本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 c( Z/ q* h6 `% P' d( v/ O# x5 U k' m7 J7 S 转帖& b5 f$ h, Z& G" O
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) . k& e4 C2 `, i# j6 u2 J* `; o, S+ r; L+ v
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' W5 f$ h+ W3 d: Y" d. I: UMany 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) . K- ^: @! Z% T: H' Q) l 5 P% o- y+ N6 b1 b, l# r# ?+ nThree 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。) + q# V) t. m6 L* v( @5 `$ O6 w6 X. Z0 W) p: m
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) 1 c! w0 F3 z" M7 @ C- K0 v: R5 N. 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?) % p1 o' f" Z5 j ^: s: f 3 M0 t) y( P" c5 i/ v, MI 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。) 8 _/ K) `& F3 c0 o3 g4 t 5 n+ n1 f' D% @' F5 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) ' U1 J/ `+ E i- Z* w: C( O+ |4 t1 j, y% V* [; L* E7 o% t
We 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!)2 J5 C8 M6 N! j& h* C) Z# r" q/ V
6 _- C4 ` A2 _2 N1 _/ t- ]7 TThe 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) + G: T1 V- r( ]2 C4 i* S1 ~& u, r$ D6 c5 V: V# ^: {
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。) ( i; s' m0 R. S; z ) t. x$ s$ d1 e; y" Q& gPlease 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 N8 I3 B. `% a
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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! ; u( p& J; P$ `4 ]& D) s7 g3 J' I6 Z$ h; r" m. x# `* o
2 C% [1 c. w* B1 F; E2. 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。8 u3 s) \. y% e! {, g o( ^
. W6 h2 n: o. ^! X8 A例如: 8 D9 R# a5 W* I# Q1 Y5 r" M7 p1 @9 D5 x8 L2 ^7 Q' H: y
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) 9 m; _8 R, S8 R% n/ W) Z; ]1 G/ d) n! r
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)+ z6 j0 N' o* r- K/ m/ Q/ q2 N1 W
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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)' ?' B* |3 H& C5 O! I* T
8 [5 A( D1 c6 [6 P: e% n+ NHe 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) ; ]+ n$ ?6 D U$ N" l! H; i. P. Q m4 x& v$ W
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)) J) Q& C% D m" o& t
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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 L) n( @" ~( o" i N1 [% z. d$ D0 k
* a8 H5 f- V/ e2 X) o& D' s jI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # u i3 w; Z" P. H/ c' T & ^ H( s# A% ]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:$ @6 @7 H' {# U2 O
7 v9 S2 F( B/ w3 f7 K7 h- d6 }! f$ tThe 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。) * C# @" t* c, \9 O 9 X A9 o1 Y. O. D+ _3 @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.)8 l D% A: \% Z- v1 R; z9 _8 e
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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。) & Z* G+ X' ^, E" L" c9 ~2 f4 ` ! b( e* Z$ @4 c7 DHe 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) ; ^: H/ m- o- y; L! O0 S: c, @% V* T6 U2 z6 B7 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) + v/ J, v" s' Z4 r6 y7 {( p8 d5 N0 V) x0 g' K, o0 W
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)$ W1 V- ]5 F k; g
/ r% O1 w5 a; F2 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.)( j+ k1 J0 n9 L) W& Q% T; y% H. s
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; q9 a2 Q" ?5 z/ N8 D8 e
8 ^4 E$ b1 w1 R! z: X9 V) i kMankind 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) ) |) J3 e+ u5 V( a , q2 q, B8 N( a/ ^7 ~( NManpower 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) # K( T! ]0 w/ {4 }3 ^9 g- d( t+ Y# F3 ]3 k i* P9 I, v# ~
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)1 H, F3 q% w1 H$ Z0 n. y0 B/ I+ o7 \- ^
1 B d/ ^; ]1 _- ^3 KHe (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。) ) l' G6 g w- F; }6 I. r. s , l* }: ?" b% p( r7 `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。) ' d2 `: ?; Q* {; o5 L) `+ a; n0 X ?# i" N6 e& 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)9 ^. e) `- o7 d! ]+ f) v
, ^& \7 L7 o7 a$ @( E2 ^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)( ^3 {0 J8 L8 | t
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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 I* |( a2 b7 x5 a 8 F* D7 v( L4 S+ Y& {, h6 ~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。 , X3 R' s6 p x) d & E1 `9 e$ F+ s& U: f8 x$ @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: - L: N) ]; c" \, i8 C& h4 W K7 K. o4 w) D
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; 9 H8 n% T/ p( g7 I + i& N) e, ~$ S4 O4 L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;5 k W) \$ _' D. A: t
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , ^( _3 V8 P5 \4 F8 D& s4 p0 `8 ]0 @ P% Z& I
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 u" E B9 @, T9 v0 x- D, V+ `/ h/ g$ e8 Z
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:7 H( R5 V- ]. \$ [$ ?5 N% h! `
' W7 ~; v- M- u5 f( `) @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)。' a" V0 R8 ^* z6 } y$ w