本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : M4 N+ t1 T( C
# C* c1 t- e* N# M3 ~; `& _2 Z 转帖* x1 m2 ^# w4 a" R* k/ u- ?+ g
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) 1 I" @. v$ Q+ l$ P/ M n 2 R: a( a$ G* G! w7 a例如: % F! Y1 m1 L0 N6 t# H % o, U. p8 K) D& |) f" JMany 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) / @3 q+ Z- d* ] S8 x! @7 x n1 [. s4 G6 CThree 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。)4 W9 Z$ \& ]: A3 {
; @+ v4 N! C a: ?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)) e% d4 c0 V6 S3 f; o( U! E
- \) }% H: l `: \0 e7 f }( \6 MThe 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?) ) t3 G& K; Y) f' O" E1 ~. k5 P& e . Q4 x% g* ]" f5 II 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。)0 w; U1 M% Y, P, t
- H. C# w, F& y6 y% G* |( [
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 x" _4 x0 S/ u" }" [ + V' A$ R8 \# S& B5 B! p' vWe 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!) ! ~; V$ p5 i/ ^5 r3 s4 h5 _- S7 U; r
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) 4 | J! k) {; g! @: L! E) J, l. p# ^% L2 c# Y' f2 q
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。) & \& Y+ k7 H% [& [- r ( b1 o4 F/ J- C5 j" h P5 CPlease 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 q: @$ | T; s8 K g ! q! @* ~+ r8 K8 A" @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 B0 s4 @9 p; `$ c0 j
# Z* v$ E" h- [# V
/ s5 ]+ } y; [4 v7 V2. 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。 / X# ?# L y* |2 Q1 e( w" g4 `- b3 _, E$ k/ r; v. u
例如: % J) d( Z3 O B2 z4 ~/ ?/ e6 d; G, J: f( J
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)9 ]$ z; Q+ Q! W
2 `+ @% [' y7 ?" y. c0 a! zDespite 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)% k$ _* O7 I! a1 f9 R
A' h$ ?+ J; P! ^5 y3 {4 X9 TI 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) 1 E* r& L' _9 [) k 0 E1 y9 ~ R6 m& e* M9 Q/ rHe 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). C9 u+ |' V5 V- q$ S U
6 P$ L. o+ T0 y8 }, E5 J
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) ) n( P% u/ T6 T7 t7 R) a . @0 ?! v x; ]) p8 \5 H) FShe 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)4 h) e8 B/ m( H5 g. o0 Y" r
% j$ X& y/ G4 a+ y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % v7 G6 {# i }8 U2 A; z0 _$ w % D: h: N# R9 S( C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: 3 R6 X+ K# P3 L/ d2 K5 { , Q! j' _* U2 O' S* y ^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。) ' A% y/ f6 y- U$ O' E8 ~* o3 p- b# P$ ]0 r( ]; m
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.). _( r$ V0 M, N
5 C) N9 z$ `4 R/ S. z$ 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。)5 i& c% j, f$ v( I" K
: H1 }. x5 H: d8 ?
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) ?( s9 }0 X1 s' `1 I: m* P& ^2 Y4 X
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 ^8 J) f$ ~5 X' R+ w: w 8 V0 w9 h5 T. [/ Y6 UEnclosed (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)" F7 Y0 ^; ]7 ?6 {# t6 M
! b& |' [7 r6 k* B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 c1 r) `$ }( M7 @8 ~# j3 O# t% I/ A( U
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- N. p* C: F) _8 _
# t' Q: o( \# \4 Y r+ T) c3 s: F . p4 F. R- ~$ C+ v; T2 ~# 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」。2 D! V, j/ E4 I4 Y- L3 Z8 ], M1 E
9 p) f8 z7 Y0 \" a
例如: 3 w* M8 E8 |# m! x) R , H6 ~/ s, S& b$ r- YMankind 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)2 j& H+ e: l% D6 x
) u& o( `0 u6 d" eManpower 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 v) t+ [& a' x* F/ ?$ @# ]
, w5 P4 r$ @1 w% G# `
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) 5 I2 u. {9 @) A5 G5 M+ `: X 5 b5 b7 g3 A8 x, Q7 LHe (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。)2 m1 P' k1 y1 x( j6 |
6 n# D9 c( g; b( P8 `2 ]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 a0 S8 n6 q% X7 Q8 Z7 P 3 D! e: Q% H1 W A: h; MPolicemen (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)& D3 b( p6 A8 N2 f5 q1 Z, q
3 S2 W0 L5 F' m+ y4 ]
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) 1 D7 I. J" i Q4 _' |5 [# X M- |9 d9 X' RStewardesses 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。)4 a$ U4 \. ]7 M6 f4 F
* N8 X% k) a% `' \. 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。 : z7 r+ `8 x2 x P$ Q, f& ^3 @8 S8 `, l. l y+ s5 f- ]4 ?6 P: \$ m
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:) r6 m) t# l" I$ ~3 Z# _
1 Q! `: v! e; E" F8 J E
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;% [$ z% a1 o" |4 I) q4 H
3 I! a+ R4 @& M g( J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;. [7 |1 J3 g4 n2 F, o! D
8 C+ V- {2 t1 c+ X: g. K
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ' ?/ O5 y# `1 P- v' [& F' D ! t7 t. ]8 H3 K f对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;+ }2 L$ L; w% k; J e* H* j
8 n0 Q# h- U2 O; J- i. c" _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:# y, a& U6 x& Y. n# j3 D1 ~: g
' f3 U/ ]% 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)。 9 g% B- X( C0 N. ~. T 1 x2 o$ P# q( z7 z6 K1 l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)。& B8 `8 [5 |; @' A3 @