本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' O0 U8 O2 ?: L4 t, x * l, M7 E0 b/ G9 |$ q7 S转帖) J N8 S& O0 f7 A7 N8 c5 W. d
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 U8 k- f) _, `( k 2 J Z& Q/ D0 n* F$ X5 }, `例如:- n' D! w) q, Y
2 r7 l" h. O, o, RMany 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, `$ K! o O
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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。)0 g" `. E$ y! n8 z2 e& Y; V! I( `
3 k- x5 y5 T1 {4 M0 J4 H) O1 o2 U: }7 @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) / L( C/ ]# n# x$ t0 W- |9 ` 2 Y) l$ p) z' y* N4 h( [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?)( J" f8 R- e e( J N0 J- J( F3 e
6 o! w6 Z8 i8 QI 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。) : m. u* K- N2 y( F3 N2 L. T6 O% r) p
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)7 X R+ r1 r% m$ ?
8 `0 P6 b" H, [4 hWe 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!) ! L6 _4 g$ r4 V' D. z( m1 D5 A" p1 E9 ~2 l5 l- t& w' U
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)3 B; H7 S! Y) p3 l7 a; F# U
( G. B" @, q+ q' ?0 i/ W L( c& [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。) ) K- ~# W$ t7 D: G" e+ }7 v 5 c# K: W- e7 x( F. LPlease 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?)2 E& F7 V+ T9 c% W6 F6 c
+ C- d: H" s+ p7 ~) H# a9 T. a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! * e, Z# W6 W V0 a8 `7 A% @ ~( U; D, J5 h/ v4 q! E: k$ F6 R
* m, U+ ?& x; n! H, @% y 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。 9 B/ B5 y4 S) o( E 1 m' `) ^4 h2 ?6 M2 r V: v例如: 4 M5 i, J: [; ?9 j# Y# Q' l 8 t/ q# r( y8 M$ ZAt 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) 4 ~6 K6 Y! }( R' A C# Z5 J8 B; a' n$ ]% p5 f$ gDespite 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) 3 ]2 s( h8 J, c5 v4 y/ Z1 v5 s' M- h+ N
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). U+ k) N: \" M) w+ Q0 [
( w/ N: x3 V: M# h" J9 s, ^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) * R7 W' q6 R' s$ k0 q1 o" _* L( K0 f$ L. N5 ~
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) - d* h5 l/ b( Q ' C$ v" ~3 O# F) q G2 bShe 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) & L0 m5 R, D4 D" C+ F$ D/ p, G0 {6 v1 E/ S/ N
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 S8 w0 V! _4 d4 t" M 2 n5 Y7 x# G6 i( M D4 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: ! G' M; |! r H# b 4 S$ U2 R3 o6 ]* d' S5 AThe 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。)+ O4 }( x% S# f' y; L0 s0 Z7 r
5 W J0 Y. Y- C) dThe 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.) ! F( i; y# G, n; r Q3 b$ W. i6 B3 H / P3 d+ `5 X9 B" u1 E3 q% ^' |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 O0 L, i) A0 a/ H6 h h+ t
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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); e- ], v- U7 _: x
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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) + I: q. j0 ~( I% c 8 s2 Y M; O t* P: t0 O" UEnclosed (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)* N9 ?( z/ W% |* L1 E6 n
2 R7 H# }$ z% V8 x% i; z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.) 1 H- z- ?4 h& d9 z4 U& c9 g+ i8 l- ^2 R3 L( w! k$ {
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ N2 ~1 l- S7 `
+ T7 s0 x1 H& a, p; s$ x例如: & l$ ]+ U0 i5 T7 T' d ( |( x, S, S" M' L& W+ gMankind 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) ~/ m! V, |: y9 [( Q9 L ( i) T6 w, A" t, {9 \* l2 ]* o5 @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)$ t# u* V# k- V: k1 \. A! j# F
| a6 z! [, _- p; zThis 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) Q: t( E/ D) ?9 z7 a3 O u1 o
' x% X0 B* G6 v8 L- B+ eHe (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。)4 u1 k* h X/ h& [3 z/ K
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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。)- t6 |) d6 I& F/ b- i
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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) / h7 n1 q+ L1 x7 `7 k4 v- v3 u6 m0 {7 G+ D1 {& h$ H
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) 8 g4 ^, s/ n! t# u, U# W & ]9 d- E- x; J6 p" ~9 A& _5 }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。) & I7 q- J8 H, t8 E& W9 ~* r# Q6 u + }4 Z1 F0 ~% \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。 / Q% J! W' z3 e# |+ T# b0 O: p o, [8 o. R
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:3 p8 u6 J8 S( ^0 Z$ O3 D+ E5 c
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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; p6 F$ y$ {# n( Q+ v
$ G( b4 i0 `; ~/ \( F) [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; ' {, h9 l: m! A, \0 U; V; `7 B: @2 Y) u( V
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 z# Z5 n1 L- y6 z5 i* R+ E
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ' o/ O) T- U, ^+ f% d7 S2 c 9 M, c c. J ~2 x8 Y! A1 z' 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: " [: D$ C: c3 J) G2 L5 {) G9 l9 w& ]# v
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)。1 n. g# m9 q4 O1 C& l
# Y" V) b& @9 |( Z+ V6 A' 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)。 8 r8 d; r. m* A( `* M7 L% n. ]$ Q