本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 Q9 ]/ `0 Q5 h7 e3 K' y
3 `7 a% _& \( \) o" S 转帖 ! z5 w3 h# m2 M" w1. 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)2 |: ]' a7 }( X# j/ s& q. g
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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) % o6 Z$ u5 G! t! l% l* [2 b; g1 B! h, ?" 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。)6 d. i' p) K1 @; L
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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)) @5 Q& q/ r$ _9 S0 X" F. z
. \( ]' ]* i, X2 B, l5 w) m$ NThe 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?) : R$ X$ v! Y; S, W. B. b: K7 H3 J( ~. N3 R
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。) 9 V) q, `8 W0 j) P0 B% V& V' p2 \" k1 u* Q3 S. H
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); X5 b/ q. I, o( }0 V
0 ~2 x" _2 E3 |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!) , ]' t" E" {7 v0 W2 j# _9 v 4 p/ C% E. W y7 TThe 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 D5 T5 l" A6 F 4 ]4 R& d2 i" t- EWe 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。) . X9 J. q" t% U! v7 \& d" ^9 \' ~& |" m' U$ E( x6 s
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?). u2 e7 L4 D W& v
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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! & M9 d- R3 @8 v ) G3 b- A% `, U& L8 l7 |6 E) E6 Q' T: o( m2 ?. B+ { 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。 . N+ M$ J. O* P; K: v# y2 X4 E$ V U0 U2 \
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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) $ ^0 y6 i: X3 F- A5 j1 P! U9 y1 ^' H1 n. T) F
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) ) f- p5 f, y( K: L , I* R2 |1 H Z2 WI 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) 5 X* D* n/ R' K3 M : r; N4 J. v2 g9 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) 1 R3 W7 M8 \, [: \" c & X$ w6 c, w& e) yIn 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)# h1 \7 V+ l W( ]- N
3 x. S/ o# o" p5 z5 Z eShe 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)3 e* v% Y: q6 s$ E
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生), n) C5 ~8 m) Q9 ?9 V4 D
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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: 4 Q' z/ i. z0 Z( M& _ O. D3 ?- m9 t
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。) : x- @# S/ l( v i( ^0 {1 Z$ n& d 8 o9 g+ m4 e7 S4 |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.) % }7 Z4 W( ^+ b7 I) B- @ \3 D$ k& @% p1 f% R' _1 y3 f9 a
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。) 6 E* m( ]( S. f8 b- L! Y% W3 o6 x$ j6 r
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) 3 e l4 Y9 a& ^( e / B3 j4 @9 Z( ]. w8 {# b5 g( m$ KWe 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)* u6 q( e; J7 S% P2 d
! P( M# ~1 Z6 c N2 x! X; i3 C' XEnclosed (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)' K5 x. [# n. w' |
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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.) . ^% Y) B2 S N- Z# ?5 {4 N; q4 Y$ a0 n) R6 X. @, c& f% }
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。' G8 Y) r3 |% Q
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9 H3 p! V" J) A6 u! X1 k 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」。 6 m& ?, f& p; x) g, e) A ; d( c# h; ~$ _* _( D2 c例如: & `" q/ X& E1 m . j' E) Q$ U z. t. B+ n- tMankind 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) 6 @7 I7 k4 w+ x5 Q- ] 9 C, {; f% I$ `. S7 r: uManpower 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) ) F D1 ]- K' F6 ]1 d( |/ b, |' H. I, ?! h/ Z8 V2 C
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) 8 i- @# F: U* g& H6 Z2 V, e1 z ^ H6 W& N
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。) 2 w& t& f1 m* ? b+ S0 F- O: Q. G6 G9 b( Z3 _, b3 r6 ~& j3 A* `7 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。) H; g' O) R* p% E ) {6 i: a( h. ?& |5 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); O; @. N7 ]/ G; V9 Y/ _4 C* z, Q$ b
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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) l! h! T% p3 G) `9 c
4 D# ^, I( g: q- V. xStewardesses 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。)7 X* x% E1 U) _+ n$ u4 e