本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' R' t7 X; f9 D8 z# _# |
9 R' W( s5 q! o 转帖 ; }4 d- l6 J6 Q# M( J$ F3 A1 I1. 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) 9 i1 L: T% G, H0 _4 }* B) u# m7 f' j: Y4 w
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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)0 c" D6 X N2 X' s# D% Y
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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。) 2 m2 t- k. @7 Y% ]7 o. J6 F+ _2 ?6 C
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)% C) t$ m- W5 B' \2 J d
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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？) 1 q& b+ t+ u2 C+ e) d" V- G( `' y; f+ x/ [/ o( l
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。). ]7 R/ V, P: z
6 ?( S$ C3 |+ K: a! JMr. 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)* P- T- ` a" F. M9 [$ X. D
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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！） 0 i% Q7 R2 R X+ M3 t2 `: B; X: L8 y0 {
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)* ]. H9 p* d' F4 L5 ]8 y* A0 `$ y
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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。) ' U: `- O0 }* Z4 J3 D/ I$ q+ W % \) R7 ?8 ^4 a. J3 ^$ NPlease 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？） " A; u1 C* Z4 }9 @! [ " C. f* j, n3 S F( w4 P/ [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！+ F- v, v' t0 ~7 X2 M, L8 q
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8 S3 J; |& W4 p$ Z; [( X 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。 4 `7 v k% {2 A7 G* g/ w& j! y' X - G: U7 t$ w0 H例如：- o ^7 U9 v" P
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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)3 Z) s! r# [+ O+ t
9 }9 o' ^/ f( c9 _! Q- N, ], aDespite 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）; @; Y2 T; \! U' T" a/ O
$ Q2 j h! T3 G& _3 V) 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); k3 D L6 q& o$ y; _
3 q! H6 |- k$ f5 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） 3 t! O7 }+ _/ g, T5 s; G , `' v0 [! v" ^: rIn 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） 8 M+ H2 h/ l" B ' o% j0 X" w* T3 DShe 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)! q( e6 Q. L$ D% I0 u" F5 h4 ?
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " q7 r$ ?/ h' o1 H, e7 h/ C, A; q- Y" b* C/ C0 N4 o
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：# S+ O1 \, }) R7 X1 H
/ L* i9 y# z8 w4 J6 q+ g! }7 RThe 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。） , i- ]( N; x7 J$ Y1 q9 G) g) ^& V# a. q1 j# v) Y
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.） # B {( |) q. b' ~0 K0 b: y8 N1 y% [6 T4 `9 U
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。）/ s: ~+ {2 B' |* m( H( @& |7 Q. ?
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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） 1 r1 a8 G2 o: ^) M7 ]: x2 m( P' K5 ~7 I! \, N3 d* c5 @
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）/ z4 I( @% I* s( v8 s+ \
) a2 g/ @( [0 aEnclosed (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)& b% ~( C# l( F2 N8 ^
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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.）2 c# l* {- B. \9 F
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此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , Q* p- s8 ?) [8 {$ g F% U- M7 D! X9 F9 _& ], J' g' y! C- S: Q, E; @
6 P4 v. j9 L- M4 n3.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」。 ! k0 [! ^& M) H( b0 U* c' s/ z' l# P( i$ t
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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） 2 c5 B( u) L9 R2 E5 o" I- c0 t/ D9 E6 \1 r$ S
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）. t7 b! o; f& B* I1 x' e# s( V
7 K. y' b- `! {9 x+ h# AThis 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） , e9 M {& T; ]* n' h+ G( k1 C/ s3 T2 D$ `* p+ ~
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。), u2 V" l, ?2 ]; U `: _
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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。); V% v, S$ }6 t. G2 g9 T# Z
8 S+ L5 o! {! n5 ^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） 8 A$ i. j: D- W+ |; t; W, K) t, O4 \8 D+ s; o5 F& U9 h; J3 T
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）' n+ F; r! D5 o# O; d# e& \
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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。） * _- L, e; z& P2 M2 H* B4 z- b6 }! [
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。4 m3 ]7 E# ~9 K) \& k, o
' Y0 ~5 z P, t" F1 l9 }0 w; X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）。 ' q/ { a# }( L% ?1 n% w0 k
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
