本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! ]3 g5 A5 c% @$ f$ k& y
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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)( {) n, Q q% s% M: B9 F) y) n
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例如:5 U4 r8 [) ^ F6 l" F; ~
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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); Q# h1 {8 ]/ X. _$ n6 b/ k
: V5 B: ~$ S/ [+ `( |7 {, nThree 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。) / n( k* s+ ?1 v( m, K% M/ m5 C5 t7 }& n7 a
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) . n' h k; p a. j3 N- [4 A: ~ ' r8 G7 ?0 n0 E* F, `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?)7 x* d' J9 i( p6 r
1 I; Q. V; d+ e1 qI 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。) 2 G* s$ R. M) O! S) K ; u$ {. V% K& O! E# G. U. H fMr. 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)! E) Q% f" |0 @2 Y1 O ^3 K- I
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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!): F! T. P% h6 F6 J/ o' C
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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)% ~# J* [$ c, L( a. v- p8 d
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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。) 9 [; k& i' a2 K! t& r0 r9 F" s* \3 j! p# c% k# n! v1 ^
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?) 8 l& N* h$ f; h' S& t9 p4 v 7 y, g2 O! D6 N- m0 h& 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! + w! U' G! y' ~5 D. I + W6 M! b4 ^/ m) k, `/ w( Z5 p5 ?6 v0 f4 w' H( O7 |- t* E+ y 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。 S& s8 B& x* I/ R4 c8 `2 t- A8 S* S& [
例如: }7 n& G3 L/ l8 [! c+ a, h; }+ _$ H( Z7 q* W$ J4 X$ p+ C2 \
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) ) u6 u8 r- e$ ?. H $ _% \6 f' e& q# FDespite 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) ; i4 ]% U% J: l# N: x . `& l1 ]3 [- f6 Q5 eI 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)$ I7 _6 i; G- c3 Y+ t
9 _- W6 X! o6 ]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)! m' W2 g& F+ t; W1 L* `9 q
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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)0 _ Z) F* a' j* k# S' \2 u' Y
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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) ; M6 n: f2 L5 G6 J6 ]# Y5 z% Z3 G Q2 x/ E3 y2 K4 o- e7 V6 ?
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)2 D; C- h- k7 u1 ?( j+ c
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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: 1 ?6 f3 J* c2 A. d6 q& { 6 K$ v4 N9 ]$ c* @" gThe 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。)% {, R% l+ H: I5 _3 E
& V6 k! Y7 O _0 SThe 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 N+ ]5 T* {" O3 _ i- |* g/ E9 E& W- X5 Z! Y' W9 P
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。) 6 y1 k' N: p; Z ; E' R" ]9 {% n/ }+ R& f) M' [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)" S& S2 ?0 T( x8 A/ y. V- F: v
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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)9 P& |+ N3 h |
p6 k( R |: w7 q1 k, |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)" f1 c# b# W6 P0 _+ i
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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.)1 t3 t9 f' O/ T; \' D4 `, G
9 z6 y4 j: y7 y; p3 }3 @) O+ {' E此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。6 n+ ^. ] g! J+ |. D8 P
- j/ Y% r- A1 P8 b6 w) F# b1 C7 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」。) L' R. x& w x9 T1 ?6 y* A
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例如: ' ~! F7 P, f+ B( c7 M - Q: M- a1 j/ K3 ^8 Y% AMankind 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) 9 e5 Z% F9 i! b: w9 V / X9 ]$ B8 F7 M/ ?( _9 z) X6 nManpower 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) 9 F5 i9 v: g9 H& T; C& s7 c4 `9 H
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): a6 q* \6 K5 i! A; I7 N. V; y
1 b9 I* w$ e# X4 t6 H' _+ UHe (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。) 3 N3 \% O" o$ B' H2 o! y 1 a% g' h; ?% w9 C0 _; m6 H4 _5 Y# N# q+ aMany 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。) , K" n: c" Y& U u1 [9 z2 U+ b" }5 x" w$ c1 v& d3 c- \; j
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) + F! p8 C- Y4 F' E* W* p- y6 @/ J2 C$ Z. Z" G n/ X% s8 J
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)3 a) N- y0 [- z: P" ^% u
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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。)5 d0 E7 i: z+ y+ E. ~' H
0 _! w6 s- D6 }- Y1 z) ^" i: P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。) F' Z9 Q3 E. C$ d7 K4 R
7 s+ U4 A6 u& v5 K: a2 ?* L! 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: ) }3 K% K! V* j5 @& k( ? 3 K1 J' [/ x) o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;; r& b# H; M. n/ d/ r. O' n
' j( y5 x+ V; x* N" h% E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; X Z( R% `6 ~5 T 7 D' A) t, {; `' e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;8 K$ s" ]3 p/ g$ i
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 5 Z& D/ D& _ w% w9 a ; ^; \* k) I+ q& D! b& y7 Z+ d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: ! J {1 d; I) Y# r0 z; [5 a* h* D+ w# D& |
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)。$ H* V- I$ H, F) K. f6 @+ c
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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)。 4 {% a j9 T9 o+ W7 M# G' G$ s