本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( c( E/ O% r9 a* C7 z- [# z7 j) G& G6 ^( Q* H+ |8 ^; t& e 转帖* ~, j. x8 K f4 h- 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) % k. R7 \/ `4 N, h8 t1 O* B" U ]' ?. Y+ Y4 `
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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)' D$ Q, R$ n' p- o# J: s) U# I
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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。) 7 S) B$ K3 [ [& X; z ! B& T5 S9 U- gThis 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)- q: u8 s! z2 J; y
& b8 l) K. a) c8 {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- v6 l1 P8 G( k2 i5 s
7 i, G% b! X: W7 n* |1 c) gI 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+ a" }7 A8 N ; x5 K! G0 q0 \! ~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)* o- r1 L% _7 a; M8 b. l; p- L' p
( d6 Z: g/ X7 q+ B! 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!); {) z4 S7 F( A; b0 M; ?4 B; j7 V, H
1 L0 T6 e r) ]9 C% p2 IThe 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) . j" R5 D4 ^9 y4 Z! y$ t2 J( w/ Z/ V! X8 j B
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。) # Y8 L" E5 H5 M n( h" S! ^( F 5 G- k% z: {; ?, \4 ~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?) 6 v# Z- |& [ @! K/ W0 h1 e; x* l- O5 X) N; L) a
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! 0 H6 u/ [4 x4 k; x% t# y0 N5 @ " q2 U# Z* ~4 Q% v( X4 h ) F5 R5 y0 T0 z( J. N9 T( f5 \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。 2 A2 [6 V* m9 [% l/ R e' D8 p5 @1 y7 r1 \: G8 D
例如: 6 l/ R. \9 Z- v/ [# q" Y 6 [8 c3 C- o4 o8 O- Q' G- DAt 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)6 z+ P7 @0 V3 f9 a$ _& d
9 _ p8 ]/ X6 `2 Q5 @+ NDespite 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)0 {, q% ]1 d$ I( f, V7 Y3 ?
% a. S3 ?! {5 q7 \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)0 G7 \" S" N1 t
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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)! U0 {. I$ n/ W$ q7 t
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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)& e) y% G6 j0 j$ T: Z W
: w+ K7 Z% N. v% d* j% cShe 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& _# I I, t- B
" F' _1 y# a$ M3 j$ n% vI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)% d& b% e z0 O
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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:) }" x) q3 X% E% ^; Z0 s- k
9 G# q* v: M) k1 I% HThe 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。)& Q6 ~7 g3 R W, e% h9 e5 K
+ V0 L9 Y& l$ q6 c9 F# 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.)2 ^, s) N; p0 z7 g
; G1 d6 C- A) X* Q) EHe 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。) 4 Y, Q: J1 X) m" f5 K' T0 a H. l# L6 S( Q: ?
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) . ]( @7 L8 c6 D2 ?$ K+ l5 C; j! R8 n
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) 8 O' v6 R' x6 |" b1 H. R8 h, F! z0 z
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) # P7 M* Z1 u' }! C( `; F6 M7 l$ _/ h) y1 Q: S+ u& b" 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.)) g# Y- q$ s) k8 w
' P- {. u; g( X+ P' t6 ~; ?* B3 ^1 n此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - R: o! H3 ^' A% t7 O8 G8 h) J* l% w3 l
) k5 n$ g- F ]" F# X8 |8 ?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」。1 k) u/ I: _/ ^# c( y
5 i4 w$ y+ e, J6 k, d例如:$ ^3 r- m; T% E5 A
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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) ( A5 {- X; Y9 O/ x2 h 1 V9 C6 T- @4 G v9 S" VManpower 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): f7 e% [3 q0 o3 [% j) J/ I# e9 g
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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) 5 I1 K, f: |! W" T+ c/ C; F F4 ~6 \7 B9 E2 n
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。)2 x; G& h/ p# _' R$ G
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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。)* z# S+ U# ~) b6 c3 X& l& \
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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) 9 d; w$ x, V4 p' s+ {) W3 { ; e5 e/ l0 b+ L: nCongressmen (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): C$ z, I- N1 `) l4 i1 `
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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。) 4 |! b# F- ] \6 Z. s' v B) @5 H( H. }( i% R
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。1 P, `7 N5 y; f2 o
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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:7 m) M" H8 Z4 f1 \8 t' l