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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)" w6 ]3 e6 k# t7 W0 J; b* \$ Z7 T
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例如: % ?5 h3 b- s6 o, U+ _, F) X2 ~& l! v: t' H+ i8 H
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) ' l% `" h0 P1 ^1 C; I# Q. _. [: d& [7 y
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。) # u4 h# q- [3 @$ E . y1 A4 q. `7 F! ~% x# x5 iThis 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) - O$ P' e4 t0 [# g: B7 X: r9 S 8 A. c; v& d6 q$ uThe 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?) : {0 f- ]0 n# p# \! q0 F 6 ~+ Y6 G, f; ~1 bI 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。)5 X" r0 A$ {4 ]0 q2 j2 f
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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) 7 U( }& k1 d$ y, M0 j, A9 C- V7 j% S# t1 y- `7 o2 a. `7 F
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!). } l) i0 D# t4 A
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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)* L3 p4 U/ c; Y; f& C
9 a: O. }- |4 ~" |9 BWe 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 i/ K7 S) a. M7 L' s+ U- L
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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?)+ L6 g$ T3 Q( X2 ~% f
" _% @* S# z d' Z4 ~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!! b2 s6 j8 g8 Y: O
6 U3 M6 ~0 o7 Z0 M* @" J - a0 l7 v, T1 z2. 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。 % T/ R/ t# T/ O% l! o . A+ W1 W" F: Z6 D例如: ( g0 ?- ` \# K! {5 r; |0 } ( K* X" S( S2 s. MAt 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) / q, k: u% ~' j1 \( d & k( T7 c! E7 M( W8 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) 9 [) r [( }6 P: U. P & B/ }! u1 Z8 p& z% 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)2 s3 R- u5 u" O6 u3 X, m2 ~7 F
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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). F. e- Z! O0 T0 f# I
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In 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)3 T1 H+ ]* }8 z- k9 [3 m/ [( f
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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) ; v, `% D: N2 h; X5 x+ ? 9 | g; l9 C1 D/ Y( N0 b4 K3 {+ vI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 @" E1 p+ R# A/ [1 }4 S' g* q
# R1 W: `4 ]2 z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:' w5 p7 a0 ]+ e
2 w# U7 O! w/ b$ s9 mThe 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。) 4 z9 U! M' ]6 w4 E; B9 r* i; H/ u" d) F
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.)# A% }) |8 W- u& l
* w5 U+ K( H% ?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。)" P: V2 q" j7 z0 g
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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) ; j% O8 j" o, F , |$ v: t8 U- M6 [# T- bWe 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)8 a' Z4 t% K1 y: y: ^) I
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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) % J& n, @) L/ e2 u, F5 v % ^' I8 v: l$ E( j6 i) N1 N/ C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.)+ P- _+ w; u" S
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 D# T5 g7 B' K
. _8 m9 P9 o& w1 G: X! j # V% ^+ m9 [. ` D: F$ l ~- 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」。5 \9 u `# m7 `% G) x
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" G# k* b5 r( {4 s6 DMankind 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( P5 N7 Y9 g8 E * s( U1 M8 [1 J0 k+ L8 u1 DManpower 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)& a7 m y0 ~+ z5 m& H O
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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) ' A5 T! v' z i0 L% n0 S! S" F i2 b; w, i
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。) - I- t |* E0 \. [, {- I - A% E4 E9 m. ~& gMany 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。) , o6 d( P/ p" w9 G 3 u, A7 H8 w; k/ o! rPolicemen (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) , Y) N. A( T0 f4 h) W- D) r+ Q1 w9 _; R7 C6 T$ N! d T J
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)8 u( x! D0 V5 a* r: O9 P# W8 M
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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。)4 K& R$ u/ d2 H$ z( m" A
3 s {9 `& I+ y0 q9 n0 o; y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。8 N) a, D! H. Q: c8 S& A, 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:0 S. r4 [3 Z' p% V8 `5 p w
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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; ) y! F0 H7 O7 Q {8 R) k, V8 |* J/ m+ e* q1 V
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; % r/ F! n" R$ N: H8 R 0 F/ V' B) C' Y6 ^* ^5 U对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 4 y+ V& M. n* t7 ?+ R6 N* o) }( F! |, k8 o) S- a# j* m
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;" Z( {8 \' H9 ~; k* }6 |. F
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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:: P/ Z. u B& W7 {
+ K0 a, `# W: U S6 e* [. q. P9 R- o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)。 : u6 p; n0 o( R F' O3 I2 ^% Z, k+ a/ i2 E4 I+ q2 }+ H- v: p
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)。 8 l; G8 W9 w# z0 N6 i9 I