本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 k b+ I/ \/ _/ C, u & _. @( j8 x# Y G转帖9 ~6 |. P& R# M1 g' {' |8 M! U
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) - }. @* }+ H4 o" [9 E # k. h5 m9 B$ T6 m/ u8 e+ Z例如:" Y* x; \! Z) Q9 p8 |
9 I- S4 [, _: c! MMany 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$ `( R7 _6 l# ^3 i( N7 w1 s# G P5 s) r
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。) ! X" ^0 d, Z& c0 N7 c+ B+ p1 a) }' V9 Q0 n2 l
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) ! r2 ~9 H9 `* v6 \6 \8 S" t% O* c9 t2 r
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?) : R' d9 b- {6 ]7 r' n 8 D B4 Z0 @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。) * I+ k0 R+ t9 A) ^* K3 G" t2 Q) w9 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)% l# O9 }7 e o3 Y" @" B$ ]# r
% V7 t2 j3 U) j' bWe 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!)4 F E/ v4 _% y/ E8 c4 ?( l# B& Q
7 q7 j7 o& s: ]' _+ A4 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) & L) c+ v9 K& e' a) X: ? 8 W) f1 W3 P0 nWe 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。) $ h- h% j; Y2 A- M$ T 2 L+ a' h0 C0 \4 R$ d; I( JPlease 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?) % t5 j+ a0 f& Q0 c O R. E2 @, r2 e. k9 X8 @/ h& P
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! E7 Z' o+ P) J, i* z9 Q - ~( a7 }6 i" ^+ y( R# z1 |, r( c G. y* V0 w 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。 # V* E+ o' ?' p/ \0 C8 w E- F# c; J; F' w5 T例如: & z3 p* v! i+ v; d# l" W3 g6 u( p6 C- @5 M
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)% f8 {% ?+ {% J3 Z i* T) |
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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)& T' _+ I, R0 b3 x; W
9 z' Y9 S- N% X+ p- i( q5 T# \. c# DI 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) ( Q& X: \- A4 Y6 n# k7 |: v, O$ y& M6 ], l
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) + q; h5 u* Q. J, d# s4 ~- U / g) L7 \+ Q8 X. QIn 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) 4 @( C' e" E1 ~( w0 g/ W + J+ v, s* l' x2 d) HShe 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). C) W" T' a- x
e7 d1 `# |! DI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 h1 l# k) b- F( ~! W: D5 d2 w/ N. W6 w4 W" ]0 p2 W8 H$ ]4 j
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:4 Y: {/ V3 n( F" o
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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。) % i( `0 B" @, ?% h# Z f- n. d6 O, y ) R7 ~1 G3 H, ~ |* v% }! l0 g9 J5 L. cThe 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 @# Q! p+ `$ S" `7 n - ^& \. I& w6 ]/ xHe 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。)' a, W8 n9 `9 G: m/ z
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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): x6 ]& J, J! I
+ O9 L( o( l& k. g IWe 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) * s* H( ]6 R9 {* f- a2 |1 y7 ]2 h# [1 M5 F
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)& g: T$ {% Z& M6 g; T
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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.)* o4 A Z M' b
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! o0 k7 u0 L. Z& {! G( z2 M
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$ V4 q i, [, w" g 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: n$ T [* q+ @) y5 z4 _ 8 H; G& X1 V6 q4 D9 c例如:( a7 A( d' m- ?4 \
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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)' Y' i* o* V4 Q" F+ s" {
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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) ^5 P# J/ S+ F" l. \- p
; E: R. \3 E6 J' ~& F/ t" d- PThis 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) ) U) I' o4 ]* l7 M0 r7 S9 v4 _& { L$ e) g0 t. i$ {9 j& W$ 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。); ^9 V } u0 ]. F( {5 o, }/ S9 r
# G. O* b& t/ x2 ? oMany 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。)# {3 z' Z, C( B( b0 q) U8 O
: ]; ^' U6 |( u' h w9 m/ }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) 8 n# F0 z2 S P0 D 8 J, r& d8 t6 W* a) p RCongressmen (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)4 W7 R% J* M3 f5 k. q& {: f
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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。). S( ]+ V: G. _# R4 h% B
) H/ T \ ~7 F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。 ! B3 }0 R7 {# }1 z" M" }3 G; M( @+ E% J6 j
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:8 ^9 x0 P0 g8 e1 [0 _
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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;* ~; d* y2 S B& a
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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;& w8 `/ B/ I) U
: M/ o i n3 U, [: |9 v, v对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;' B8 S' k8 ?2 }5 D: g' w1 N