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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)' L( u; D4 F' q# @9 q5 D1 }) \. V
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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)( b+ o' {4 M: b9 b N. h' [0 e
5 F2 i' \+ V5 `' C- q; S# u5 dThree 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。)5 L' W) s: E- D) q; v% z: C
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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) $ b: w) J4 _3 n$ t# k 4 E" } d# o4 ^% W- {& o2 EThe 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?)% \: G" H2 @- i, z# |' i2 \' G
- n7 b- L% G8 KI 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。) / ~- f- n% D; x9 n: k9 Q/ k& L7 }9 R9 L/ ^+ j* {
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)$ D7 y) U* E1 Y
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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!) S/ k$ h. K0 F8 s/ i. A+ ?
- y) X9 [* B* q7 _: e8 O" G* AThe 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)' O% a! v! f: \- e1 ?$ R; r- _
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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。) 6 j3 {& h! O8 ?2 E# t3 z$ a5 a" w9 l1 f( |' Z/ p
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 y1 A. n+ }* \! ?6 q: g3 n* H7 z
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! - S0 t" d" i6 |% z5 y# _ $ h; V# J! A; u; M2 n6 i4 A% r, N6 |$ G6 Y1 C 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。 * s8 ?# F9 L o) a( C) I 7 U. A( t! G; _0 U例如: % n/ D: `, D) _6 h' v( z$ O5 ~. O
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 M ?- G7 q1 S- o, a) i. }& j# E! w4 @4 M. d, h
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) / m; i5 u$ x8 T$ J# e * j O( X+ f4 [% LI 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) ! r: |% E: L. ~ + ^5 | C j' L& LHe 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: Z9 S# n) _: h" Y* G % X' I. t$ d- C8 C$ HIn 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) " z @8 f# d9 R+ {- c7 R: e5 h: c$ Q) q
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) ! f" o( T0 d, L9 f: W 7 i, J2 B2 k4 _. c$ ]3 ^5 E1 A$ ^I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) * X1 n+ V) @5 Y( U) z- y- D' x9 Z- X2 T% L
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: * V( Z6 l5 \4 M* W N9 R1 T# @+ D2 X" r+ e; L+ H
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。) - o& ?1 H$ E7 V# U9 K7 N/ z) M, Q6 ]3 ?/ o
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.)/ m. s! h3 q: n
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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。)# ~, c: H/ s w9 H! ~6 K
3 R1 F: V: R$ mHe 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) 7 U( a r7 Y- g6 R : }( A2 e( K+ }/ e* U+ b2 MWe 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) " E, @# M; t$ ^0 U9 {' i+ e5 H 9 N a& d$ k: u9 E k1 s' G6 @7 f2 g+ HEnclosed (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) ' e6 }- n% g3 U( F# K9 U7 W E& C* \# i/ H 7 o: z+ _( D3 O& D8 v2 S- F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.) ! T; M! D0 Y1 k , g! }# ?/ o8 t此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。. `' \0 x: c7 n/ t# K
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. N2 Y. T( U/ s4 KMankind 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) ; v, p" i% M" n9 L8 r* m2 F8 z; s8 ]% m# ]
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) ) X+ C7 B) d. b3 D: h. n& o/ d " o8 c1 |6 S JThis 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) $ I. L+ Y" Z) W! Z 3 B4 M" _: G o' ^* |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。) 3 @% r; I! v* `. O* i( w( `8 Z5 m2 A+ K' e7 I
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。)$ E/ B% a7 R0 L. O s0 {
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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)3 ?4 X9 d( {4 S6 x3 i+ b6 b3 C
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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) ! E( w" h1 P& a8 m# ` 7 ]1 \$ p8 [3 W9 q4 fStewardesses 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。) ' G. ?0 y! _* w! c 0 L2 d! z: f5 I, C/ x0 r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。 3 S5 Q$ f+ t- d8 [3 U t2 o% \6 i3 Z# T! [) c" D, A6 g
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: 6 Q$ R: ]1 b/ t+ W$ D/ k- G8 {/ h* Z' M+ @$ g& ?
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;) `2 S4 k. l, G; P6 \) f }+ D: J7 v
: p' N2 x% J+ \5 d, ?- Q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; 7 u3 s/ w/ b7 E: w 2 e {- N2 F0 m& k" Z6 ] }1 p对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; @7 |3 I: K; |# G' I# d, t, c& K! a, U, l
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; i; m# c8 i* h& V8 Q7 B R3 s' L
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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: 3 j7 I N; j$ }7 w ; V# ^3 V" } R& r0 E+ v* f. X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)。0 h/ u$ B: G: N+ X9 c5 B2 @2 ~+ H8 z
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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)。 ( ?7 }+ a+ D! x/ {" S' [3 w