本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 K1 S( K j0 F; H
, w# R- R, o+ c5 f7 `转帖 / _" E7 P( M g* @1 t1. 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 n; T% Z% J+ r ! a$ ^( |/ c4 f& R: O) ?' Q例如: * `- I. D8 m- r( ^* u( @% D. M4 n ?( W% ^& L6 X( i3 J" l$ `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)2 e5 J: R& u* {: ^( i# M
! K/ [, H5 g ?! K) `
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。) ( R$ \* \/ s5 n! G! Q# v* L; `2 M1 D/ M ]' @, g- {0 e# h; V- w
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)6 ^6 Q# X+ O" K
4 A* C8 B/ A4 Q
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 R, \$ H8 {* h' R3 ]+ K$ A1 ^/ q3 d
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。) " g3 {( X! \" N( J! T7 L# x3 O" D' L, A/ I , n. }9 k, Q/ u+ o% ^ k: fMr. 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) $ o" T! ~% |% [2 k% m! x+ Q: u% z ; ?! `# J( a7 v- w% H- BWe 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!)6 ~: s6 c) M1 I' D7 Y
* k' m L/ v! R% h9 ^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) : `/ F% E4 w4 ~% D! V 1 j, @! f! m) W1 UWe 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 r. S' c4 ^. [: z( w, K2 u8 J5 T& V2 ]( o
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?)6 `4 Q) h- O4 d4 q+ H `8 V
( {1 H0 ], w8 i" w% ]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!* [% H S: o; {* |0 ?
7 `: c* _, e- g" g' Q/ l' R
6 j" l1 w N( P2 l5 W7 m2. 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。3 G O3 ^/ V9 a4 H: |2 p9 J" h
8 p% t) Z" F2 l2 O
例如: 3 `. t9 Q. Y" U ! Q" v, ~# }# C6 Q- B3 }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) ' J* S; Y& H1 S6 H$ U7 {; W: ?6 D0 ]5 [& M( p" 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) 1 W2 x4 Q, f; l, j( e$ {) V L* L& s/ Y) U/ L) L* r4 \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) 1 ^: R0 _1 Q8 ^* E) E) |6 f5 z# I7 V. h* v4 j) t, k0 R
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) / M3 ^6 z& X& n# X v2 D3 t8 J
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) ( }! J' C, I& B- U1 }7 f 6 X/ N) M' C0 B" {4 M1 D# H* d T& hShe 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). _" ]1 _" I9 M9 m
5 q: j( a. |6 h$ m1 {) W8 u5 SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)* Q# f. @" W, f. U* n% b! [
0 C9 ?/ I0 p. ?7 S5 G6 r8 s
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: 2 c8 f1 \) k$ \; x! H5 Y$ B) T3 S) L# `4 P! W
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 t- x( \1 C/ a 2 T' P8 n9 z) m2 Z4 m3 N6 iThe 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.)* K& K$ _7 i$ I" K7 c3 p
2 v" \; v. p2 E0 q% E4 L
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/ X5 h; ~) j/ s9 g
' |6 E5 D! K* [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)% {/ G' h: ]4 t' N% d& K/ N
1 g1 d, O% }4 C5 v2 dWe 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)/ b8 M2 X* k, x( V9 a
$ T# B, G& R( Y& |
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) 1 A- X0 s/ ?3 r( c% d/ L0 G, {8 X0 f$ {/ O
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.) ' I. {, W+ U& }/ y% n# x 0 ?4 i' U1 U! r& J+ T' ?1 S: P& J; f; X& I此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 x0 i& ~' h: H! U8 i
# A* [# {' S# t- X
8 r( n% z. f- P( a! n3 ]# V1 R 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- @ \7 o7 ~" W' H, z % `. l+ T5 u1 J) q' W. i1 s K; x! `% a例如: - S% q N3 Y' V& Q9 I) P! n& Z! s" C" S. ^7 }# j9 s
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 i- ~; [4 ^# B! k' d. L0 U# M8 X2 G. ]( x1 K" U" ` s/ E
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) " g9 B' B5 L% u; D7 m1 b& r( p. f8 ^# u8 W
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)" j/ T) w" V# Q: d0 n
8 z8 O0 }) k* z% I) qHe (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。)) P& D: f& ~7 V/ v% w( ?" H
Z' d' ^6 s+ w1 m. \! z2 ?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 H4 c/ f/ R& G& W9 `9 p7 ?$ ^/ D
( @1 }9 T8 ?, g3 N) L* T; e6 xPolicemen (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)4 I9 f" @2 z7 K% D0 x
- s# l: o2 J( k8 N
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) ( w# v! \9 C9 A5 c' ]" \ 5 f8 A2 i, o- FStewardesses 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。)& G# P9 E5 p) f/ F8 G: x( J
4 I5 Z+ u2 R* d+ ]( R2 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。 H* R8 p( Z0 D% h' z
% c# a% \' h1 f! Z
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: 9 g" N/ O6 y$ }2 Q: f6 K/ ]: t, O9 Z4 z. Z6 g# A
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;5 T& w5 o+ c7 a
: A/ e2 _0 {3 X( A4 a6 P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; . @) L! g$ K: M$ t; W ( }# z8 \8 T7 J8 \. B6 H5 Y对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 R/ b3 w, Q0 d" o
7 E w( b. X& ?1 N1 z: d/ }- Z
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; * V' g3 M3 L9 q" @$ _8 }* g$ |) g0 v) v8 A' E& }2 p
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: 2 d6 G3 k0 _* R# w8 b+ h7 b v 0 C- U7 t. ]$ x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)。 / p8 J/ M- K( A: T$ u " d4 d( m$ |+ W1 o: l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)。$ W9 Z" T8 m# z Z