本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / S1 u# h1 a) K) F) }. h$ G% W) [: y2 f9 K5 q5 b' m 转帖& z& F! r% K4 p& }
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)/ X' Y& a8 v: H/ F! ^# A
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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) ' f) s w0 z/ q* A3 @ # }+ V2 u( Y* U2 K4 @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。)0 W: D3 E3 x) W5 |8 I2 f, ^
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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)0 p1 p$ \/ R) ~7 h
$ K+ G, [) }' E6 v, g- }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?) - F+ I4 p! |8 S9 R- ]. e 6 |. G1 o2 e8 m4 M7 Z8 Q2 NI 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。) ! [2 y' X4 Q+ o( [+ l, d5 d* C+ {* X; l0 G$ u
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) ; U" k/ H v% Q+ Y$ D9 a- J: E3 d " `" Z: Z4 Z$ sWe 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!), B9 I1 q' s, Q. G8 M/ h# I
9 z4 u" t2 L9 p+ d7 F3 zThe 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) q5 P4 v! k; c. w0 H) }# t p0 ]
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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。) 3 t2 m: M, N. Y; ~ 7 R/ w( c6 X+ i% ~1 W; Y! @, kPlease 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?), \- o$ I5 R5 V* C5 F
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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! : V. n7 R' C* D" w1 T. I' \ 0 p& y- y: D, j5 c" O; c. Q4 @) U6 w3 h& D$ t 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。" x A+ M+ k3 U; V; H3 S- j# V
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' ^0 g! F' R, q# L5 h0 e# n0 OAt 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)" F6 Z2 h s/ ?; v/ ] j
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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) # T5 i3 J# _+ n ?+ f* D2 ~4 H$ X+ G
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)8 K3 W$ `, e8 f! `+ N; F
( m. ?9 h5 A$ G5 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)# Q" f; H/ M" ?; i7 |
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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)* \: Y4 _+ ?4 M! M' n
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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) V7 h# e! {9 h $ X" |0 E1 D/ u; J8 [: G0 {; LI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)! x! d% I$ n; O' y3 |, n$ H
& o) E* V( ^ [- G. B* E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: ) W( _: T% s# O5 v: b' Y' [/ Y$ R # `( t6 k0 K6 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。) 7 @! N! V/ O" U7 G6 t& T4 x& k: r % p! H6 H% u) U' ~/ E3 p6 l: [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.) 4 v& s% K7 q+ ?) \% E; z & C; W9 P' E7 v* E7 a, Y/ cHe 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% I( Y$ D/ L) {# ?6 d) W" O! M/ M$ 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)3 }8 B7 e7 W/ g- U
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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): b& @8 T* e- o9 f
# e; ]! n2 c' d: k4 `; \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) 8 p' S4 f3 e. g: h - D |# A* B+ O) i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( I: f- `) p% r* Q
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 . m: l' n0 U! K; V* T: d1 f+ W" d# L/ t( `) N$ C/ u
. b- |5 x! [ T3 I. 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」。- D* b F: H$ o+ e; Y; }; e
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例如: ' P) R( |- o7 H. @+ ?2 a" Y2 d2 Z. M5 K F7 u+ l3 L
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) 1 f* ]5 s ]1 c' W 7 O/ R8 j, x1 v. hManpower 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). G$ S" ?, X. |; Z
( D, K; T1 x3 M* [! R6 GThis 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) 2 L2 P: D& B5 J& R % I% J B& {- F+ l7 S4 d; C; z2 jHe (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。)5 l* P1 z7 C" m C3 q
3 I0 W5 x- x! M' u& m3 F; E: sMany 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。) ; x3 z+ _: s, b% _/ |1 n' ?3 L2 ]- h2 Z( `) Y
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)" G7 v( Z4 u5 r5 q: {! M# K1 f
7 ^ u6 g8 r# ?1 `! `0 O BCongressmen (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 j3 c7 e% x, ]( t/ {; M: F( y/ B% E4 T, r: X+ `
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。) ( o' W3 i, l7 s' Y* B* N. E$ \3 J7 R/ `& w2 p
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 S" F6 t3 t' ?* ]
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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:. C, u; d+ c7 o$ V. v `; n( K9 u2 p6 c) A
9 A' M* P/ e4 n# w3 l7 a/ m3 J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; . c0 ^) |6 ^% C5 r+ L; ~0 E9 Y( U9 N4 D. y' p1 n2 N
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;. H4 N% F# r! ]/ L! ?2 p+ q5 E
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;1 A G q. o+ F4 m" n9 t
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;- x M% A& g& i/ x
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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: 8 O( q" H0 d$ q' j' t5 J) h7 @) \" y, G6 q+ _0 q$ P5 a t
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)。 . E: y: S' C @( ]" H% t" t* f _ ! [4 `6 V' M( K3 W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)。) E% {8 z) c: d- A% u