本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) ]1 M0 {$ k9 C- c# o5 e # h( p8 r; x4 L- _; o. M9 b转帖- r2 L" u% Q0 ?- a. Y7 f& x) Y! P
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 _- Y! j$ F k* R1 K& `7 Q$ ? e. b* x) o7 q. h
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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) ; Q8 g3 X- H5 [' e4 J( S" h2 r1 C( i+ n& t! j
Three 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。) . d5 R- \* p5 P* R1 ] {2 Y7 ]. _4 k0 H
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) " U7 Y( d( r7 ~3 T2 Q( P0 a4 c, _* Q3 }# H# L7 t( ~
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?)( V6 \' R f7 N1 u/ z/ S% T+ y2 c) I. L
. M* M1 `2 P( R- W# a/ lI 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。) " D) G T$ p e# z* P$ K% _ / V3 _9 f9 G2 z) C8 d6 TMr. 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)1 h& b% ?: S- f% ~( }& \, f" O! U) e
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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!) 9 z' k; R7 ^, D9 f2 s- a2 ]* u5 _! n- { n3 v z& s* v: ?" 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)' a8 }0 u3 m& c6 R
! V8 c, | X5 }6 M$ `2 f( }* ~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。) 3 R* x& q! x! r" k& n! l* C; ?2 e, w; S5 _
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?) 9 d6 W8 `3 r6 D/ P% p) G + _2 a7 d2 F+ `5 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!, K; [4 P) ^8 [. q
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, p' z( W. g4 Y7 |! v 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。 # b6 F, \* ^* |% I( z2 I8 [% u) d
例如: ' |% x. h: {9 h, ?+ i5 y , h% |" m) J* K8 _8 I" X8 ^7 b' IAt 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)) I( ]- E8 r: _3 a# R; Z6 s, e
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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), t, r( h4 z' a, }0 R' w
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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) ; l4 w H- p$ J- q1 e ' c9 a/ Y V3 w7 m! ^) `( T0 THe 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) + Z5 O' o$ I2 ~2 d. X % J3 N6 e0 i% K) X j1 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) 6 v, V! r% a1 ?& n% I2 f4 p 2 s$ \% K- {. c, P* jShe 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)+ i. k' n; Z8 W7 d3 e3 g8 {
" Q' I6 I+ Y! W% {/ aI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) m! \; S0 v5 Q3 f# h9 I
/ F, x5 L% c; H2 l* d5 J, U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:$ H |% M+ o' b! O0 @2 v
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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。) & f3 e" ?$ U- W5 y. ], G2 W 8 H+ m! q* a S! o* ^( S) fThe 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.) ! h: H4 c' }4 }$ [" k! |! ?3 x% D2 H0 \* P" r) x3 |! L
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。) 2 y; ?) ^+ `7 |) U$ y6 p; o1 E/ ~ 8 ]8 \% z9 J: _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)0 ]' i3 {1 d: b _
( P3 T( K' R+ E; M P4 dWe 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)! V7 W8 ~9 Y/ @. j5 e4 y
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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); x2 E9 C0 k8 N7 Y' j
3 j' ?: C6 k$ J: Z" W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 f% D, C8 P2 o# |! t' Y- h& ~* Z6 j) E3 `
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* a9 p9 T. E4 ?0 h
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2 ^/ y& W5 A) x' { 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」。 9 W. ^0 K# `& J2 f- s% D ! Y- |6 J4 ?- g/ F P- \例如: % L$ N- f) u# r% Y1 e. E , d& h3 _2 }" X2 b. uMankind 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)# T3 J2 L2 o1 C+ G* N' Q& v8 C8 Q9 I
, a6 u7 p8 W$ N* n! ?$ ?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) # E6 B1 A+ y6 q! Z6 q& L$ u7 m h
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) W$ {2 O$ @" [% \/ r. P: w
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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。) ' q2 A( h2 ^2 _ & l" K/ s, c( j _) q! q* u9 N, @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。) / T y( h2 U d, }" ~+ P4 P2 Z$ i! E* u. S
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)9 h# J" }* X) d$ 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) 1 ^ f% i3 W g; v8 W6 K6 N( y$ J1 D; k1 M7 \
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 c7 H( M! b) \& Q; C' _0 X+ b ! p$ f: }) ~7 W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。 1 u, r) A D. J" t% D- U+ P# a# B: V2 Z5 m. L' X6 s3 b2 q0 p6 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:; r7 G& m6 Z" s4 c
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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; 5 I5 O9 ^, P8 F' B5 i d8 J0 q( b, \" O1 _9 g- L
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; 1 a+ i- x" O) s( U2 y - q5 m! Z- L9 `- \* Z2 Q# ^8 S$ K对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( i C# I' v* B6 p5 ^ 6 t4 S0 {% ~. |# _. ?对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;- M, N' u6 w! T: e5 a' `
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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: 2 N4 d8 L+ U9 X. \. w2 R$ o 3 T4 ~* Z: \- S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)。 ; _. o) ^$ y) D' l: |& S2 [) z- ~- e) }2 p& A
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)。9 H% q2 ~$ D" U) s9 I8 Y