本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) b" }: |, J0 J: F3 b d9 i$ E
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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) * h8 l8 a! L$ A+ ]# \# X H5 F c. v# r+ K' a. h+ s) F
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8 {; J. N9 F1 ~1 d4 U) CMany 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)4 L0 f# \5 f, v
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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。), r6 w# M6 N* X: y
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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)* J2 u5 W, @& X& v s) y0 V+ U1 \" k
) S3 u$ c& ?6 r- SThe 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?)2 D+ X. d% b! y7 P# W) s2 ]7 r
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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。) $ v. G! M/ v/ x. D8 n 6 G/ R' e( @ ]/ t3 _/ V& RMr. 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) % j3 k+ x E9 O; Z+ A) ~& K # @* E4 S9 _1 P% m" OWe 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!) 1 f) ^# ~# i; ?0 D" ?, t9 O, b+ d- R/ P. y
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)7 f& j6 W( I |% H* q# c% @8 c
. o1 U; u" j6 c! S1 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。) 0 j+ Y% ]- q9 ~3 }- u1 G/ [: |$ [1 s+ b) [6 ^! J
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?) % n- A1 W+ y, M% K# O( l; [2 `" D. u$ {
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!- \2 V; ?0 X( a7 P& I; ]4 v& H/ A
. T+ h- I3 d/ U. L: z' p; X [ 5 V$ F5 @5 o& m4 B2. 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+ F5 g1 m, O9 I& y% D: ]7 Z; H
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例如: " T3 W0 `% p5 }( s/ _' l) V0 r5 e4 f
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 `8 [6 @# ^1 N+ b. G& _% ~1 _' A
4 w; U! r* m; G7 sDespite 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) 3 O/ U% L" ~7 z* l8 G6 V& q , i+ a7 }' }& e: fI 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) * u+ T$ r8 Z/ P/ ]; q. w6 F1 {. W& I1 t6 o1 I( B
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)8 d4 |' u: I$ k! n& F3 z
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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)0 T/ x6 Z3 |' ~4 z* i
0 n9 j+ s! S# N, [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) p5 M2 O @: [- L; B& g0 s R0 V% f/ O- y" K) m7 aI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 n- h4 a& U, x. x) w% O) a 0 Y: b+ ~9 L# o1 c& g1 I0 ~0 }& Y Z2 C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: ' \; U& L/ ?) C3 T. ^" L , V1 ], o8 k: P& B. I# d0 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。) 9 I R \/ I. Q) X! K% G) O9 t9 f4 E( y+ ?, F2 w' K- M2 H7 H7 R
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.) 5 |* d1 H: Q9 ~1 o7 c* Y2 g1 X" g1 w) R$ s. m& l: C- N
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。) $ o3 u! o4 d4 l8 v! n- @ Z9 ?/ B) g
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)+ M! F8 t, k# Z0 p- W
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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) - L. u4 `4 @- z, G3 T$ k& d/ K6 }# w" ]) _% w$ O
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)$ K1 W) l8 A6 g% a" W
4 n1 `! z/ W: M: s( p1 F/ a( e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.) 8 D4 i' ^; y. W6 V& Q5 G( F5 s. R* U# ?0 m
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 @7 `) c$ L* } 1 _0 [4 L4 {# _: t" s' q; ?8 C7 S Z2 M$ E 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」。- t; f5 A. A. J5 A( y- d
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1 O! Q; j |0 r. o7 rMankind 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) ; L+ X' l: g- D8 [7 l R' T% O$ B1 i4 S; H
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)$ {3 V0 i9 Q1 S% r$ P5 e: o
; v6 k n8 O2 {& H& n; B/ sThis 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) ) Y; ^$ h e4 I7 A1 X+ Y) A( d/ P, s0 e1 g* ^8 N2 a0 X6 v
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。) : u6 D: q7 H& F8 j% H1 @4 R# W& W" P0 I/ D; r5 O
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。)) J. x3 U% z% w1 m+ g# y- ?9 A. B- `
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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)+ |& x. @3 z j( T% q6 n; p
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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) 0 n9 C# q8 p) J& @* w/ S4 Y4 { 2 G6 O. t4 V' a2 U7 O/ r4 F( D BStewardesses 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。)+ p8 [: r) T" t8 x
+ T$ I8 z$ `5 G* ]' v" G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)。 , T$ R7 {' b2 X9 R$ \ 4 J* k' j! b O- i0 W! l' B4 `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)。 5 F9 ^/ z9 a" y$ B