本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 d) }% A0 y* k; u5 R # R; P! |* E3 y6 y* ]; C$ }2 P转帖- \6 l8 i! l* R8 p7 d
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) V8 w# j. J' I! z0 O
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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)" o0 `3 O) I9 d6 b" g7 r
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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。)6 c; N6 _, C0 L4 |* L' b$ _2 P
" W7 x1 k/ s! K _, P3 W! I0 J+ N3 hThis 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) G5 {' D0 h# v
* d6 p7 t) g: V; W* u$ Q4 U, yThe 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?)* g' o5 l" N+ |" J0 e$ [4 r
$ w& Y8 ~4 U0 }/ k) RI 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。) ) C# d; o7 {3 D& R8 s0 e" {9 D( N( N% ?* w
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) # E1 T M, \2 D- | d) @7 q! J6 b" P/ c3 r4 Y; n
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!)* n& r a7 W" }: [( J9 d
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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)1 K- u2 q0 }2 u
* D7 f6 y6 J% P. V5 hWe 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。) 5 B- ?; y+ O! {; c 1 Z/ B$ G* M; h9 B. WPlease 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?)% E* [/ {4 @$ K& K. |3 d" w" p
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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!5 ]4 r2 |4 H% A4 W9 ]; \' ~
: Y& o3 e1 z- i$ ]9 X, x& L, Q w/ _1 |9 D 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。 / `5 c8 B j1 S& Y 9 l) W. ]5 T; L% R8 t) y例如: ' S5 n a1 M, K7 q5 P0 p( Y3 ~5 ^1 J
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) " I, D! R7 s) o% d$ N1 p- R4 z. o2 H6 m5 P3 | r
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) 3 @) E: n* D" M9 @& y* L8 D$ }: L" a8 i/ {7 ]) q+ d* D
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) ( s$ Q' M3 L9 s: k) [2 i ; F+ U+ m. v3 l/ B5 H7 I- B% A" hHe 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) 1 V, M2 R7 L; E% s 6 B/ N/ ?: \( g" s5 r8 K8 I9 w$ \& DIn 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) % Y- p: R& P, ~8 w9 i6 w& D+ z: { i( U' U
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) ! {5 S9 S* I1 P* o7 q4 \& l) i8 M$ V6 C
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) . P3 M' C K d$ l4 L9 _# n1 N " K/ y' o# {* w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:0 L! K4 T* M9 H" p: }3 i+ b9 ?
/ G8 Z# k5 B! V- E8 w2 p% t, TThe 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。): s3 Q9 t% D/ u/ q/ A# j' [4 e- Z
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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.)) t6 m& L! ?6 A2 s5 }: l& B
3 s. f+ r! z5 THe 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。) & l3 n) k& a' V! O' }, l7 D, Q: V6 r' P9 N# L* x4 D& `
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) 1 r! Z% r' F0 F$ W# {; X+ T , w5 U4 k/ G- Z. r ^5 oWe 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) - r! y& }+ z% D' E& H5 Y' A/ E* Y2 f" g8 w K1 f) C6 W; o
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)$ `- B: l! j% a( \" ~8 s! x) d7 j
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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.)6 U( i7 q: {& g& x
5 g2 \- t9 @0 `/ ]; u- \/ A; o此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' Y" i& T$ Z" m# `, ? 2 @8 {! o9 j/ U- F3 p+ Y, |" h$ u9 Y* h 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」。, d9 ]6 L7 h( p T6 V
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例如: 7 W6 A* Q' i% X" c4 v: f: {, H$ z& Q, N6 S& e; y
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) ) g9 t/ u) }. I! [% b9 z8 x ( A ?: R, E/ _# Z% wManpower 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)' K/ [/ h! D1 d9 ~1 K$ S
5 V1 {2 a; X% J4 m4 E. 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)( F3 X3 _3 ^0 V
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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。) 8 U% l( H& M+ M( Z$ D* b0 |- k" G' S% a7 s" q T4 X
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。) . r# A1 a" ~% q" r1 t3 ~6 ]( z 2 K* @. t0 H6 o4 ]0 K( v/ UPolicemen (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) : x! ?: h6 M+ I% u : @/ \+ ]: I, ] H$ e; t) d+ L8 qCongressmen (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); d% V$ A" K i- R/ l
- _' }; L b! A- v; ^- ?- zStewardesses 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。)& y( j5 X, e( O
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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。; s4 L# o& v4 J
8 }' X8 O8 R( |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: ' W; U6 W* l6 j# o& J! P; r) `& E. X : G3 V0 C& @6 y8 M0 Y, p8 r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; 7 X b8 w- m$ g5 I1 C6 y3 L) B ?. N. S$ M
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;( `4 ?$ @, d* j( v2 E6 u# K7 [5 q
5 O8 o1 v' f" K9 Q: T; x对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! r0 H( B; f9 Q
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) W( d9 O# a) S$ W; y$ G" L6 e
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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: " O/ P+ y3 [: T2 W O. C ( @7 ~) ?% Q: ^6 ?( x# ?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 v B1 Q0 D' L8 S. ~) I 0 ^0 |1 f+ S0 Q G4 N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)。 4 T3 z- T/ y, G" b