本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 v8 P% a7 p# o G, b ; Q8 e! Q3 f) O1 ^" ^- a转帖$ m( T+ J) r, o, G0 T
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 R4 P7 Y7 Q* e- `& w
, x, o* Z" _4 X7 X8 ^例如: , k* F/ G$ @# ^: G; H5 T6 } 4 d5 o! l' j, AMany 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) ; P- A7 k. r; h6 U/ C. c8 j& T* A% Q# U8 f0 I9 g$ O
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。)- i6 `% U4 `* A! ]3 y# O
7 n; `, D/ [! |5 ]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)- @) |% k# {. R
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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?) " j4 U9 s" F1 x0 @2 n0 I \/ l, l, ]1 x, E; d/ r6 s
I 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。) ; J4 e& z3 c6 K& o q3 b9 j9 \6 C0 R2 A5 M1 C
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); N8 X, A! f) g* _( b
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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!) , O2 T7 Y+ A- H6 C' J7 }, J7 h$ E4 v& P7 @
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) # |) o6 I) S' x2 X6 w8 k& P8 B; u 0 g( }; ^6 `% q/ i# \' R+ pWe 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。)! w, F! d! ~4 m0 Y) X5 i% d
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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?) ) X4 e6 H3 L: q) t4 d& ^ 6 j/ ~! u0 O. Q, o' E* u' T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! . J* b' ^3 `& j( e, Q/ I8 Y6 ~# r, I. W' l4 E
; a5 d: c& m/ U- W 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。 2 e0 @) i: y3 k; a& x2 ^8 B 0 F& g$ ^8 `( }$ ]' Y/ F% z例如:7 L; h" g8 g* u) |
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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). r+ h& U' ^. u2 ?
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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) 0 ]) m6 n) r2 j2 }# R' P) d0 x 1 Y, s4 Q5 W6 j8 _1 R: B+ P* o. UI 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)0 |. P$ |! B" R- V# Z: k
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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) : S+ ~9 v, s; z * W p5 @/ I! b. _! X& q4 q. s* [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) 9 p6 i' S ?) y7 \' ^ * r0 x' c2 c' o" q/ nShe 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)! r) U1 B, j8 V, W: O" t0 I/ h& W
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 F) [ g; x; `# ? 2 A6 S' \/ K4 K! c- G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: ! L& R# l6 b. X8 S; M2 d' w 4 Y' k$ R4 y; 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。) / W) m& q2 K: X 5 W( |( T1 x3 c% P7 mThe 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.) 9 M9 s7 S6 K7 i6 W' }0 r 3 H/ Q; J9 s; ?& D5 G% z9 BHe 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。): I P& `0 U8 B ~# N1 c
4 Q6 j5 ?( M8 b, h6 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) 6 ^8 N7 S' C1 \( _0 A* C) U5 S% ^' @6 B7 _2 v/ b
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) e1 j1 t: l- Y1 s 6 e0 s$ p% u- Q. 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) 2 W$ J$ J2 q Q* D* V- V. k) q* e8 D' [$ x: U2 \! E( q
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.)6 o3 |) s H1 K1 W) r
9 E' u; Q6 t& P$ l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# l k/ D, {" J |9 J2 l
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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) 7 {; C/ O6 H" B; _: ?' B/ k+ w" i ( G( l& ~- c. S+ Y0 F5 AManpower 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)8 `% Z$ I( i* b N: [
5 O. ]* n, C. s% k5 S5 oThis 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)$ C/ C& E5 U& s) e3 q" h2 ?$ K
5 ~# I$ P) Y+ p- bHe (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。) ! C2 `% S! @- ?3 V# C2 `9 E/ Z; Z1 n% J& w6 o/ n: b0 h
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。) ! C9 E. j" W& u" H7 X6 a6 v) a ; Z0 h. x1 ]% v6 d5 E" yPolicemen (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) * x- O$ @7 ~7 m3 K6 w$ N- p6 z( X7 s8 U: r* z* M- v/ B
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)2 s% u8 w3 K) s5 z5 W: M& |3 }
, j' x" [: f" W+ W3 rStewardesses 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。)9 Q P% _3 p D; M4 ^2 F
+ ~8 X4 K. h5 {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。 - v1 c( `6 N" t' b" P/ k- y4 z% K: ?8 Y( Y- j% q9 x8 H% M
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:8 }4 X* [3 j8 t7 u% ~" 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;, P% H3 ^; A# U- v
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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;9 O5 Q- N8 ?8 i: I" A9 H
+ G" c1 `8 @( @; r* _* C' G Q对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / A3 W; }/ I0 E B1 C! ?8 i0 x* A( \7 O, b1 r1 d4 D: r& r
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; . E0 [- k% ]4 S" } D1 x3 k0 ]% r3 \7 \+ }
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: # q& z2 O* H5 `8 B+ u) `7 F) X& ^! L8 V4 Y/ O
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)。/ l% ?+ R) Q( M$ E! H% j
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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)。' h* r" w4 y9 U' N: q2 x