本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + l s/ _9 J" W5 z
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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); P9 D9 q: @6 V& d
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$ m5 n5 q9 R( g7 f" H0 t8 [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) - b5 w' E4 ` D1 q0 L: V# d- h- [
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。), {6 u: X6 w# T' Y
& h6 j) Q7 j) p* q4 v/ 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) 1 L' @- _ \0 I& r$ L/ h; O6 W ( C9 `0 U: N5 t9 I1 BThe 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# w- H3 K- d# F- r# ~+ _! E- x0 W" g& @8 n) h
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。)6 y' k2 q- l1 m# g2 t
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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)1 f9 f) E* y0 y' n
& U7 n; q- ]( ^! Q5 yWe 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!)8 [. j: N$ V5 ~9 t8 n3 U. W: H
6 @" l* ^; n( ^* D7 V4 FThe 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) 1 ^ R# T5 y: w- U . A; J7 K7 ^$ u/ F* MWe 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。) x: i( W( X& R9 a, a( A' F$ ]4 x; l+ j7 s- X
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 [& S4 o4 |4 Q' J
3 b2 i9 b+ W7 l0 n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!2 Q, _, h# p( A5 O
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$ M$ w8 \# P# Q( E% d( a" z 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。 / P7 z% r( L3 f V. { f5 S8 g+ P
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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) 7 q; T# S" M# ]2 A7 H / [ I% o) K2 |3 @, x6 [3 WDespite 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) 2 f6 A. h- j# Z& e" |1 }# t( Z- L- M( h" e
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) ; x' k; D; h* ~/ P' R: F' H" @# ]" a2 D$ R% q
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) 3 m) L. d$ t Z$ Q1 m 2 P- p( R: F m6 E- N/ `2 z! fIn 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) 7 {) u$ t0 S! X* Q2 h/ \1 R8 `5 h9 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)4 n2 z) E0 X ?+ A# f4 u+ J. I
; i- E+ L% d) G% z, Q) SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)3 G* X0 A2 G% B- Y( ?
- X- I/ C& B% ~6 W4 W0 J k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 @. [( w4 x2 p# {) g- e5 k; Q; l9 ]3 k
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。) " L9 F! ^1 Z8 K- J* x' _0 n1 q0 n' T# V( L
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.) ^2 J% V; }8 W7 W' v- {
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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。), M; |0 s9 K; _8 g5 y! R4 K6 z
. u: v: V8 z( w3 W. {9 u& \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)/ t9 e' o) O- S/ {) E* Q* k
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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)7 B/ F- ]3 {9 v# O
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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)4 f* U( A6 }3 D/ u' J
3 y* m& k9 q0 u/ s8 ^; n+ h; E) s# A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.) 3 n* U2 U( `- t8 g! p0 z6 G# v / N# w+ ^; `/ i, e3 B此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % p1 i6 J. w4 G f0 e8 x( v. R0 C- P- c/ H& s2 ~0 g' Z
$ }9 A, R6 K! [$ c0 O3.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」。 6 t. K) m% G7 {3 B* V- m% a" h. Z1 \1 B& i# B$ f
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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)! p4 s6 u- |/ w& _0 L, m
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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) 3 _ H& ~+ q3 x* S4 P/ B q- W" A+ A6 n5 s0 T$ ]
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 y5 @; b4 I9 B
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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。)8 D, L! L9 [' R! N: W9 g
8 c# w( m/ W) y- 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。) Q, g. Y' p9 O: g2 [' N2 R ; s' W9 G5 C( G' E0 ^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 P6 a* _+ E) a9 c+ }
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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) % _! ], K3 C" I3 I$ S, `* \! }2 o3 ?8 G
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。) . [, g6 p& s+ r1 j4 K5 d& N* s. n" L" n+ W
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 I& T5 n p B0 W$ e
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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: 6 `+ [" o1 x O/ n$ z y, Q% L S t( x; w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; B; c% q5 [! A" p6 Z7 G/ ]7 c ) B5 J: t' k' j7 ^5 l& A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;; z4 j- f7 n2 x3 d3 A6 }0 k) X5 r
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; . P9 `5 F, i: M; t: F4 @/ X' I$ m4 u2 p; T- t: n( O5 T
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : z8 C5 Y- ` Z- R5 J * d D; ^! n9 n) A4 @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:: C* a4 Z! {, R. u( s6 d
6 w; s$ s% Q( L) Y$ A+ 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)。# O" t4 e6 M" o. T S8 }
3 ?. `' q8 o& y( ?# 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)。9 u9 [1 r% Z' s. n2 k