本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' `6 T0 C6 P, z7 ?5 B9 R/ x/ T5 G* i7 u0 i 转帖. Q" R1 c9 J/ s" y" M+ C
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) : l- x! }( G$ f 7 b' \& _3 T- Z例如: 7 N! c$ P. z, w9 c: i & ?. y# |. Q r1 WMany 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) 7 r2 d d% i' s7 [& O. b7 Y: j % i* p0 a4 y! ]! CThree 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。) J. R' Q# ` R5 O
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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)* r8 P: p' o5 M! H4 x
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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" P: d0 ]+ X6 A
2 r! U( h6 v0 ]* X- L- cI 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。) + [, j& P4 C+ t& f2 A; W5 D4 G: \ @. T
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) $ _. c! M, ~/ u! Z7 _3 v0 m1 d* y; q! ?3 D/ A
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!) ; k( k8 T0 x* Z- E8 o0 |5 u+ c# E4 S+ v3 F# L
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 G. ]3 ^0 N3 V
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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。)1 @4 c5 |7 ^9 `0 u* ^
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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?) ; g% |- I) n2 H$ n8 J% s5 C; L! A6 W6 I
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!1 b0 a' j4 ~, Q" ?) \0 k/ s
' j/ M6 i& V. t $ N* @1 _4 E, w/ ]* X G8 t8 K2. 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。 7 I0 }4 I" U8 Q# L/ R3 ~6 ?$ ~ z& V a4 g @4 S; c/ i% M: n4 ^! g# B
例如:! N6 ~ u- v0 v
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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) 2 w' x! v6 Z& W2 l. Y d- b* `. N# Q6 |2 B6 k. u# [. g
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) ( O( _; b% q, e+ f+ T8 ~! J2 h% r' U8 L* E; Y% H
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. R4 A7 c7 a. t0 V; P4 W " s/ O3 d6 G% L7 S5 _& K2 ?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)( r; d+ h( m% D% H; F
4 }' k. b# X$ `5 q0 M* [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) ! y& k6 D6 ?4 f & N5 m7 J# k. d: B! t2 R0 n, FShe 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) 8 h: u; r& V6 `6 e& j + x0 y2 q! b" e: e. P5 oI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) / A6 c9 h! j% p; n4 y4 h2 ~ % [2 \8 Z0 F! n4 m# q/ 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:; P+ S( s, A" n3 C% C' Q
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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。)5 O+ H' d5 \1 w+ y
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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.): q0 k; w4 U( L& W3 ^: v
; E* Y8 I) z5 y" C2 D# J6 G. EHe 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。)( P0 a1 P3 {5 N7 J$ O
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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) 7 s- x( u" f/ w# A! T! l% B8 v + g2 z( u! P3 G$ K+ n K' oWe 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) " @, v0 C6 x4 [( }1 W# h ; e- B2 B6 |# hEnclosed (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) & M1 H* I u5 M4 Z, N( v* H+ Y6 b/ a) n$ w- S# M
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.)+ D! W8 ?8 [7 }( X$ u. g4 y
' i) z/ r3 h8 _' k/ _9 P }* g3 [# b此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。, v0 Y( f* d. T7 M3 T9 Y4 A0 N
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- i$ r: m4 p% [& H# e& B 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」。 ! q9 U/ ~1 }9 T+ a2 h 2 z. h- t1 v& f7 f7 \9 M* g例如: ! A4 ^6 T3 ?! ~' H v/ J Q" x( b 3 ]4 Q% J! Y6 x D* @: @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) 7 i4 U, a4 W3 K% A . p& H/ `8 l& ^; k/ IManpower 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) / a/ r* z, T- _2 I. d, a( y+ j6 ^7 q9 C. e' B, s; E
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), V9 A$ Q6 \* ^
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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。) - ~% o+ F. L8 i+ K / i- `2 {0 |, p3 W! @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% A+ Q( N/ y9 X
2 O4 S8 }5 z$ { i! IPolicemen (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) ! O. O( [# e. w" t( _# u" c5 M7 x+ V) c
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)* t! n6 J7 u2 g
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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。) . y A( ^5 W R. h" t! Q4 m0 }' v, @3 b! M
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。6 _ E" W3 U' P0 x7 L9 m- u1 ?7 `
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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:* @( E: p9 Z R* }% ]1 J
+ Q6 [ d. N) L* `; Q& g! `- G% \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;4 a/ Z% N" |: Y; \6 Q% g
6 _5 X+ K1 i: w( J* [, p& |/ b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; @7 t3 W/ t2 L7 |) O1 S" A0 J6 b1 p" ~, o2 _0 v" I1 ^
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. ], \/ F9 W* w& ~2 }! F6 \0 L
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 4 v% K2 Q+ p u! _. l+ H/ e. b3 @* I! N ]' h% \
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 @( a7 m4 |' b% n
' X5 Q) W+ O" a' G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)。 5 I. W$ c' c' H9 ~1 N 0 V$ X7 f# N+ G$ e% U" A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)。, m% w, p$ j/ G! c+ P; x