本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + ]5 f- o( H& u7 C) k1 i3 A/ V2 J8 d. B- L! E C9 M9 l 转帖 # m% D/ Y) ]9 K: k1. 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) 1 {8 |' Q3 K3 k, [6 @. u- f( G+ }" ~/ S5 R6 {
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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) & W. S9 t9 m4 Y1 F* ]8 W0 X* o: J }4 `! [4 p1 P0 F Y$ F5 h
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。)+ i; M* Y; d, E4 C! \9 E) v/ n
$ |& P5 K* G( e5 iThis 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)) \$ r% Q& a9 Z; n
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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？)$ ]" B+ d' @5 u: K9 ^) t
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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。) ; A* t; V% X6 n, K: G, u* t3 Z4 T* ^7 A4 b5 F
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)8 [6 n2 A/ b1 V. k) {+ [9 {* ~. ]
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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！）1 J. Y3 A: C( D6 L" w; W9 P) F
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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). o$ w) H7 @& D8 U1 U& ^
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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。)3 T3 V% [% L( C
- h5 M- A2 x' B: Z& EPlease 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？） " }8 e# ?3 e) `- ` , B# `+ Z1 Y1 J* M$ G# p# ]; K5 ?! n; y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！; l3 }; B% O1 A, ?' f Z P4 }( n
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) z/ N, V0 w6 ^. X2. 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 }7 v) g7 ^: I9 o4 x : J9 D1 z1 b: K" i& F4 Y5 J例如： ! t; x: R" @7 t9 f7 |$ E* K ' j" v* w6 M/ Q- q3 m1 cAt 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)9 Y# G' N1 \- y$ ~# e. T
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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） 1 t! x7 L6 x8 @ 5 a; D5 H3 y: p, w/ i3 uI 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) , L% R! p. P: d" f: s 7 D2 f3 d- u2 P6 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） & r* v9 g* G7 l! m' R ! f+ `1 e7 |# 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） E C- h; N3 S* G$ c+ M* b: N0 L6 D: _& G3 x0 J
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) # m# d- @4 q* B" `( d3 [7 H1 H0 t; d: z2 h- g
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' J4 y) A2 Q- t( z
+ x; b% [ k+ P1 {" o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：3 y9 V7 _( T) Q+ H1 I3 y
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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。）6 G+ W# I: s5 r, c
5 G ]4 `+ ^; r* tThe 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.） ! b2 t0 M8 T( x$ ]4 h" Z4 ^/ f: D4 I( B* U
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。）: k" G2 U4 B" ?; e7 _ u+ B
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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） 5 W4 w% Q' M' o: U6 X & y9 b& |- j: Q$ f1 r% P# HWe 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）) q( ? U p$ X: z4 t- H8 P" N
) }5 A2 {# G3 k6 c" ~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)4 W, K' d4 b6 p# q8 B0 S- l
4 a4 g" H2 ?! v# Q1 W2 R5 X' S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.）3 e: D- K7 m5 \7 h T, v c( ~8 C4 a
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此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 f' X4 `+ A" N3 l* t. q" }
* a" j/ E, M0 j0 B& Y" x7 L. V9 D5 t, |0 q$ i' 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」。7 j. O; e- C/ m% k0 P; h
. L/ Q1 J; m p# m9 ?2 A例如：# k6 }- Z1 o) E( K
$ H/ m) s! }! D% Y1 ~7 y' H VMankind 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） " }/ v8 q0 {, _6 i, @! d6 A* o & ^. L& e8 ]3 V8 L* O7 \' e |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） * h. T; F/ T1 [5 G; `( g# M8 ]* P. B2 H0 y1 W; D: f
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）3 q0 d' r8 }; s- T; A; t
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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。); c ~8 O3 i0 A1 w |1 G r0 `
8 k" b9 V9 w+ H4 t" ~) Z$ 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。) D8 g2 F8 S1 n+ Z9 y, F4 y5 B
6 ?6 u9 M2 D6 [0 w6 v0 OPolicemen (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） # |( G# U2 B" i$ a- Z2 @5 k" E. R+ ?# I4 C6 {" P {9 X; |* ^* q* P
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） # ?; V- N; H: Q* O$ O* W# w/ `6 ]' j- h
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。） 2 [8 Q2 W( a9 Y) J9 [ d8 t* D1 l6 a _& S& W
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。 . v% u; s8 u; ?5 ?0 X! J6 j ; X6 G Z. }3 |% 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：2 {; R' P# j7 w. ]* E) N: ~
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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； m0 E6 a T! h& V: d' l
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
