本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : z# F$ J5 f4 T; H4 f* \) O2 I) H. K
' r0 w. S, ?% O6 K3 W1 ]$ Q 转帖 - Y3 [5 b# Y2 ~$ Z2 p5 K1. 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) # W0 E; h; H7 e) }) O/ [0 }7 H% x: T. P, G1 N
例如: , d& `7 H7 Y \8 | . m) i& p% a9 w N. L2 m1 D4 VMany 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) 1 J' z+ c- s9 B8 D& C* K, i# v ) i; F* {* f# GThree 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。)5 k) p7 I1 ]/ D0 D+ m7 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)0 m7 L* I" s4 ^) V2 D
; O: p! E& L" d- e4 q4 ~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?)' \8 `8 {( X4 H9 I! C Z8 O1 u
) Y1 D3 z1 d" S/ l# t1 z7 P l- pI 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。)! _! }5 L! D" w" L& b
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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) , p8 r! T. f5 D7 F6 f5 B/ [6 U5 ` f- T
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!) ; \4 X1 \, ^6 B5 u, h1 u 3 ]5 \- W/ _9 Y, O: m2 n! tThe 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)8 r* `4 E5 j0 c$ G- H
- Z$ V5 c) j, ?/ _9 t- u( ]/ PWe 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。)" Y# s0 h+ q' x5 g: c) S
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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?)% |6 i7 s. l8 Z! R( G' j( n
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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! 2 S- d" B6 O% ^$ X ' M U9 w# E7 {' `! f : r& q$ J& R6 b2. 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。 # J7 t* D' s* _* A$ ]7 E+ g& ]% _( J
例如: . q3 w, p e; O+ m: g9 ?) x# g" |" }
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)+ \: }) ]. H2 X8 s. t2 k
5 N) A) y" e5 V8 B+ NDespite 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)3 m- ?- L5 {: Z! K# {
/ K( R% e4 m: K4 o% ? jI 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) 7 x$ B6 `7 ^6 }% S# R+ P9 f8 F( F# K! G+ b
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) " d! l' H! r* m) E" y: H/ Q; I& d/ |8 ~' G/ g6 Y. m
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) + f& g' L' d/ g% W ' z- x5 e/ X" q! z& [# G$ gShe 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) 2 |. m; T! n1 l! n9 F( b" X0 s/ J( l" i6 ^2 {% h
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)3 P1 ]& U1 j: _2 u
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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 P2 J; t/ a7 I$ P) T& S
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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。)6 C0 `7 L* H* [2 Y, z! e, g
& e' x* {; U2 x! YThe 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.) 4 n7 I5 W) `6 Z # ?/ ~, B) I1 W1 p7 s# w" _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。) S3 I& }$ H Q; z" B! {# d3 f6 {6 a+ @8 Q }
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)" y4 @9 n% E+ C8 V L* k
9 }- q' I5 I' D/ oWe 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 @- \, x4 @1 ^
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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) G* O& Z- e3 y
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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.)6 r; w6 T6 z0 z* q. r4 C
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , \' y4 j0 f z( D- d1 o' p( N& S8 y# S# o) R! V$ O3 {9 e4 K
/ t5 T- h! H8 \( V' h0 b: ]- 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」。+ _7 l7 W+ S9 g$ J8 Q0 ^/ V
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例如: 4 y/ H2 Q% {! W6 s , |; {9 U Q/ s4 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)& P* c# m/ z2 ?- G$ j8 W
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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) h. i, _, [9 X 5 f% E7 M2 S* s9 oThis 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) " Z. }/ [3 k) D " F8 h, F/ k7 A6 o: j. R! [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。)& R K" @# h' D+ o1 c$ r4 ?
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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。) % D3 N6 u/ b* R$ K" O7 o6 |. I' `; }# C8 X
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); o( E' u0 |3 K; G4 G" 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) ' F! i: s ^) {- I! m: l) A 3 H0 ^% ?2 _# v+ tStewardesses 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。) 2 f/ S. M5 z5 `( ~7 ?& Z3 W: M M6 C; p" F- z" M
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。 & i* N/ p$ g2 o! ~ 0 u( A0 `3 @* Z# b$ q% \' 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: / P Z5 T5 z1 r: C' ~ % j1 L) c/ E9 O: k# Y j( ?0 q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; 1 |# x7 f8 v' d* u. M% P! ]$ i4 j- Q3 p$ S. Q z$ D
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;( h- \& U; f8 D1 M* `# D" x' N
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. G4 ~$ v% R0 [* u7 j3 e
/ ^/ H5 v# _& i& R {* `. p对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; * j, T- A8 K; V& d( r2 Q8 Z : y' l$ s9 d. N; Z/ w8 I+ g1 q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:! @9 c h* q3 i* o; ]/ f
) g( l1 j+ n* F# Z: b' |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)。 * v) [- D& ?$ B