本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % `5 l: V0 v/ s6 C6 s s! l7 C; r8 |9 g. h% X- |4 P: n 转帖) e1 C. M; K. h% `) i& \. X, I
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) $ Q% z0 Y p3 M$ O! S9 W' n2 P! w/ {; |# d3 U, t! D
例如: ; \8 |, ~# N6 k% e7 _ / Q9 i+ b4 c% H3 n `" ^# gMany 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) ' P) k' D) [- @4 q+ }0 B6 b' { 1 u+ w( b* J" r! I6 p& X& t) J# b: F# SThree 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。) G3 Z* _* ?3 t* ~+ x! \ % z/ |+ q# f, v+ `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)9 Z, s! g9 W! h8 [
1 _; u6 t8 ], {9 [' ~0 K5 i" c/ mThe 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?) v F2 @! t% Z$ U" O
/ L9 s" p- |. l4 x! z4 s3 q# }6 DI 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。) 9 ^9 p8 o# y9 m7 z" x q: u ' o3 V9 @( k) D9 @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)# f8 d" R* A$ v5 l/ r: Q& G. z
+ a$ g5 y% E9 N& `. MWe 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!) 6 n" o5 d' ?: }" |# _ 5 V/ C; F; B' ]+ Q6 E! RThe 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; X. I/ }; C: q2 n! s" h
9 I9 O. c' F6 O4 CWe 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。) 0 [2 @/ A/ `& K/ K- ]) A8 E$ W7 O$ e% A3 p( A1 S" v
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?): A8 D; f6 X: [$ Z4 z
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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! E# R3 _3 x2 u% y& e9 w) x5 u* u2 j8 R% ^
8 f: l) V3 Z8 F5 O' |( m2. 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。 ; a5 E/ s( D2 A' J! B- p9 O( @, `; z& y5 `" H
例如:) T8 l3 _: \6 P0 B* v' d: H
" u( \6 @+ R$ y$ v9 \; sAt 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) 3 w7 r" _3 u% p* L! R! n3 h/ X( U2 Z7 R i$ W. k
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)9 T3 p) W4 |* A4 R5 ~
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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) , n- {! ]( o8 ~0 f / Q/ r* E9 k f& Q3 `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)* C" m- b+ `% Q9 O% M7 V( }
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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) & z; ]9 `5 f8 W8 \+ {; P! O) |! W) }7 z1 g7 u p
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 K4 j; x3 {6 h. O# i
1 E7 i# |6 i3 c' I0 O4 Y/ {3 N9 cI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ! ?( c) Q- i5 y % e0 w5 n2 d3 X( R q+ q K6 G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 A) h( V5 M! C9 y/ | x
- f; C) r h% u4 m9 p0 uThe 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。) x: B5 g J Z) {3 u ( W% r6 l, O6 j! D$ }" ^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.)% k& f7 V" ~' J' C( O- B( P$ A+ K
0 n6 p4 A4 P! X+ p: [" MHe 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。)* }0 ]% r& L$ G8 E, ]( ~
* \& G0 E. a2 i- U; f; r2 e5 }1 KHe 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) % E+ W4 g5 ~" H2 ~: \: }5 L! B1 @- B8 Z& ^& D. j' P
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) * R: p5 {- z3 y$ Z# F: \8 c/ x4 V) s1 S3 E/ Z; 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)9 J! J* C7 b# d& g r% [
/ N N; c, n- v2 r( G& H% X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.) v- H9 ~5 q Y% e4 J/ D# r9 B
) A; b/ E3 v6 ~5 b3 I o此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 k# \4 _+ p# K. s4 H! A $ c8 h4 f5 W: B" m( J, _3 X# |5 V! h 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」。: K9 v& I( K5 Y! O5 B
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例如: 9 R* E- l" p7 q% {5 H0 b+ D% s8 n9 G' d4 _% z) R* x6 i& m3 y: G. o
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)6 p% k6 b$ ^6 [: |* g
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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) 2 e) u4 E0 g$ m- a- _ 8 o! T6 F: T6 EThis 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) 9 O& L, a8 Q4 V! N; T. l2 b' p6 ? ) M% P, p' ]) L7 }/ A( Z( ZHe (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。) ) K: P7 {* E& h2 D/ i V 3 J, K* A0 i4 N$ G8 O, t' e6 B* T+ bMany 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。)' I( [0 [$ e* e: ^
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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)' \. \, H- M: z! ?' |' `2 \
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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) , b& ^4 c- p+ S$ t) a0 Z4 o% c! e: ?$ r/ F
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。)8 D) p4 O' |6 m+ F! N; j: s. [
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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。: |' h$ P; i4 r8 y0 @, P4 _5 R