本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 M( C G; `9 M3 ?2 q0 ?' i$ l9 g$ G: Q: y# }# q 转帖! Z" o4 ^- e! O, m2 ^% X2 S
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) @& z2 U2 l2 N" a. F1 V
# I6 N4 Q4 {; n例如: 1 N6 r/ O# d9 a3 h0 E$ H' n; K# l9 V6 [! L
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) # z1 l: T; M. [6 s9 W+ y- N( s 8 G3 f) ~8 l- OThree 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。) 9 r. i3 r4 I" l) v , T% X- \: q% Y! IThis 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) B2 x! }/ y# |4 v3 a3 c8 O- C* |7 r5 Y p7 c+ c5 g- `
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?), A; Y1 s: V- b! M. l& Q
& `0 W: L. K2 y D, {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。) ' u0 V8 u4 Y. b4 g- w7 |5 x2 W, r2 G* L {
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) * O) c) T' p: }* O7 u! G, p* Z; {0 r" j
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!)' a+ S- }/ F N! U8 i: J( ?
- b' x" ]" {' K' _6 ]7 ~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)* p4 n4 O0 g* W9 X0 n- w1 q1 A
B% f6 D' D2 N& r ^% K( ?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。)2 I, f& r! z3 J$ b* l' ?
3 ^: U5 E# E g |) R
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 ]; Z) T/ d! K; W) v5 m
# k7 Y+ c# T7 r4 G; h
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! - o; A8 K2 _2 W2 m7 [6 ^ 6 p- c: V$ V9 h! E6 a # y7 x* y+ |- f% q3 H1 U2. 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。 $ B& G' ~- V3 a) V5 {& s# @* C# K
例如:3 O' R I/ w6 S
) R0 Z' D, E( N8 t/ M
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)8 Q$ _' p% b* x, P. G
; p5 E. R7 ~( v
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) ( {6 o# b7 Y6 e" P: w" f! @5 X/ i 8 n% j- Z1 C0 i" H/ _1 i1 P' d nI 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) 6 M c$ [2 V& P* M' Q% K% \, t6 y" c5 P# ?) V. C5 P' n
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)1 g# J7 y( d2 E# o
1 J0 f! ^6 I, i \: E- M
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) : z4 ^5 c/ Y- w , F1 H5 w* ?7 Q8 o" l1 qShe 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) - V/ l+ @% g( O1 [: ?# r( ~4 k E/ M8 _9 G, O9 V
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 v2 A1 S2 j/ L3 D0 t8 t5 R9 p0 j/ {6 h. e3 I1 c6 |' 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: ) R& S3 z$ P/ C7 x5 `/ k. T - ?9 |. c, I$ a/ g5 RThe 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。) ( ^3 Z$ u- _# b% T# K% g Q6 O& o0 l) o8 k6 P% j5 P
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.) 7 i9 i+ b/ b8 r! m8 ]: N; C R9 M2 s+ v# B) B. O+ W! j5 T
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。)& t) g" ?5 K0 D) E6 E( a
0 Q: _* c1 V, v, s# P% MHe 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) & q! u9 ~; g, | ^+ o+ d( n+ V; J. Y
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) - Y. z: e- `9 U" R& T9 m6 `* r K- t/ w9 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) `" ?1 B! Y& l! A' d# M9 |" q 6 \! l) |( R( E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.) % E% M; O% E3 [3 p' D. r9 d! h) Z8 B; ]+ B1 U2 f# `" E4 {- z
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。1 P& n! Z& ], ^. V1 l8 _6 b
! x( n& n" q2 n( S+ b ; `( p% a% i: U" o0 g; V& l# ^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」。 " u9 H; y$ t# }1 n4 b% J ( R; w) V' `& v# x" y例如: |+ R6 \% R* u3 \* h. W5 u $ A7 s7 i8 B5 F3 b/ L1 S& vMankind 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) 1 J+ S9 o2 V! f- X ; @/ I& L' K* B4 x- rManpower 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) % |& A" Q2 t+ P: c: {$ S+ r' b4 [1 C
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)) T, W8 s9 n' _6 x$ X
6 q' I+ X: L( z' q' r) O ~
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。)( r. O7 t, B: o8 S
' J) ]% z0 {; \& z3 l! i
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。) 8 v9 J% r! K2 y8 n) n& ~( V; A. W0 i5 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)8 V( `. f% ~9 P
`) a# S6 T0 V
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) " h% u& L" a0 p3 _/ a$ z; @& _3 }1 x' F G) A3 m
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。) : v0 R" ?# n3 o* X" U) G. J n7 `" r4 ~6 C
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。. l# h. \7 ?3 P# w. h2 o
( Y7 t+ _/ A& b- ^0 {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: - b8 V5 k/ L8 Z1 b1 E3 \5 r ~4 ^# g+ E: }7 X& V# [' Z) S4 v2 v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;* e$ `& R) v8 i+ T( j# J8 z( }
. l1 k, m; K+ v% d. L3 b3 j# q' r8 K+ V8 _
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;* H; w1 \2 o9 X5 E( m( b3 }/ l
0 A+ @4 @2 e+ q5 f+ m
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 7 S) W/ @4 w( J$ Q) v* c) M# I0 F3 o3 N: S# w
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; @ k! G+ \# r: S6 u4 a
, n$ j0 w) z) l( B
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:; T& w4 o' @: Z; j0 N7 U V; X8 C
4 `& u q T5 q# P7 x* J8 e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 p7 f4 r- c1 P$ |* R5 ]( K' I: k