本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 w& I& a& Y1 {) L' |- e
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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)2 B) x9 j( R9 M3 o( Q
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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)6 q# X! |1 _+ B: Y# B
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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 L1 }' f$ Y4 d" O1 r) d% \( n1 K
5 j6 n- E7 p! s) }1 yThis 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) % j5 Q! Q! b; S: x5 t4 @8 f5 q; k& W" x% ?1 Q- Y' K% r
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?)0 t! a& z" }: i; z
; f% J6 B5 b: c' q/ c1 c) |, `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。) : a0 g4 |6 \# B8 ]: w E+ k: ~' C! B
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) 6 ~/ d' n. S+ g2 P% M+ P3 _. P. E, @' b6 C4 b+ |' c+ j; H S0 T
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!) ) n4 a2 T& O) X& Z2 Z4 Y T! u , r/ T0 z7 P" dThe 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)* R' I) e0 r. K2 Y$ I" e
, G2 A, x" m1 n/ Z/ Z/ H' g( a, vWe 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。)( K$ x( x4 {' T& p/ W
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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?)9 p8 _3 c; A( z1 K
: N: S, @2 H$ A S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 Y2 f! j5 u8 c1 P) w4 L
+ Z% ?+ C( P! O- q" W( x9 l6 t3 _8 x5 R3 h9 n0 k! R8 b 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。 # A, O. a/ o( x+ M5 w/ I @; u# H2 L6 L! H6 q
例如:( }5 M9 X8 p7 V5 c) e" M
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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)# M+ N# M- x9 P& G- m+ F/ j' |- R
+ B8 Z( \! }, i/ @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)/ p# P N: r) @8 t. {2 s B
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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) 5 p- ~8 U1 d9 S& f( C* j I7 ^) j( N( T" P8 H' A0 W6 H
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' S4 v' n( f+ v. j: |/ q
$ T( }+ a/ {& ]' CIn 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)6 D' H; P" V" u5 S
; L! q7 }9 \! u3 zShe 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)* h* X) G& T" F& X. ]$ E
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' ^$ O6 P) S, @# N4 h n# d4 t$ A
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: ! b" |+ h J1 K( ] 6 n- f& C/ o& {( _! y, 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。) 8 u5 Q4 E9 G3 c/ J W8 o 8 C- a: J' d% P! Z5 A, m0 mThe 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.)2 b2 _% V; E1 M6 |0 i
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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。) # J7 D& ~6 @: w4 D4 g! E0 Z( Q2 d2 X+ T& R# G
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)+ h7 e' U9 U% l4 E- L; l9 V R/ t
s+ k4 F9 N! u f. mWe 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). y0 a+ S9 e5 i, }
) Q+ `: u+ g7 d; h- `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 T& V- f. [) k: P& \) `
$ _( Q% A+ e, t( ^: [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 b: I' `/ n- H& `
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " @( ?% D, X7 o, Z( e) O0 d8 b( _4 C% h
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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)* k m3 t- F) T
. B$ k0 g8 K2 q3 ZManpower 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) 7 u) U5 A$ `, G ^% t 5 C3 i. n F3 ~% v: u7 M/ TThis 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)7 F3 Y# w6 d0 O, l
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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。) 2 X3 F5 Y2 L+ b( D8 q) F 5 _* H* T% x: f3 S! T1 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。) . L, R( r# v6 x( D# q 9 ^0 G6 g% l* U }7 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 u; K4 [3 S3 O% r- t) l, }; E4 p
* \4 _- q5 ?! 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)% i9 @0 i5 T1 _$ c3 ]+ }
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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。) 9 U) I8 Z' x+ K: z- s6 K 4 k: }$ P1 i" o7 ^2 [& n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。- \: r* ?. w# T0 K4 U
' y& C+ x7 M; Q" 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: . G: A7 k& E, F3 U4 t( @/ }5 h/ O: y' A( b. `/ 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;5 ]/ m$ v9 s& t4 h
' `: ?. M3 W* Q- C( y7 W3 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;0 d5 n$ O+ B( G4 o8 i! G( \
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 f( r$ B6 l5 |, {$ U- p. S+ z% ?- d0 D6 _ i
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ' f1 {7 _8 i0 S+ \9 l) }! H( j+ ~1 _, i4 t
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:% V4 \1 T- o, |) }* i; j9 W
) t% x% S5 S5 i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)。4 |% {1 [2 y& W! v6 o) z
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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)。 8 U5 E( B' \# z5 a- P