本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 n. m. w e& j. I4 w; z
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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) 0 r! Q, ?6 k. ?0 f% t$ W % T) `" d3 {" \例如:0 N5 J8 Z6 I: J# l+ U
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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)) {8 ], O+ s! t7 ^7 p9 e
. Y8 m9 V, i' U' ^4 O7 d5 g hThree 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。)$ b! {1 b; J6 @- q+ d
2 g# Q; U; c ^3 h9 |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) - w' W) A+ \! y0 Y4 \0 [, V# ^8 k6 e% k4 c7 ~7 O5 O2 ~6 U9 @- _6 `
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?)* l5 I5 L8 d( A
- T$ l9 [: X$ dI 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。) ) z, M( s- V C) T; R % F# t/ q4 g/ w- j' v1 p( IMr. 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)9 _' o2 Q3 e% T! r1 y5 `7 O: R1 L
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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!)/ w9 `! P5 {0 j2 B7 Q% Z
/ P0 e8 U$ X) h7 m P+ HThe 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)0 q2 ^% a# }# n+ Z/ S/ I
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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。)# T9 ]7 i: r! |2 N* s& @- q
6 _( b) |$ l/ ]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?) 1 ?4 V( {9 C# m* ]6 B8 l* I7 K 0 |! c% O7 U! L5 ^/ Q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!4 y% M) S7 d) S0 v% d
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! n9 A2 z3 w4 K3 C- 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。+ V+ x6 r: F/ ^: T& W
Z* t, f p, u3 ^例如: 3 ]. _; }3 h. _: g" H( c: C( e2 t5 L- s$ z3 L3 @: [' E
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) ) n5 i" k! a" B" `2 S0 u: r9 t* |- D5 X. @5 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)" r9 H; c4 a8 J1 w) o7 s! o
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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)0 x. \1 q( Q; b
; D1 |5 V9 o5 oHe 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' `; h3 V; I( r$ O- N
* B, l, ?7 p& _- OIn 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) - S9 B! ~+ e) B. r1 C+ v4 p! k8 t 3 c4 o) y5 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), |! \0 s* _. Q5 S
* ?, A$ L1 j' \0 HI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : m, ?: L1 o) J( W7 B * H4 `+ Y# R1 p6 ~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:) B* h1 S3 N: o
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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。), O2 a, J8 @9 t
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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.)6 q' Y1 s! n% M. u' e
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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。) : V" L6 x& y7 e " S5 E% M% m% R9 G) n% T' B2 s& HHe 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)$ i5 N( a4 w7 s2 \) M
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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) 8 ?6 x B+ Q, o" b& P: N5 q, q. b, c0 w& M: i3 v' `2 l9 H
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) 1 [ q5 W, m! M; }6 [" T; n& I+ ~3 S6 X0 L! }7 y+ r5 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.) 4 d% f& T, X. d; a; Z 7 y$ j2 B% l/ ~9 G* q5 r* S. Z6 P/ Y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。( @/ X; Z& N T% M; ~
! P2 e8 b. ]. }& N6 z- q ) B. Q# S* }8 Z5 P. h- {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」。% i. n5 s4 U1 \6 j8 y
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例如: / a- g" U; ^# B8 g K7 | Q" u% T. m/ }9 s8 z8 d. F. f, w& ^. _
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)! I# t5 v* C6 W
" h4 C# m# D3 U" h" k% A* q! CManpower 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)9 f' s4 ^1 i/ R/ d: R' b: L
! m j- R) j3 A1 F# d. Z: kThis 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)8 k# K9 L3 r) ^7 n2 W
1 V8 C, f& |( J9 T& }( eHe (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。) 9 n! d# ^- e7 r# Q# J: _6 u3 B: E/ V$ p3 @. {- P
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。)6 [. L7 Z* u4 L8 t* }5 B0 Q6 b' L
6 E# A6 |' V9 q$ k; DPolicemen (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)* M2 M. M, v+ Z: u- e- C- J& u, l" x
( H# P9 {0 ~# m: t$ gCongressmen (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) + X5 I* u" i, q" K8 e) `5 R7 x# b+ I # i2 ~( {' r# w6 |: x4 Z, a, NStewardesses 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 j! G& W% j& g6 A9 m# Q5 X ! T/ \1 H4 g- K' t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。 / e3 `+ w" q w* H$ Y* Z # d6 }* t! g7 W. d4 G/ i1 n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:6 i! e: A- F; |
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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; ; i* \" B- G) d2 m. c" u 2 g) y* J/ {7 G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; ) U8 q" \7 V6 P% K2 D$ [( P/ V0 q3 x L5 Y- A5 \2 t6 z
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 4 E: M$ W1 z2 M) P! m0 l- v; M0 F1 _8 h) n1 k) ?8 e
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;9 B' N3 W5 L4 ?- d/ h7 h
& F1 Q0 o2 X; A$ k, E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:. b9 s8 d$ T% b% c' I
, W! m; h* p, c. y& v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)。 @- \- m# p/ e7 _- _$ `* Z# X ; u6 t# S9 A, X3 z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)。( h4 c3 ` p2 `3 F3 ~* n