本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 j4 w6 N! p+ I! U- }. U* F , m' F/ N F+ S) e3 Y0 W转帖8 z# P L0 Y* L7 u$ ]) l# R
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) . o$ y3 ~* ^& w9 t3 d ; N+ B: ] {" v) \$ D例如: 7 E# _% m! d. ~% e ! I; R$ t& K2 G5 D7 E4 C* |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) - \6 Z7 k5 m. M) W+ C i7 C3 p1 B4 z: W+ T/ L& B
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。) * M1 G4 G Z$ D, F( o0 Y# v Y7 g+ n$ ?4 u' vThis 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). L$ s# U% H4 Z$ \
], C- V- Y4 x- p/ J: y% ?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?)9 X! n- z7 O- s3 N" B, C8 Y% s9 }! v
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I 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。) * r% G8 T7 F2 _# W0 q5 u& Q 3 \ l% r% a2 G* vMr. 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 A$ q+ G4 o3 L( h; K2 ^
' B3 U4 L* S0 F. uWe 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!) ?3 d ^3 {* J' A
. \& R( o* C4 S, g% c' o n3 Q& rThe 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) & Y2 t F* C1 n {# k- m. B6 Z+ N8 o; T9 p& g
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。)( B( J2 T: t, x v/ W0 R' K0 Q8 r
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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?) {2 }; E: {' H4 h, J" p4 H3 n5 ]+ W2 i) 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! ( S7 {' y# U* q/ ]+ K# c$ A/ T" C* R0 |$ R, }' u
l3 Z# s; i0 p4 ^% a 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。 ; F' S0 O" J. o u% G0 ]4 k; X& r& L $ e8 }* R7 N( Y R6 p @5 d. ?例如:+ |# N2 A0 w. d
3 b* u) K( K D; KAt 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)# y5 J" Z8 @% g H i: k+ r' c
7 M3 v0 |; x2 ^ a! w- \1 {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)( G, G h' g3 q; @
6 g% D' R0 A: |7 l" o/ vI 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 Y: b9 }+ m# y. O: ^) P7 {& o
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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)7 d6 Y0 Y `! M0 K- `$ u" s
+ {' K) X: _/ x' M& P* \% T7 a# XIn 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# E0 r, b
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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) ' ?5 T2 L4 |9 O2 S# Z, g: i4 z0 W# w1 K) B8 y% U' @$ j
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % U4 l, Z( s6 E, K1 A% w 6 k+ a- k* n. l( {2 f3 V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: 9 Y+ B# r9 O! y2 p r; Y/ K1 w/ _2 [1 X! D( j# z( M
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。) / _, ^# ?. c& B 3 h+ ^4 ?6 Z1 v* J3 `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.) + ^8 s" c; P: j' O1 r4 l+ _8 [+ Y; E4 T2 M# f
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。)# G7 L4 Q9 H& _- i9 v/ D
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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) R0 [) d& X; c. o: l. ` 3 p3 M2 E4 z' v- w8 ~+ }2 eWe 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)4 Q5 n( s) F. ^3 g: z
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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)$ ?! f% f" U4 V) f8 x- v; X Q& H. d
/ i% @8 d/ e) x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.)1 _( h5 \4 X! z e/ g
* R3 u2 G, L$ G) G! J7 T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " k9 C6 T% }0 F/ y2 j! v. }' D8 G $ d" D# @% U# W. f6 q! B2 O6 U8 O9 O) n 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」。8 s6 C- l- l7 O6 g' Q' i' N7 `
$ r, O* ^2 q" G0 b( U% R, O: ?; ]例如: / l+ f7 G$ Z2 |# [5 H0 N' [) k" J% t5 ?! Y# g7 s, l6 d2 Z7 W' G( ?
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) # O- e f+ G; k $ G& Y% M' I/ B$ fManpower 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) 5 `# y x9 I: [, X - Y' [+ w$ k; H- C xThis 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; h) }3 ~) l5 K0 U f& L/ R0 o3 z+ a4 N5 ^4 ]) L
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。)( K. W/ c t, M, h q
8 e; Q' f1 Q3 `+ t; F! Z; z2 z) |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。)# Y8 ?2 }2 R3 E6 R8 O
) q$ I* T- u) sPolicemen (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)+ r& e' A2 f3 v/ z) \
) G4 Z) V! k% {- O9 J1 f2 tCongressmen (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) 9 E; o: g% O( P, c8 L4 Y/ ]' U: p! H- P# Q
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+ k0 m4 Z8 d% `' a/ E4 @& G% G& g9 l6 H1 h& 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。. K5 O* `/ p [3 @2 o
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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:) W; S3 c, R$ j
7 B( a! } K0 N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; - a# C6 b r) f# l* I. K- m. u" f* A! \4 h% \$ Z
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; ! C3 z/ l7 x2 h; f' s) _5 W m/ d6 M; |' Z, r9 h9 g4 s9 [- w, ?对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 6 I6 G& s+ x6 V3 T0 V, z- e$ p5 z( N1 `$ w$ i# N
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; E+ A6 W, k7 P) i: r& p! k* j! c9 x; l" j
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: 1 V+ ]3 C3 K% m/ I I$ f$ s, b, d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)。 # {+ g$ `; C4 e! i$ e, k/ d: W/ M# o3 N- 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)。& T5 j J [( y- Y! Q4 R- ?