本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 p) x, i$ L8 N! t M) @0 e8 P5 b% o
: h' V: G! o+ y7 }2 U# C" _转帖 % J) x# v1 h# z: t4 B/ f1. 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) ) g. g7 i6 r/ n R1 b' k$ ?0 p# M ' m; w# l e1 B) M0 ^9 g# p例如: ( Y7 h' U; Z2 K6 a& l8 J% v0 W( w, w0 L! H6 G
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) 0 O7 U& h* l4 u9 O# `/ N; E . T H1 D" V# EThree 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。) . j) ` o& }8 l2 w) F: `4 o+ \2 \1 z/ s- [. k" ]' G0 f
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) 4 u0 F ^( A3 p/ B1 ?0 r# p9 y 4 H5 d: `( m; L; Q; zThe 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?): N# ^; a/ m) X' ]$ X
) l! B7 G0 u, Y n: x8 SI 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。)) [7 }0 t a1 F/ }2 D* T2 |
( l' i1 B1 e F! gMr. 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 W+ f' h9 D% f% a: t: @. G, A4 [2 x+ h# C9 v
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!)) P5 k" ~, Y" p. }. u6 s* `
- Q0 h! B2 ]$ S& G0 j" n# }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) 2 g9 N/ x; Q. Z% {* e. u0 C8 M( @6 }2 s% X
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。)5 l$ F( E6 Q/ U/ l, n
( u0 O/ C. V1 s; h! T
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?)! W3 w: S7 Y1 N2 M/ \6 u
% j. v. Q6 O: a8 n9 k# z' U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!1 R# w8 H: R: m& i* b( ?" S
; _9 u( [7 Q/ D# C
# [9 v! @2 P' ~- V" d" I0 h) O 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。0 L$ X. @ i7 e! G
]* L, q7 ^6 E8 B' t例如:. D0 f. N8 a* f
- G; h* y+ _, N/ _
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) " p8 g [% b+ b, d& g4 | . v! h2 N& d7 D0 s0 f8 E! d. f; 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)2 t5 u M8 h8 D; X
3 q& ?* f, {- s0 y4 V
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) " J" X) l( \! Y4 w& q7 Q3 L: t4 \- P$ }- |3 C7 Y4 p
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)6 q' r/ H, Q$ C
7 o z8 ?& S/ C3 J1 o
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) 9 D- {, ?# u) V3 o7 \4 l" t! L7 Z! r9 y( b1 T8 j+ 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) 7 T% [8 N( C. ]; s. j. a * n/ g3 k" G* C, P! `# \I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 w5 u) i4 m5 g
1 C2 D* s" f! R; |. W% F9 V
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:" e& O* {3 @8 `5 [7 l; d2 l
! A6 M& _! _1 ?5 z' y# V4 a1 _) b
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。) 2 W) `5 M: e! D9 { P7 @& i' y0 a1 w+ D( |& Z
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.) 5 q& D& T! |; b# [3 d 6 _+ Z/ o% A( g0 p* J( sHe 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。)$ V Q9 Y9 i& H0 r
0 Y) D$ A6 s/ ~
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). e7 ~, x) M) H' d9 s
) \' c0 ^4 M% }+ sWe 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) : a. `1 \7 u; ` O8 j5 Q4 C" b3 b2 }8 n, ^+ n* 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)! T' B$ S( ~3 K, r1 c; e, r
f5 E5 m) X% N1 P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.) 0 L u' p7 d/ O+ F8 ^$ A9 \/ [( f5 `$ j* ?
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 u5 X4 e' i: P4 o; X
' D1 t% M7 `* U" R例如: 1 g7 r" u9 s* H p3 D7 X0 [ 1 W; {* p" Z, yMankind 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) ! m" ` x/ H* x5 k Y% A# l; `' m9 z+ H$ m# v4 g" y- h
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)0 c$ n+ B, x. j1 u" {+ d
+ j9 y/ O+ r! X8 q
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)! g$ p! m) q/ l; e/ ?6 w0 k. r
5 K$ n/ f1 F- R+ z) T
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。)) r4 s9 J _5 g
9 {9 Q2 X/ J) lMany 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 [1 Z$ s( X0 p9 B* a/ j; w" ^7 Y9 }$ U, S8 u4 b
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)8 n- `% Q% {7 d; I6 S
2 I1 W0 t' m! a/ t6 N# cCongressmen (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) % S; X' _& G/ G$ g* F- m1 \1 c' U9 z2 B( r) b4 r
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 R6 c v7 m* h! q9 [, B1 s+ W7 a 7 O* i0 \$ s ?) ~! s% F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。 $ o" q+ C, `9 h& y6 p( f8 X 6 \- U6 b' [+ O% Y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:# C& l, ?: t, f) e, J& L- o) M+ v
$ S$ d/ n; s5 o/ `7 t0 j" e/ R! C a5 T# M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 H; Z- ^0 v: m) t 7 n% v2 k0 M; z! |1 C: n, f. V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;8 u+ ~8 m N) c( |3 ]5 ?3 L3 k
4 {; }6 P/ A9 W7 A ^2 F" P
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 2 g4 L! B" }( `) U . X% _( S# C6 y9 k. i& W4 b对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; z' a; A% }0 F/ ?; I
7 ?, u4 O' s" O) O4 W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: 2 p$ E# h/ Y% C+ b0 ]. C # `# k6 U! w: i. G& K B1 Q4 m! V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)。 1 Y2 @4 A( I" _; T, s% L) p ' A, @0 G. z7 W6 I" i+ e6 L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)。$ q/ B/ S1 N. d/ X! P* d& m