本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 M. O8 w9 \8 V; W" w2 J" ]2 Z1 O
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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)) W5 p, E/ c, V0 j( l7 l
, L4 i( W7 s: S$ E) i例如: + N+ l0 A: J% _4 | ' P9 Z" Y" O" i3 \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) / o+ A1 T' L1 _: A" }% O, G2 w* ?4 B( s0 G. V
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。) ; M9 P0 W/ C, P6 P% c3 z% R/ K# u; B) R3 f
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) 7 M3 b! @: J4 t: p( `9 j# Q% |, v3 ^ A
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?) ( h( c( x, ]* f- a% B/ [" W' S( y" T v" S/ f/ c+ g$ y: w
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。) - k6 H, ~# ~# [2 b3 |4 Z* v: E2 h; j) q3 n& }% P8 p) j
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) 2 ?# t1 o" Q# J6 u1 _$ [8 M% e U $ ~$ o% s: C$ q( @* 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!)4 ~4 e* _3 U$ w2 K' n G
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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)/ z; F8 @3 ~. ?# L
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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。) ) Y1 ?+ Q6 h2 E0 h+ p . T8 y$ |* A( y: W7 O& @( XPlease 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?) D$ d# X8 E# w, _ b
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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!6 H0 _4 x4 [. w) u- {$ U- C
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3 c, g; O7 p* m/ Y3 U# v2. 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。 1 n, C- ^. L) [: ^- k# s: s. S# N2 S* X/ H ) P# I2 E7 ^& s$ C' I; {- ?例如: ) _$ ?1 Y- L- d% x& \* @( |% ^ 6 e% q/ W* o a, g7 ?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) ) V" C' F8 D( T0 [* i6 c) U, _2 R/ L3 w1 q; g
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) % f' }) i3 S& _! H: p/ J2 d3 k6 C% e9 V+ o
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)+ U0 R5 `: v! t# V) B/ M
. v4 T- {9 ^! v/ u6 I" e/ D- GHe 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). g% X) D4 A J
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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) 3 t" w& w* h$ o6 q0 R2 s* K , r% x- v0 @, f) a) V+ H8 Q6 WShe 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)* n j, y8 X! L
+ d0 M6 f6 \' [$ oI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) j# G* Y, q7 f" J% P$ m% B1 z) k1 ]+ H! z# h
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:* d% b) h5 G4 i& K8 x
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The 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。)* K: t' |8 C- T8 `
5 `: { m ]+ N+ ?( I9 jThe 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.)% n8 V5 H% n- H; O0 D" W: F
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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。)- |* |) G) H U( N- [" v
: h) b. E* U- k& k& {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) 4 d/ h) R7 l7 z0 b3 l/ p0 V4 z9 w% ]) O7 g) @$ S J
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)0 e+ | t% ?3 N0 D
9 j" o5 p4 R9 P" FEnclosed (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) $ f0 u" _* U6 n) g" L0 F 6 d" Y' f5 \7 ]3 w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.) % g! W! Q, h3 `* @8 h# M0 ]4 c* h J% T7 n9 W
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " v; x3 K' k) M: s4 Q( B: ~3 f, F5 m5 V5 S4 K. t3 c
$ Z$ V {6 s6 c' X: ~ x 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」。8 w" x& x( q2 N# {3 M) q( k, M
+ ^ l0 U+ a4 Y$ w! L5 g \4 D: v例如:: u: P: i6 D2 L
1 m& U% [/ z5 b! @/ l0 {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) ' |0 ~) `7 L% E& | j9 I7 e2 w, q, {: F8 S" MManpower 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 G0 V: d: F0 g; D8 ^' S" q ) m! n9 D5 _( U! ? 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): ~4 B6 I- N. \& l0 R
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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。)6 w8 A# I/ X% Q# j; x: K' c" B
, A7 \1 n4 m7 l9 b2 k! W/ jMany 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。) , d3 F& [- x( V6 ~, i 2 E/ v6 }% |6 v9 Y6 v( [ ~0 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) ! d& m$ Q k) E! s! k3 I: p 5 f& n1 |' S3 ?* ~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). e( m) N4 M# A# R
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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。) 8 e7 d' @4 _5 {" ?) o3 s1 d* H * J: ]9 e" x' K* R) B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。 ! }. ` s0 s1 S0 y% |' W3 J, ?2 V7 d0 y$ ?
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:$ x0 D" Q( |+ X* q$ b" M
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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;7 |: A2 L: l" y* d# n) @9 w
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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; . S; d3 D, @) Y( y8 Q5 ^2 {, k) t; i, @ f
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 N$ j. Q* F& b
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;! e/ k# x0 {1 k6 `3 d1 g
" h# g( j9 V' P+ G% ?: q. Z* x* Q/ 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:3 o' d% F0 n' D7 L" g8 m
& a& i; M7 r7 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)。 0 [# L1 X( f& c9 S; z5 [4 _3 J" M1 z D/ \2 s7 _' K
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)。' c' z* |' b3 R$ L! P