: hI 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。) 4 D k# K: y1 G' H% U$ k! D- f7 w7 d9 I* M$ r2 N/ Y X
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)* m/ c5 D! H. `0 d* E
( w! [; T) \, Y C5 ^( E, I1 h4 LWe 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!)6 Q3 ~. T. T& k* G) W
4 i* p0 B1 |0 FThe 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)2 d! C @4 Z, f* W
% b0 o; n4 G/ ~+ F$ NWe 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。) 1 b6 M- } _) q2 W. k% T5 C' q 8 a0 n; l. Q% d( Z( C+ Z6 w WPlease 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?)1 y3 ?# M! x" 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! + F ]8 g" o$ h. E ; c- q& e4 O/ r% {7 D0 \8 ]% V; W; u: Y* k& e% C 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。 I$ c3 ^9 M, P; d6 r
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例如: 9 [: Y3 s: W- l5 U! T8 f 7 ^- ?( y% N) E& DAt 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) + ~- N. L9 j( ^8 l% w " m/ }/ |/ A! H2 X, Z8 aDespite 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) ! Q% v1 C- d* W( n- e5 p: W, u! j$ I
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) 6 t: Y! Q5 |3 Z9 V. d0 C$ D2 T* A4 b" c5 s
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 h6 b# t9 E$ e$ R* R' p- h; k0 E 2 C8 z7 s. b' ~2 w# dIn 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)7 V2 T1 m6 z0 A5 q. _6 s
& b6 A9 z" x5 U7 H: ~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) ) y' _; N0 V' z9 t. i# A) n$ m 2 u6 r; D4 d# s0 r0 fI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)* ?, Q; w/ |- v- z
. s( n* ]& ^# S* L# S# v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: 2 C& X: @! ~: _% R+ q / M" Y1 _6 }; Q; q7 N+ _, ~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。) 2 T) g8 F' y: l6 r 7 g& Y- m; y) D$ Z/ [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.)8 T2 k7 {6 I9 t9 a2 N
# @! G. b* Q X; T: l# X) D' @9 IHe 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。) * B' R3 q! V5 F- q& y# v7 ]/ }9 X# q3 W6 x1 D4 Z; @3 F, k( J0 e
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) ; W1 w9 K) S! ]! q9 A + p# s, e! Z7 C1 h j j, eWe 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) 4 u8 O5 w3 x/ \) U; e/ r0 ~; `6 i! ^3 P
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) $ h& x8 s% w" r! s + A. ]* E* |) ^4 b+ `3 U5 S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.)0 M" q2 N2 u x& s& L
2 H( L7 x! ~' D* q7 X) V此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 N" N4 ]' ?( x& v* H' F# A
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4 U5 [/ u9 A5 r- ~6 m1 ~ 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」。 5 Q7 Z5 E8 d: N! o& D. t' W : z: q0 e- Z! U* A- `8 c例如: : U; {& \( ? Q- V 0 P1 f. P- W8 q: TMankind 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) 7 @: g- _, ]3 P: \6 m# \, K/ [/ c) @. x- B3 q
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) . m' S9 u' a, s2 A- H {! L u ; o6 @' x" S" K' u0 w* C9 ]: a( nThis 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)- m z. F% o9 Y7 W- @" \" h" }
8 P5 W5 l o: C3 s! v P: _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。)6 r' }1 n5 e0 n2 P( I
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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。)! q9 l9 g: E9 g. O; \
! K) F/ K2 u4 `# p$ p" |( pPolicemen (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)& n& i! V, \! b/ L3 `. Y
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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): R, j/ s/ Q5 V, J; o8 @$ r
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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。)9 M- ^2 x8 X4 L# M5 K
% O' _$ R, U3 C6 ~' d! n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。8 Z2 {( M0 W' q: n {
: q5 \1 H& }7 R9 P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: # R% E% b: Y$ @ P/ @. _# o$ B [7 [7 h
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; ( `4 s! v$ k- g# s% P6 |* ` + J1 ^8 [) S: E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 `" g( D$ F$ b- N5 n7 r$ t5 L8 n. m5 T; J, {+ ^+ V9 r' K
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;/ F. _; k3 T6 t) d
8 N2 Q6 k' B) ], }% d5 C对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;& V- `) L: I, |9 @4 f4 D8 G
. h U V F+ x$ I" 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: 1 n5 G' j8 D) K, J ' W4 [' X4 q) ~' s, G) d# Z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)。 A! V5 S6 r2 j* f 9 k! n& c1 u* x1 S9 M6 y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)。: X x" R9 ^3 {5 s/ Y8 y