本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 q7 ^9 o' E; l% k( u/ u
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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)( L0 A& z& e6 I- L6 V0 j* x' [* k7 S
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' @0 S% Z" ~; R6 e" n- i8 xMany 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); L/ I* a8 `8 ]+ }2 I. M: B
- Q) p' e V; u2 ?+ wThree 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。) " Z6 }* G$ n+ }3 s) |5 w' d, f. y; r/ t3 V; E% U
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)& L5 N, z. u3 k2 a. N- ~' e
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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+ x$ u- P* F$ i* ~! o5 j) U
7 d1 L" [% O8 O. W1 vI 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。)% f7 q+ G" v: U
/ J9 R# O* ?% y% B) E3 G. hMr. 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)! P% I. s" K2 j+ D5 `
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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!) 6 \- w& k1 o& C, h( v5 h- |2 C% v; a+ X9 y
The 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) " H, L2 M& B3 B6 V' b8 h: Y; H5 C W- \: e
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。) 2 O( X: _7 [3 w4 J- B3 O! c " L! ~* p# V+ O' K. {. fPlease 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?)1 Q$ ?' p5 l3 r7 X7 ?+ [: L
$ p5 h6 b' J3 ]- u2 H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! ( O' O3 a- q2 P2 z* v . X1 o3 N# H2 |. _% W- @7 ^, S. S/ V' `6 |& z 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。 3 u" K! e- J! e6 a J2 A3 O- T# d ) j9 C. F Z8 {) J' T. |例如: . u1 x i1 g, M; O) Q# f# b1 y- g ' o: c1 L" o; A* ]; ?6 \! GAt 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)8 c9 K0 N& \% x
( k @$ h1 e: m1 W- ADespite 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)7 g. h& t2 X7 b# E0 h8 T- C
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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)# W/ u: e+ p, H5 r7 ?: W
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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)3 y# P$ F! P, y' ~' W# |! I) p
4 [2 y) v1 r; V, {( K* Z3 HIn 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) . i6 m) o$ p5 l, e4 d' g# Q% v' b+ r4 _
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) 9 K& R1 K9 N! n% ~+ q8 j- y : m7 |3 V: x: H% a# G4 uI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 g. S4 \5 u. t3 {1 v3 |
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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: M7 j0 p- W+ I6 v5 o% N
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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。) ) P- C; ]5 I. a; o" r! c6 X4 a$ l1 X) L6 B
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.) 8 r7 g/ J" ~4 u1 Z" ]+ H( A+ j3 v4 G( |# y! i% E
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。) - @, f) [3 M, K) F+ { 8 b$ N: S4 [1 D/ p# NHe 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) 2 N( h/ {( s+ J) w" s$ n# ^- |: A: i6 D4 b, z
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) 6 s) J* A: U; |7 m! I k. ^, o+ c/ a. m( 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)8 Y- P% m% G6 O# T$ G$ }
' |; Y& U& z! G$ C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.) * Z2 |: X3 k8 B# L! x) l* F) `6 @$ N& O3 `0 z' V
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& V) e0 s5 V: e+ j
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4 J! W7 U* {3 \4 J- M( p; R9 }6 e 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」。 + P; m4 y5 r- r* Y& n/ G ! @2 T- M- ]% Y) v3 l* o" v例如:6 |; H( C+ y( m$ Q/ j4 I2 n2 A: i# M
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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) 8 C( M/ g1 d" t' o 7 ?6 F1 @' d$ z7 {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) ! C* N8 _$ H5 }' z) L& E8 g. m" G/ } V6 v, F3 b
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)8 I+ Q9 e5 @+ I, W, E; O
) M, B) v7 k' U5 l8 z5 mHe (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。) ' B* r% y( A: b) {% w; l# _4 |0 Z * f$ v& z; x! A, n; DMany 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。)4 N2 I- @ O6 |
' }* ]6 b5 G1 X+ J8 a; F# [4 vPolicemen (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)0 S" H0 }3 f; y: h
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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)$ ~7 R5 I8 S* s! O& c+ g
# \7 N" ^$ `# k! EStewardesses 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。) ) L9 H! q& v! g ) w( s: j% @( Q0 _1 w4 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。 C) ]9 b& e" o: F( ^ + o, [- e6 K! i% E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 ]: }2 U$ i! Q& e3 t$ a
( r o! D. p: j! t' `8 x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;# }2 {, ^$ o2 Z i4 y% n
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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;# [+ J0 l% ]. Y6 S# l: f! ~
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% X# F3 u' I" ^
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;0 a2 C9 G* ?/ w$ a
" w0 ~9 n7 _$ K1 }4 _$ {, `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: W$ U, `1 {$ e! p( s( ~. C, Q1 T7 }& E/ E% e$ O& f) [
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)。 6 m+ x0 ~ ^. u( V/ b7 Y8 g# l3 s+ @ 7 k) d) v- b( \; M" D! 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)。 / m" V9 t7 G- I3 b; |7 |. _