本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . l9 T7 S2 T' T6 V( ?% X 4 i$ F! C- |" ?! E' G转帖 9 e/ ^" P+ A0 \2 B' e4 |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) 0 }8 O4 t4 ~ g( ]1 z7 c1 d8 n 2 @: e' Y/ o+ Z& I3 M+ D3 F! u例如: + ^' \8 i) S' t$ F/ Y# K- F% a6 F1 X4 L9 j; U. g# Z
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); Q% b& {! S! ?
% z X; R' c5 @. \5 K; M. 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。)5 U' r# b5 [. D- [
9 \0 t( Y' q \& }$ zThis 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) 4 K( L1 k/ T! Y3 j @5 o: |" {$ j, n/ @
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?) 9 I: m$ x8 }, Z1 K5 }! O0 t2 |1 h7 c* H6 I+ @. ]5 W: ~' q3 r4 F
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。)9 P+ y" `1 B$ f" x+ L- y: T
( u: M' S' I/ \4 \- V, [7 W6 h# T9 VMr. 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) / B7 Z \+ k1 q3 J 1 K7 v o3 V6 Q6 _) f% a9 x- vWe 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!) 1 ~' I8 V4 J% i2 a6 y' X7 ?" N9 B; n5 A* d- R+ t* m/ M
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)7 x1 a8 t; u2 I$ D+ p$ a
. X" b# Y6 O1 A# z, N
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。)8 Y+ R6 K) ?+ \& ~2 |
+ G) u+ @/ I+ b2 }8 Z* z9 QPlease 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?) ) F( x7 M# b, `# y4 \ 9 y# R, N* s9 |, d$ n" Z7 x2 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! : l' S/ p a m5 V |- c 3 _$ I {, n) D3 D9 |3 P. _4 {: J. f 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。; ?" S, w% K3 \. L$ _8 G
" |, Q) ?% f8 I( w p+ U1 E
例如:- _8 `( H, n8 }9 K
; E( l2 _, M% bAt 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) ' S0 h. @0 a! \2 ?& |, J' y9 a 0 j- }/ c/ o% X4 b% p4 ~" pDespite 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)8 Z6 D! G4 h* k( k7 Y8 n
5 q: E* w- V* n. r+ W0 m9 l( F( q
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) , r8 n* E" u: l; A7 ]! L) u6 l/ Z+ {3 g2 u
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) $ D! ]# X# |! W8 k) l4 @% J4 o: W # w5 m2 q. T3 `7 ^- q1 W- T& a: bIn 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) " `0 q1 {$ q+ w8 V# E3 G4 r1 ?8 ?. U$ u& K6 t9 y& X: ^
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)' E/ O+ y. }! H9 C
- w. j/ A/ C' p, F- ^I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 T; E" F" Q$ L4 |
( e8 G9 e. v' n7 _
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: . q% M% D; {- y: j+ r" A+ n4 J& B1 T6 u7 c$ {( i
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。) : Q& q0 M$ Q \' Q; ?* @ c $ Q f9 ], n3 m. J4 S/ D) Q+ Y# B' c+ CThe 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- Q. p5 r7 B% z0 }4 I
) w9 q% ^, L# a* AHe 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。)1 O) Y: `# F* X" Y, g5 v6 C( W
% f, N5 s+ p" [7 i0 e$ cHe 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) 6 E& P; d) [! P6 x" M' @" [: U& D, B6 f
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)1 d$ b8 W4 M9 q: e( n8 c( V/ S
* ]! T! J3 h [ 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)7 ? o; r$ N, l: C2 u
5 B; t1 j; J1 r% 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.) . M2 ]$ |( u* H! }$ W$ t, J- u. @8 `2 y( A1 `8 V
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & @% m4 U d. k. b# F2 }- t" ]0 V% X2 a D2 l# s+ E
5 }0 ?6 J) }5 W5 ]9 V7 c8 r: `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」。 ( y8 Q: s l5 j/ a. p* K ; Y- `8 T4 O$ g# l: ]% x7 H例如: : T! N. F! o+ x) \% ?- c6 ? $ z; X$ K/ y* ~# JMankind 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) ) n6 W- U# A* g 3 N- [2 M0 W+ o9 V3 }% T0 v: hManpower 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)8 M! Y$ B' k8 {) b
1 O% K* T9 ^0 r3 i" T2 WThis 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) 6 p6 ]1 s5 T/ K6 M 4 d5 W! y L( F# Q. 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。) " z4 J& t' U* E' `" p3 v3 A0 Y$ Y6 Y& @/ R0 i! @: }( q0 g
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。) - _& R! \4 ]3 B( d % _4 Z" B6 ?3 ?. yPolicemen (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) " T+ T: X8 h' g( @# T3 A4 w * U, o/ O, u) h G7 @4 W- ZCongressmen (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) p8 Q. X7 v 3 ^& C: Z9 H o) R: p0 [" KStewardesses 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。) ) E8 W6 A0 Y( X; s3 _% ]1 S- \7 K& U
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。 ) c! O6 c7 ^$ D7 a0 @& r# r% q2 M- I0 x' \/ W) z
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: ) K# N0 N: u6 ^3 w- z0 |4 J" h# Y$ {' j4 G0 N
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; % z, Q6 r& D) ^: n' `' _. {. }7 z+ R) r8 g: w* z. o; c
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;' W3 \) W) A9 ^) F, O3 h9 `; q8 a/ l
% v! b' @: c8 B$ a4 D* \) L
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 1 ]% R; i& f: S. t$ L# X $ D" M& g! z7 Y: B. n( f' n% G对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 9 I; J) z4 G" G; ?/ ~/ l 7 k" r) t0 B D. J/ O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: . N `3 P/ F) ~: `7 a0 ~1 F3 N1 y8 V8 X: s( K* b
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)。 * V3 |: m$ _9 Q/ I9 G( D8 _. N 0 i1 Y0 d" f7 L7 T/ d2 Y' q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)。3 U% w+ L1 V1 m% p/ Y5 ?: C |8 F$ v