本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % g% P0 Y, O6 z( b% }4 o
$ s: S5 N! C! Y h# b* F0 i转帖 9 H# v* N2 |: m- v+ z) a1. 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) " i9 A" O2 G/ q4 O1 E* d' Z( d7 _9 p2 b+ v( ?: {- B8 j
例如: ; S5 a5 V. u7 q3 t( V: n " ]# H0 o% I s% ]% G& nMany 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) $ R* a$ G& N. Z0 H' ]5 z* e+ ]" h' Z; B7 C0 a/ c4 e3 c
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。)$ q4 ]2 O* Z3 x. `3 }# ] l) j4 |
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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) . J4 v8 f6 C+ P" ]0 q8 b* o 5 ^! S3 O+ D: V, U$ {% `* o! k( pThe 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?) 2 B @, H: ]% c+ ^7 R% F3 b & _8 ^7 Y2 e# y( J$ Z! ?& bI 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。)" ]: G& j, j: g1 t
! a& l r; {$ ?+ v7 h- RMr. 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): A$ U# Q7 E* ] @
1 {% |; g8 x3 G7 ^- M! z2 G- DWe 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!) $ x1 Z9 N! @' Q; ]" ] B3 O& O4 I, I
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) - H& t+ k- `4 I- t. x9 W( E1 [ 7 O6 O$ E% E) a# \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。) 4 }. C$ m6 k. H$ c) [0 O0 n" s z5 W5 Q0 ^
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?) ) e( y$ g K8 H: P$ @0 T / G' C: D' }% Q2 j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! ) g% Z4 T9 }, G& s h( N 8 `8 `# s0 W& G" C3 Y5 i: ]- W, L5 C2 D6 y* b/ B# k 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。6 P+ e! X( H6 H
! ?) c7 n% K7 H* J: Q例如: + M) ~- s T8 Y) W8 d" p, k2 p) Q& L( [, K; j9 T3 l
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) + p! @" k) i- |% D$ @ S+ z 6 ^# d8 _' O' N; s# aDespite 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) Y& c6 ?4 c' C/ w
* Z* Q2 y( A0 o: KI 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) ) A" l7 M4 z% S/ Q 7 ~1 v6 o0 z+ I Z; VHe 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) . [! r# W! T, V$ `* O, \/ Y/ N " k' j1 a7 J1 xIn 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)5 G& j) _' a" U3 b
+ `& X* d8 ]3 _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) ) X' H6 v$ J3 e8 a6 b 3 E0 ]& d4 S# d8 xI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % ], C- r" K% c6 l7 N, w3 \. S' W% L) y& u" s* _- c E
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: 7 b, ?4 @, Q* f& v) p 4 \. D- [8 n5 U: ~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。) ) x: O- I! i( s ! ~8 i! P8 {( gThe 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.)( M8 H p# S3 K6 F: U" z
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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。)4 G1 A8 @ H' `7 P/ d
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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) : y8 @' e2 x0 U/ g' |; F3 S4 F7 i0 q9 C* X
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)3 _0 u# A; r, K. E2 d: V1 R5 Z" U, _
! \6 M& R+ ], }+ \0 V- zEnclosed (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)! a, k9 E+ ?/ [ t
" l0 P- p6 n8 T& y, J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* C! M0 n- w% _% D3 E
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 T. K/ _5 J0 \8 E3 l$ V7 b( {: c4 `
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# r: Y8 m3 W5 m$ @/ j! u3 J7 P9 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」。5 A7 u, d; i( m
( |( G- a; l" m& G& B例如: " |& F, X2 z" M. P V- N6 c; Q b" `9 u1 `, P) ^5 C/ k1 M
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) $ S( B( O+ ]5 P" h# Z; |$ P) ]7 f( o3 ]5 E: q; q4 J ~2 f2 l
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)% N& @$ y) C. w5 q( u6 w
2 j6 h6 |0 p1 n% ~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)( n0 B( }' f5 E
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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。)5 [" u" ~' @0 s$ f
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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。) v! E: Y5 e9 `% m7 N
+ D3 m) ~& d6 r* HPolicemen (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)+ ?' M4 J7 I$ A% C# I4 \( r
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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)- @; a) n: o- ]1 c
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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。)7 }5 D8 C+ q# V7 q+ P1 }8 Q$ a
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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。+ i- Q& t( h7 R
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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: 9 k7 C6 A, Q) A2 M1 N4 \' L5 T6 Y! m: m! o8 H, _, h
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;: E6 P5 B" w3 U9 o
. j- B9 J' O6 n3 L6 s+ |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" @4 U3 p1 h5 w; Q0 q8 n5 F) s' L! j6 u7 ?5 ?/ K
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;( f' f& O1 n/ ^
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;& Q2 E3 R; U, n! l, f2 d5 J! L, |
6 N* l7 e% M" _- I; w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: % |) o! Y0 ~, G5 G h% F% c& C: i! a% @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)。& C3 R0 Y D0 d0 A" M( V
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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)。 / J) ~0 B4 z- Z% `9 R2 N