本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - s% u5 |: g$ ^$ H; E6 z
4 J; h. c; Z5 k) }0 [ 转帖 7 }$ @8 m, O* }; ~9 R, A) }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)- O& _7 B* u7 I4 X
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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) # y" U# ]9 S5 W( {$ J+ `5 G* D% p8 L6 V' O ?8 ?8 t
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。) 3 G+ [% z1 j! P/ l8 h! r) J8 r N2 W! p3 A4 x0 w 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) 0 C# j2 k7 G4 g" ~/ R ; N0 p! U' N1 P: [% I+ V8 \+ `+ BThe 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?) # j* a1 U% C. G0 d' s/ H; G f9 m& z& d2 i
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。) . Q+ ^; G- W$ s. s% H, @ . o! ~6 z: _ T: f0 h' vMr. 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 T* V8 v9 _% \
8 l: p2 G$ ]1 E% j9 L5 yWe 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!); }9 L( ]- Y0 w6 s. G
6 z4 r# c) f* _6 U$ J5 NThe 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) + d: X7 P# h% Y9 q9 k: v3 e$ _+ E* ]# ~, Z* _# f
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。)" J/ ]6 N) C! Q( S2 e( j
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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?)' p N$ S$ C) C/ P- i1 v+ a
: B, \( {! i1 K" f- C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!( g* `. \8 _* p0 b
( M: }3 t- h6 C9 R6 o+ J- w% C ?+ i4 z! O" P9 _" n2. 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。 & `+ ~* k. u4 P, T: A( k6 f' ~% V+ J2 m. v% G& b+ p
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# A8 k5 C7 c# ?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) # K; I; x6 A" P' W% R: K; v $ D2 x7 K4 B& N% g& MDespite 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)# E% |# |$ a# X- \; W( s, h
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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)$ P$ Y" U5 X+ n4 [8 J5 f
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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) ' X, s: a2 L2 f, Z3 R; Q! Y9 j% g5 h4 a$ Y
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)' v$ f* j) d P* i1 \$ V" }
6 Y: G* h% x6 ?) @4 _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)* P% S# Y" c. V! Y% K& X
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " P9 A6 w0 u5 \* Z1 x4 o 7 u; K; n$ b o8 O2 I; m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: ; D g0 Q" |, e9 e$ O* W: u: Z% g! ?* d% k6 v( e7 e
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。)7 W# \% R" e& y) G
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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.) * a" f0 v1 y; d( M" u2 y # {# |0 V' B/ y; F6 h4 K" ^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。) % U- T. I! k; G, @ # ^3 Q0 z; @! A" u5 ^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) + M1 ^1 X; `$ o) I- n2 v, l p& I' W' m O7 {
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)3 d4 g" X9 Z8 j' s, y! b; n
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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). H) q( M5 j/ b
7 Z8 D! h# b' [ N0 Q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.) 8 u- b0 L# O( | & V8 ?! \# o: T9 J, o9 r3 R$ F9 U此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , R h, m& P7 ?+ G) z8 m) k3 l6 ~7 Q5 L
* h o. ]; L' `. b7 h3.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」。 * o" ~7 ^ B3 O8 |& ? 2 ~; b8 ] b: Y, o3 d+ y8 P2 h例如: $ z* J. `* J k( }4 Y% _ j * R! n- Y1 n5 Z. zMankind 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)& v1 A+ l- z. d: e
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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) 4 }; v1 @6 v* U/ w7 r+ ^ 0 w, @; U9 C( Q4 x! U' 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)( F) \5 L9 W; W
5 s- l1 M1 }) C/ }9 S1 a* NHe (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 W0 s/ q: H, p# m9 T
4 a! U5 K% E: V8 FMany 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。)1 i* t2 Y# _" F9 \8 H
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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)& r0 u" [! N& F4 [7 g# ^3 ]. c
" y5 M/ S3 A9 b( k* LCongressmen (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) 9 Y- [' R/ w1 a ) X) T9 Q( }) o: o3 C8 _0 y, DStewardesses 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。) / |. G* B9 |: G* s: P+ m . u* \( h* v) m9 W# u) T! Z3 d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。 # w C. M$ E5 t# L9 V 4 r. d" C5 \, U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: ( B( Q6 _( u$ f7 {# X1 A2 `4 C/ Z% @2 X' B) s; P
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; 3 c1 n. X3 Q8 D& L6 S7 ?" x6 c . T: Z! q3 C& c2 y2 U$ Q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;# g: m, Q0 Q7 H- c+ [; B( u
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; M1 Z" ?) W5 Y& w7 D1 \3 n. O $ f$ _% h5 r0 ]1 u/ A对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;. Y- b3 O" d9 t) a8 j5 v
3 I* N$ X% c' R2 h. _7 e* D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 i0 z* }: A# N) C; ^2 H
0 T5 Q: H" g, |0 K( o5 P6 u [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)。+ g# D1 n7 |$ y" c