: X E+ X0 s& ]. c# y转帖 " J4 U7 r$ f- M9 w- P1. 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) $ u* v3 y. K' Z6 G/ X. x- h- j( z2 y% m
例如: 2 h- s4 u: j; Y5 _; e ' F- a: U5 t3 zMany 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) 8 p3 c: q4 _. W$ ~7 X' Z" E4 _& Q6 @% W
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。)+ p! w1 }/ h+ Y
, r- l. D2 f0 A$ q7 ~% d) n; U6 tThis 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)* W0 G6 _8 m' d: n% `; J/ k' {
s% U; q0 W: B, y9 h' 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?)* A4 I! ?1 c+ i! Z" P ^% Q$ P
. \ Q$ f$ y+ F- A; pI 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。) $ r. C$ m: F4 q/ |5 }) t& S 0 _# t' @0 O" K c$ i& @) s& K3 K* DMr. 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)+ `- ?* M7 M$ h+ R+ N: R' @% I
/ G$ h$ y. Z7 Q1 e, ?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!)5 ~ \" Y2 I# }9 d' x
. R$ [- b A/ HThe 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) 4 S9 J" k7 E I4 F4 D, R( P4 N) K+ N7 Y" r
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 z& B' B& z% {) Q) P# j
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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?)3 `+ U; M* N; L! o' _
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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! ( Q! t1 |: L) x/ y+ _ 7 s* S$ I6 l. z8 u/ ? A( c9 L u# }) h: G 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 U* @! U G. Q5 @; \. t) K + i* ` ~& \0 F: @7 ~例如: * i! [( D, u5 e0 L) w- I 1 W( N, t/ l- ?" y# T, z$ {' jAt 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)/ F! r& S& g+ T4 v! ~/ o" H' |2 i
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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) # r8 _- {% z0 {- U" ` # Q5 o J8 H+ T7 N. K3 gI 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 G* Y( G8 g8 Q8 `7 @- s& O
/ N2 }# a' W! }" H( b9 DHe 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) % l/ Y* _8 j1 H) T- M8 ^% C+ q! m g4 i/ W, f Z5 ?" o3 `: m: \' v
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) " v/ ~' S, [" X1 } l& {3 u" z' A m% ~
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)9 s0 x" i0 Z( U9 J1 H/ ?
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) . {0 a# t: N- k8 u6 _5 V- K1 y$ N) [1 r9 y) ~/ I0 z& L& L
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:- R- g" W, A5 F* b4 t; z1 I' S" `- Y
5 U! |) U; `! t+ t$ H+ SThe 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。)* e" Z8 @% C1 o1 I7 j' ~3 ?( Q
, `4 \( W8 r1 a* }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.)/ Q9 m/ O- |* P; C ^+ U+ R2 k
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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。)! Q8 v0 W- Q$ Y A) O3 W
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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)7 o. ] S2 D1 x& G4 s
3 p: u' J. ^1 q; x1 JWe 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 G, J: K" W& K: ]# X1 s + Q; Y; B( z0 }+ ZEnclosed (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)- H2 k" G! `6 O8 D# \
8 ^5 d) ] M8 l$ y. Q* m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.) & h) ]7 l% a! r3 R 6 s4 K- g+ p( }7 B此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , C) T2 w! V9 Z! B0 c5 J# D1 X# @ 3 n. U, G' n. ~1 P # m* w/ \3 [' a L0 j8 X3.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」。9 {1 G2 S) P+ [- H6 w) V" z
3 G! @1 u% B, H1 D! I1 D M例如:1 o2 A8 P! U2 p, o# I
* {: ~7 ]0 G8 P5 r( w b8 X& v! _ [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)2 W. Q( [) T- v+ M* z
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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) ' t( g8 D& R" D/ N8 t7 i; [ * X0 S* }. \* L3 c0 ^8 I& MThis 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)) A- t+ d7 Z% _
g7 y9 Y, {! Y* q6 _6 oHe (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。) 7 Y. R, `" @' ]$ b1 \! ~( f8 N. ?- H* W) x5 d
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。)! {% L9 g! Y: P" q2 W4 A
3 D" u6 z! ~* Q0 K+ l' w2 T$ V( IPolicemen (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) 4 t1 o* ?. G2 f- F1 k: i9 N3 E2 X 6 A& v, q5 J. t1 eCongressmen (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) * ]0 M( h7 j( _3 L 3 C# Q* v# M1 K0 x( [% Z! `9 |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。) . n: i. i' U; }/ Z& e C6 h5 \ : x* r6 ~+ N8 V! E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。 2 w0 m8 F2 x1 `5 n2 j8 y4 s" a: l8 s' ~8 o* x
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:; e% E( P v% e, R1 A- R% T0 L+ e+ e2 l
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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; 8 u( g2 K0 h1 Q: t1 z # m* {; y6 @: [1 z( N* 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;2 U/ R+ h2 B2 w
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 s1 R$ F% E/ O7 |: n" ]+ V
9 b9 Y/ C/ b% r" E( A& l& G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: . p9 E8 O3 c6 }7 {; I9 w, m/ O ( R N. A* g; y" q( K- T n) f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)。 - f7 V' E" H( L; u / c8 z2 U. u+ k$ G8 t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)。0 G b) ^0 ^ P