本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 L" y. V8 S. T8 z7 I( C8 R( y 0 |# H3 `! |& f6 S" s3 W" A& l! ]3 l转帖( q6 H/ s2 S( 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) $ q4 }( y h1 D, r% }/ B! W5 l. [8 Q, b0 V+ h
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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) 2 y* c! u0 q# q* ]' {% w8 u9 R5 ]" k/ E' l
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。) 9 {5 l& b L* w* ?1 F5 |! r! n; E % r9 U4 W+ [' Q9 ], I( j0 `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)- E, i, h$ s! o" K
4 h- Q* N( q" [6 {. aThe 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?)& z! g0 S* [. I: A% a/ Z
- k# V' f+ H) C* w4 {" H- ZI 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 k* z) }
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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)! A* o- Z$ j! ]/ K- V2 t
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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!)8 T5 Y" \: L1 r/ q& J* ]2 T2 ^
: w. r+ _3 b- p/ YThe 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)9 N2 W r/ r8 d$ _. \# K
; W8 g9 K, u ]3 |+ s& Z$ LWe 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。) . X+ Z+ K: G0 |$ D# P; f) e& T8 B. s e' e; J5 y3 |( a! |* x
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?)( ]: u, R- t1 g) E+ E" r1 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!3 z; w* [5 y! d% J' y' u
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. h& E+ X" k9 N- P 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。 ) \0 L6 _) [ V5 O* M( C * {: S5 g( L/ v例如: e6 K1 R& U/ ]2 H& ]! ?- V- j/ g 0 J4 _: X- x1 x0 j- P# BAt 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)/ a3 l+ ?; N3 s
4 |- T* n# T2 {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) ' K* R1 ^ H2 O7 Q/ \1 E+ b) V3 D; C/ W
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) # Q4 F$ m) k; B, ^/ P s6 q0 } 8 u* y _! a# j: V! _1 Y( nHe 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)3 Q4 f2 [ C" W, y& s# G3 |
- M9 P+ Y I# _8 RIn 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): }' I+ l1 @% ^+ o
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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)8 r# v# h3 R/ J& T/ M" e9 q
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 z" S- C. j- d4 }# a3 h
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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+ z7 W" a6 {- k0 P7 u+ d
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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。) , b1 s+ m, ^; Q5 E: b* L: q* M" O0 `, S D% 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.) # E+ l: c- C1 \& _7 Y5 g. X$ E( U6 { " p0 {. o* ~) n' lHe 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' J: s& U$ B( E6 ^7 [' x6 Q0 s& l
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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) * x) u% J$ P6 w- e4 }/ _6 f) g. A/ u! U- J4 u) P0 x
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)& H1 H) }% t( J# H. E! d
* A3 \0 }' S- \* @! {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) : z( J. r* {- x+ {6 t9 k * V) ?+ L3 R+ i/ [/ i- E, A+ `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.) " R* v5 H' [' _4 Y- b) f6 ^6 ~& w+ d
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* {; w% b% E1 M& h, ]: a$ s% O
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# w, x( b0 F, U+ v' ?0 e8 D# w3.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」。3 T, l" K8 n' Y- |- q: q
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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) 5 r* |* O/ R& F2 r0 O+ w ( x" i) y9 z; E9 G$ l1 u! \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) ' v5 W" ~& S Y% ~6 T# @" p ' Q2 V; Y* A. y6 K9 | TThis 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) o- r. E* \4 V" X
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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。) * \1 A7 y c0 L) d, M; m% Q$ }, X" w2 N( Y
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。) + l+ P' u$ j/ n0 m* X5 ~; c1 l " D8 K4 M& }3 S/ A. IPolicemen (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)1 e: C' ?1 g; h, H% b
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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) 3 T8 l, d+ n, z# a- o& C) \ - Q$ S* v: s3 n! ]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。)( M: I" t3 q9 M
* F2 ^+ W) J4 X" C5 ^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)。; n1 R# N6 g P& i) V/ B7 w6 |4 ?* p