本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 K# W8 k; \) r4 y* w ' z" v9 c3 \0 b$ V转帖3 \/ T7 {# X0 b3 H9 {3 h R4 J
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)+ _/ |; T3 I0 B4 f7 ?' L! i; H- U
. i. S# U/ \5 W$ @; B
例如: & B, d* Y+ c( d% m3 k6 J1 U, P5 \3 c6 m x: ?! U1 w3 ]
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)8 I- r; ]7 q2 J1 C
6 F7 `. X/ e# O. J4 D) w
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。)8 ~5 r. S- z/ R5 C, v
- m% A: B5 [6 E
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)8 U- }2 C. J6 i+ `5 ?0 s9 }
/ j( d. D0 G9 T, cThe 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 j5 b+ g2 Y) ^8 I6 x5 \% i2 m q; @6 }$ x
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。)+ l2 k l: P% d2 q% l5 H9 O7 Q5 P
( L1 U; ^4 r* ?$ s7 l( [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)2 r0 i3 T8 c& d; v- [" V- w6 M
+ |3 g2 s4 n* xWe 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 d* P* U4 R' ?1 V6 a" P- ~& ?' U- l* X
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) ; @- p# p$ y A/ A* M, w0 E- O 6 v% G) L% V* a, `$ UWe 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。)# _7 S8 W) p) W7 V5 {- y( F6 x$ i7 x
( `9 V$ X! m1 {
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?). `; F9 y: V% g# H& n* N
9 V' n6 k! L* r! d0 X, K+ i# ^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! 8 d, K. S5 V: I& m4 m, x+ x- J7 W6 w* ^# ^+ w& i0 F, W. X
- D9 w3 `9 j% G! Q" Q/ ^; a 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。' f$ o7 ^( I* A* F8 T
$ n/ n% j \) Y2 Z例如:; M1 d n# W4 t7 l9 b, R
3 o" l3 p7 r# G) U( g- yAt 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). a+ y+ N/ X9 ^& G: ~" c: C
9 D4 a" H9 \3 n! @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)) Y+ q# s; f& A" H
& L7 Z, g2 V! W! B( |I 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)4 C+ p4 E. _: `, R0 r
' |# N, C% V) H+ wHe 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)0 ?: j' X$ U. t# g
5 e6 w) }9 C$ GIn 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) " [. \& A" M; ?. X; ]/ E( @! J: M, \4 J2 A1 Q: V
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)$ B$ g, E+ k8 O( H- F
* m. N" W2 ~4 j- xI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' P+ Y, |0 s) h$ B0 S
" H2 I. _. `9 I+ L- ?# 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: g0 c) E" e2 @0 ]
3 N6 g ~4 `; w2 H# D/ oThe 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。) + p |$ ^( t o R `3 x/ P" v, `4 S8 K& YThe 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.) & `3 l, J( S2 e8 @% G Z5 S9 j7 G) G1 F
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。)8 S7 D3 Q8 Q9 T% }( R! i
6 f6 H' d, ~# P8 i8 O& {, 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) . I- d) }% Q& m& W" n4 r# V2 Z: T) W, q+ [* N' S, C
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) & a( R. @, g7 j6 P3 g# h* W; \ R+ i/ a' Y- _: D
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) @0 {5 l# @& t0 E: p2 p+ h4 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.)# ?& `% J- u$ A/ y+ o% X4 Y6 y
; Y. b9 D H6 `" X% E7 ]8 G此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 $ o( z7 u+ o- |+ ` ! g. ?3 S6 g4 W( s8 Q6 @3 `) }" \6 g/ e/ {) Q% j* \ 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」。$ m) L3 U! g0 N% C
/ l6 O; _- q/ {8 o8 d
例如:, C5 [" v" }: w- T
) R: e5 Y# K$ G5 U
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)8 r2 \+ D& w6 a
: c: [' U6 e' x+ B
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) 2 J/ z6 g: f% d. C8 p& I- E R4 V4 ^4 C% J$ m) K# x. L" D4 Y9 j
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) 9 K$ U/ P& a! A3 g- o 5 w8 m& h; V2 L8 z: v. B. ?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。) * ~! o% M- y8 {9 q; ?: F2 k% |3 d3 W1 G: V3 R
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。) ( u5 I# D: ?- l* L5 b& e6 y9 Q# `! A O3 h
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) 4 A8 M# j' Q+ X: T* a0 X/ o+ k8 n2 v( n1 g. c. |
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)' }' g( }6 X3 ]: C0 u4 x3 K7 S
. F' g% ?! V! N) r, _+ m
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。)9 g5 U/ B# R, D6 W8 k% B* M
4 D _* p- ], Q: {* t4 l G% j
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。2 o! F" V6 A& V# G+ y' @