/ U/ a9 c( x$ b转帖 8 h) i" G1 l7 q3 K1 C1. 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) / I+ X4 D; L( f% R! R& k( k, e1 C$ U$ l, q( u
例如:; O( N" w# f, r$ w" \' n
" @2 c+ l4 [1 Z0 T
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 Q* ^4 l, t. o7 `! D 8 k% k1 T! l! K( j/ z3 nThree 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。)) L8 ]2 {. j$ h2 b; w
& S; U4 K3 M. PThis 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)+ W0 o+ p: Z4 {& r& u4 A
1 m3 b5 l* K: t6 ?/ ^) E
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 s3 m' b, E+ e
9 y" a/ A% `9 |. 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。)1 U2 c' X0 I- _5 |. b% ?
! T! [* V/ T) EMr. 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) ; ^3 i# I; z$ P% w# b7 E6 a- x0 X: {6 I; }9 L
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!)8 M0 I0 O; y' q9 Y7 y
# R3 \' D5 `2 Z- X) `* L9 ?* E* ZThe 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); F8 I' V0 W! Y" j6 w
" y" G+ V, Z+ a
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。): M7 i! c$ R+ ~0 ]7 h
" x7 X/ C8 y4 E8 |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 b/ ?1 Q; s' t( V' g. R: y1 r- A4 }4 D8 m, d. s& _( m
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! 9 c) [: z4 `7 X9 E- k" u( W1 t) ^3 }5 _2 t" d6 P/ q( R1 T& i. }
4 b K) u: |2 I7 p+ L2. 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。% I7 `0 e. H9 P6 X
* g5 M2 F _# q7 j1 JAt 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)& ~* A) c# D3 M" _+ t' \+ p" S( I
6 }5 e/ Q! F8 E4 U
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)7 O# a! |$ G& j8 N% G3 R6 D5 o
0 ~- u% H5 @ K- \: bI 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) " o2 ]0 E1 [# z9 K7 z7 F: ?% d7 Q ! B. o' t* Q. X) PHe 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) 4 ~' o' Q3 d4 X0 c% t ! H5 k: l+ G) K/ [. zIn 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)2 [) X6 o i1 f8 G
# e' A3 ]- K- i
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)9 [- O* o( ~6 v* k; X' u3 m
. x$ a: D6 t& jI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 V4 G& _2 V' g
; `( Q* p. D" a
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: 0 |0 p! z7 u- ?, F8 g: i' A- e: z* ?: F; }5 @0 V; v) ?
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。). d, g( o$ d" p3 b' ~' F7 A, X
' _% @8 B( T' a5 u, z. A5 U4 |
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.)& D. T8 l/ _/ S# ~% p* ~9 H' h9 M
1 D) G7 _& s' P# x& V, c9 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。)1 Z. Z) P( m9 ~7 h, G( S8 K/ {
' J; u: n8 ]2 M
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). M7 ]5 \ D. O9 E# B; }
5 m! H$ @$ q, f5 T: R& Y7 lWe 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) 6 i$ b3 W8 p. Y; s4 b8 g3 I u) b+ p; x4 n7 v& s+ V
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) " c- I3 u; Z3 S* V E/ |. c I2 z9 k6 L
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.)8 c% _) H( C" G' a( W
1 t c3 D3 X) _2 g( }6 |此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 S: q9 x) ^+ t# h, Z+ x! F/ D S- E' I5 r! W. d) y3 I' Y; u7 S7 [% y' c8 w 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」。/ y2 Q% a6 P, }$ X/ N1 s' T
5 P Z% s( D) I% _
例如:4 a* {+ |2 S8 m
% h( @3 y- z9 B. q! S0 m# B
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) 0 O( |$ B6 j' o a6 p( \' d7 h7 B2 r; |6 U/ AManpower 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 u( q* b4 u1 P' o8 J9 o! _2 L& [5 X2 J" Q! G J. J; B% e$ K
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)- o# ?' \1 c- r z' A4 Z$ p
% h" P1 ~1 m9 X" U' U$ ]6 ?5 ^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。)1 F* g4 k# O" T% s# j5 R
: l5 u0 T* y, ^4 k$ lMany 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。) 7 N$ h: u) N8 s! r5 n , }1 i1 f& y {6 Y4 bPolicemen (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) 3 U! c/ M3 w8 W, l9 e% l, C 1 c) C( o; K6 K1 _- M$ h4 ~- eCongressmen (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): X& R2 ~# e* G* k' b, j) Y
& o; W3 U; s* `: k3 k& C. I
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。)+ ~# U/ C% S& w: o1 p) B+ O
" V# D+ i- K- _6 B5 c' `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。- B6 s; r' q. P
6 d3 H( |- ]' s% \0 x8 Y5 [; _# J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)。 # j" o+ x/ X0 [% H! O$ Q6 x( m( i. _