本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 I) Q% U* R, s' n) y8 S+ G' {+ S( o! ]+ @# u 转帖 : N1 E: u5 R% f$ e! m% Z b, T) B" i1. 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) % Z) j( |+ i1 q& a/ Q. c 6 {# V* F7 d5 P4 O4 i例如: " D1 ?2 y. W! u" m! ?$ \) H: D4 F7 v$ e5 I
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) ; _# K, G& S( }# p- N1 ]( X& e! U7 D5 @+ b+ ]
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。), x! r' a" h: S) o2 L9 V; \7 P
2 ]% W$ Q, O9 {- w7 G- T' ^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) 5 c5 m2 S; P. i! h4 a' v! V, Y. N- Q" V2 C+ Q6 y( @4 b
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?)8 ?& C# R: O/ A- L+ A5 z/ a
# ]. b* @& k% G) A4 c. ?. i" jI 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。)# h7 i2 b* W7 v% [
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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) + k0 \8 x; P% d& p3 H( D# U ' }. S6 L/ g% LWe 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!) # ?; ^# Q/ t5 P7 X# z# S @1 D: u7 y8 G
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)$ ?7 Z9 }/ u1 W. Q
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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。)# \ v' V+ o% i8 k) @
* H. e( W6 u- M6 VPlease 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?) + k8 o$ r/ v& P5 z- U# A: h% X O' S% V* w$ K( G+ X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! " ?7 W# } u5 | : ^* A2 D- }; J" J% _- Y* S$ q - ?. ?9 T# T) B( 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。 2 }% q1 `# M9 ]4 W* | - M9 U4 `% C$ O- y; u6 f a3 e例如:, }7 I- z3 \: c6 m' q
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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)! C' m. P. Y5 n b- j3 }/ n
5 g6 J+ C( C2 n. a" lDespite 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) ; r: U- O6 s; t$ k7 Y4 U- ~" G9 x4 {7 F( t: M
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) / o7 H- V; }# w" ~; K$ l3 V# j# {4 ^) A) b7 D, p) E: i
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) l5 w3 a* [$ y, ~# [: s
& I7 K2 F: p4 a/ \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)6 G' C# G0 B4 ]( u; b
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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) 5 H' y" w0 u g- D- J & ?2 y( Z, o, |( B4 @, I) d6 _; wI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 J$ W* g* g/ g( B! H, l; G+ i
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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: # U% [ P6 A M * K1 c# d l! GThe 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。)1 E7 R$ l: J3 O) j2 ^
# O, o5 ?; K. p; g7 i2 rThe 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.) ) n6 N6 F- ^/ h- M+ r9 ^& L7 D$ s. V) j; m
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。): R$ A$ I; a8 {! C% n
* m, N9 x, d' P4 R7 @/ sHe 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). d+ z* U. P- d: ~
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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), w2 y0 |' j* `( U7 o8 _
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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)) t i3 i7 b) Z* M5 {& p
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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.) - _9 X @5 F. H8 c& W 0 g: m' t Y5 Y, @9 `; ]此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ r4 u: S9 Q. C* G0 M
; N, u! `' o3 e) ?+ n. | c$ f* D r3 h 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」。$ m+ R4 d# } J1 b
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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): A/ W- k& Q) }# |) N& G
5 {! J& I& V4 [' \! jManpower 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); `" ~- l! G6 y5 x. S! O* A, ?
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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) ; Z, }7 L7 R1 R- d' J; L# ?: y% {2 |2 M7 y# [" D5 W$ l" d
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。)& s y1 W: q+ ~7 W, V9 v# W6 w
' e p d- @. ?! r: U: e wMany 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。) . A* F4 ]6 I8 Y4 k) D; {# @/ f" v, I' n; |3 [
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) 0 E. E( f/ ^" O) D: @- S( }( G $ \) V+ r# G: v' w) [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 e9 K2 s1 X1 L- K s1 b/ B4 D; W# \ Z3 w9 O& ]6 }
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" G; W% J$ N% r : T, [# Q/ V: L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。 ; A5 S. T( j0 d1 U4 V2 t Z* k1 P* A3 q, k' ~$ ~
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: 5 b% ~7 y% x* D* ?8 G u' P0 t# ?: e) t% H) E6 H% g$ u7 |
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;( r( Y; `! o9 }( o" ~
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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; & q8 S t4 B7 l9 Z6 d3 a6 ^, E O' H6 [! q$ c2 P
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; w* N& s3 @3 b9 y - e, W9 p" J* Q对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;/ s$ O2 E8 @) y! ?
] \+ l) J+ W$ n; L; r0 v0 f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 Y+ U' N2 \) }: E' G # h2 k C& a9 h# W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)。2 o# |* k7 D0 L3 o% \* t
9 `4 p: ]- X5 S% [, P# b5 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)。, W6 J/ ~6 R6 x2 @7 y$ ?8 t