本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # h* U4 j3 g H1 }0 [7 {6 k5 d. Q4 _3 i! E1 t& t6 ~0 u8 ` 转帖9 P% M( E- s. i- E. l
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)( [% T; Y. v! D0 x4 S6 t9 r
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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: x4 i3 U$ K, c' U ' ?1 _9 h) B# C* l+ Q( ^, uThree 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。) & k) v3 [4 G! t& ?6 {, N- v" N* A9 p, C: V# u) x
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) . ^& H) V' e2 ~) C2 W# |7 h+ h& A$ w 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?) * j0 B% m' x- ?' b2 m- v6 U7 q6 Q , ?% w% Y# N: ?: n$ G# XI 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。) 1 h" q, I* {; b . ~& o% Q" K" f% O" tMr. 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) ) x; e+ N# I- ~7 H: l t0 f: m* o6 D5 S, e ) h- K; S, o+ p5 IWe 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!) ' t7 c$ C& C) e2 Y, M9 V$ ^ / b% q7 [( Y& z& @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)9 p+ D: S* ^7 I
0 X9 |( f W/ Y* b/ zWe 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。)7 [) m: @; T5 i- c
* K; S* f+ B' I% v3 L3 t0 b& r* APlease 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?) ; P2 R. G% E8 E1 D# x; C- k! l" v4 O# d$ V! o1 f2 s8 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! , t1 D$ z5 s& `; h5 b- u # R* T1 k3 ` }) `0 Y5 i# c- t. i1 }2 c: ? a/ I 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。 4 L7 M; V4 F% H( t) m: ~* A' o& t$ Z" k) \
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4 h& p d/ Y7 J5 V2 H7 |: o0 _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) - A! k9 U. w0 Y- v, q1 {+ N5 f; }7 S. l/ a
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) + [1 _0 X5 X3 S0 Q% h) A " v2 R2 n$ i: y' T& x) [7 HI 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)/ D4 j+ c8 \2 C
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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)- A% v, o( r. b
$ \$ P( |9 [8 F5 s 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) 1 L( x' }! Z1 A- J8 F- T6 L1 a% y4 N; n3 z( {( S. q3 S8 L
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)) ]0 A, Q) Z* L: I4 j0 Y
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 M% \, i6 t7 A
( Y1 W9 Y$ ^" L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: 3 J4 X( [! p6 r5 m# A0 Q2 E) h1 h$ e6 ^# c+ |
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。) : f- V2 s$ K( x3 `7 R# X/ u- M' n* i0 o6 Z) Y
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.): _: e N9 q6 p0 E# c
5 W$ U" V" X! g1 C" S2 T) W: uHe 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。) 0 U( h- E+ ]5 l6 I$ x" D3 ~+ y
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) & g2 U3 B+ Y& E& K n9 z6 R9 m) W! K) V
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), P7 @% d' _- [9 b4 ?, q6 @. h* l
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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) , b$ h4 ?; Z3 d8 S/ Z1 S* C* W; s. ~+ y3 o7 D% ]) ?
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.)# U: E$ a1 H' r4 n/ d
% i1 Y v2 _+ i7 A7 e+ J0 Y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。0 N) v: |/ S2 `/ a- L
( i# Q5 F5 V2 o9 r) c+ a1 i( I" Y8 W# U$ C, ~ 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 R- o6 W% [7 C9 ? \. B # Y% B# A- K* I% @5 C7 [例如: / P& U& `& I9 @- V. e$ P# a# } - v5 X& Q- U T0 SMankind 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)/ P: `3 }8 d' e) ^. L' n* t, H* |9 K
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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) # }( y q$ M! \! _* f7 J' r1 ^& [1 a
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)7 i, ~% ^9 _* g% n
0 [! c, \# x! C; K1 p/ y1 pHe (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。) - h! n5 Y2 Y' _* l5 r9 l5 ?4 e) H5 P
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。) ( B, _( j1 O/ K/ n% Z6 {6 _4 m" o8 I T, A* A% {
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) - S- T: `8 [0 `4 C ! T1 R7 D1 v+ `: O8 ICongressmen (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) $ P, l. N* e) g) \- K0 N0 i" ]6 S" q5 k+ `9 w& U6 i
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。) 6 j6 X$ O- d8 M% [! q2 K* l( t! u! C- Z8 i
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。 : f$ @# O, h5 {: A$ f9 \2 |' b % J* Q/ Q+ m5 Y" f& }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:7 r% M0 O* X; f7 t4 E
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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;% n2 d. ]* J4 s7 X$ t
+ ]. _; M3 i6 `) a6 _! @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;" P) y8 J& C: v* K
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 0 U: W: @/ p' k. \7 x/ z% u7 }; X* ^$ P7 k! S/ U" b# N5 U4 x
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ( j( I* t9 z% }4 x; n( U6 e3 j8 F4 p. }# [- e8 `
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:+ `5 z( p5 u+ O6 P' f9 H
. N: e- Y- R) ]6 K" d% F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 u& z/ {& A; \2 \% }
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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)。0 K3 x" u D8 }) L4 ?4 U' e