本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! ?0 F* }9 S7 \, f; t 2 o6 @& H' N# d; F转帖 & |% Y* k2 |1 h r1. 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- n/ z( ]7 U. ~, h
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例如: 5 ?! Y6 M: G& Y ; N F& | W7 U$ Z% d9 VMany 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). N- V& e4 o8 k, p1 w
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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。) , d6 _% C8 P6 v' m. Z# q6 m {1 b 3 c' E7 `0 |; k* W5 z) d8 tThis 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)3 n+ V; S! e P
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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?) 2 p/ _( E' E* Q+ g ) o2 F0 R/ v) I$ M9 eI 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。) * ?$ f b) z) f/ e. ]2 M) l( D, c8 @! f: u
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)# H4 [# Q0 U# 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!) & i r( y8 m! v/ o1 ]; V+ V9 ^% ^: r B* o: l. } Z; s, }$ Y
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) 6 n6 n1 x. r# Z% L ; M8 ^# ?+ j5 q# ~7 {0 \+ j* OWe 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。)$ \8 G& r& L: G. Z+ v" f
; @. Z b: z F, ^5 M/ xPlease 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?), ^0 N5 |- @/ M5 `4 \3 i
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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!, q. b7 F I* E' a8 R
7 n6 S# O- a5 E0 y! x; b1 }' u5 Y# F8 I" M4 J/ I w# F2 }% r 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。% S9 z3 d& }2 y0 v, Y* K
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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)# }0 Z/ a4 P5 X* }3 C5 f" r
, m6 f5 S6 g; c( xDespite 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) ( m6 X& `/ g% e7 S ]! Y, h9 r5 i0 R2 V7 V! p4 |. v
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) ' S# j% q. {5 A8 b6 o* T$ }6 H) Q( A" Q
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)* X! P( b; v4 K! J/ _$ m$ A
6 Z. L# P; C" D( T. Q2 dIn 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 A+ C9 ^* S4 B- I. H9 h* V! ?, u( t' R! L/ w# T8 q 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)+ B0 h) R0 f% o9 {& W# B6 V/ T
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 [% M0 s/ a9 r; ?7 [' k. E. A. ?$ @
: Y. o A* W* J- f9 Q, L; f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: ' m1 y( k2 X; t" e8 w. ^! z0 H& w7 ?8 z- ?- A4 G5 ]7 Y2 J
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。)- Z% A( O3 o& j) m; Y
: L9 Y, R9 h6 I+ z* R# G8 YThe 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.) 4 L& \' X. L& l( K. ?; r- J) B- U: v: C
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。): @, _8 u# S* w" T
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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)5 V) [! T+ X8 i! n1 L% x
. o) u, U( r1 x; N, m ~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) n/ d2 P! d+ g) m% |+ }( Q 0 l6 }+ w) R2 Y' w9 Q# QEnclosed (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). I' |! S: d8 C/ @0 e; J+ [
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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.) / X# g$ A: c1 I# t, i : r! i$ C! \$ f2 Y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 h7 o: N7 n4 T, M9 r1 y1 v' q2 H% M9 z- w3 f, I5 ?
6 b5 a/ o: |* P% R1 [0 ]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」。4 U# B5 }3 S6 M
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例如: 5 E7 h- z+ K9 s( d! V$ T0 m0 |7 O , ]" p. h' n& M F* QMankind 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) V, y9 Z. }9 S
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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)! {! z. Y- P' J& \$ N& j5 M. d
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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) 4 Q4 |, D" r$ c0 L& [% \* t& J 3 [5 F0 x9 c; \; Y( RHe (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。)4 u- I/ @4 k( h! H, t
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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。)9 B5 P" e G6 S! U1 h
/ h9 j) f0 h& D: ~- p0 A! y$ KPolicemen (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) ' M* n- e& _0 A/ o4 R% H0 k$ J; n8 Z8 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) H8 F3 M, z" K1 ~ ~5 V$ s) J # B: o1 A4 R$ H0 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。) , h9 B0 b3 G% y( L L. {/ Z & Y6 M8 H) o, m& g. n. F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。: {4 w+ H1 w+ [$ s