本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + n7 T' S, V4 T b0 c+ n$ D1 m" Y* n' S0 _+ V: H- F, { 转帖 1 ~8 F. y$ ?! W4 V. H1. 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)4 e S' A& K' z7 ?
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/ [) x# A: _ h! j. YMany 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) $ n9 u( V6 y t7 Y# p7 C& `8 A x9 j* t) J
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。) # I. a7 |* t/ S! ~0 F6 e" Z- T* x$ j
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) 7 c. {7 L8 _2 Q0 r9 O9 s) \$ h/ |8 X: [ ' i, p5 \" V: TThe 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?)3 J4 d% f. x; `6 g. w+ A! U/ ~
, N+ T& \: l+ F7 {' e j6 I! wI 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。) 5 G& s) f+ ^4 H4 m0 F " ^5 t9 u0 w$ UMr. 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) D2 e% p/ ^! x- F/ J ) ^( e- k% N5 {- x$ TWe 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!) & e) `; U$ q- V: K1 g% F' j. \5 f. Q3 Y1 m* j
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) % R: c1 \, n* z5 e6 o, X0 B; ~. P4 G4 h' M
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。)' M3 }8 d9 U0 }3 o# K# C
7 Y1 u; O/ u wPlease 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?) " s; P# h- `9 T T5 _$ V 7 ~8 D% v E' \1 f$ S2 n+ I1 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! U5 n$ |/ Q; a3 f% T
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0 Z" v. D5 N$ z! uAt 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)' Y# G; ? X1 v# \
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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)4 F7 Z3 W; d& d/ X5 ~
2 _+ s8 o; k$ h XI 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) 9 }" C) R8 b- I+ Y8 h1 k 2 Z# t1 _; F3 U7 v, l5 uHe 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) ( g0 ~& r* d! h, f4 r- I- z. J7 x8 l }8 l7 k3 i5 o7 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)4 z- \: o4 V$ }# 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)) Q: \ K5 L2 K- _9 S3 O
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 G9 g6 z0 P1 P5 I% G3 [$ K4 x8 T* S ! x7 G/ e# 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: 9 V5 e) d5 z* G! g+ }( W- r( @/ k' c
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 c8 K% W1 A% R7 G c1 `9 ]% ]8 \8 _! H& o1 z, S
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.)5 u S5 v/ v( C
% y$ @& x& A9 ` X% NHe 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。)6 q& @/ q4 f: l
& \3 q2 k% Q$ o8 ^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) 3 Q# p6 Q7 n% Q! W- l) M3 }+ V; | l+ L5 n5 E
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)8 Y' `6 V$ C; W8 Z1 e. W( w
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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)+ P; r% A9 p% j5 l- r$ s# E
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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.) * d4 x7 G) t, h, l- L / L, ~: s, D Q6 N- C+ }( E此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ Q- S% Z# @9 m5 a) X
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3 Y0 B' M, A3 Z) P, j* e3.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 k A c' ^, V) K- m- [
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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) * {3 D: S, a/ s: ^2 Q$ K W- { S ~; V* R$ P `5 p
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)& v0 V8 |2 e7 r/ N" {
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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)0 p8 B( X4 ]! p! S! Q7 W
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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。) / v5 r _9 c9 `8 k# d4 u8 |8 g* u$ p1 l; i6 U7 D: U# @
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。) 1 \, g7 a0 A: u! a4 T+ k 1 |' [3 K7 H" i" S- A' DPolicemen (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)1 t/ y7 D4 t1 B) P& g/ K
* w! h# s- d6 z( ?, z) Y# h3 rCongressmen (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 I$ z; V* d, g9 [! ~ 4 s" M) e4 b F# Z* X4 [4 F9 cStewardesses 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。) 8 L: J, `( R6 s7 }1 w & B8 Z6 ]$ V5 N& b2 c) ~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。 : p5 B6 D7 V9 m5 r, J3 a; I9 `. [' @( G2 w- J2 y5 E
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: ' V8 {1 `% w! z( I# K4 C5 Q2 B2 |8 }$ s3 F% d: w
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; 7 x+ L, c; {: L) H/ n a1 @% M6 B. f! F; j
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; 4 y) n! y- P. Z5 _' S1 [% k3 S( t" g2 m2 [ 4 e* p( D: U* S# m对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;# _, s6 H! L+ L6 x
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; _; |3 ^ X. I2 B. }+ p0 g7 g+ X# a
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:9 | e7 D) j: X* p% N& B n
, v* C: E2 X0 ^2 w# c L$ h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 Z3 W4 H' N! g; N- s5 U: I) o, B( T& o% J; T' k
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)。. ^4 ?. `7 |: ^) n2 t) R# X0 I& J