本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) a* c" D9 d) r( S* E: q
/ z( {* O0 R$ V; U4 r 转帖 ) a6 `8 t2 h% N1. 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)" R0 V& _) b6 p3 M5 M) \4 S6 |
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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)0 @3 u6 R5 Y7 b# N% e3 b0 I; o- H
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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。)0 ?5 V3 V. U0 K7 H9 ~
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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 V; P! d3 ]: p+ X8 N0 A & A+ F+ I: D1 L) o; L6 @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?). t. g0 l, t0 q' H! m& {( \
6 Z, p' e5 r/ K' f* N) Y! j1 i# b) rI 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。)0 r- q- R0 O& j- o) M! C
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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)2 U d5 t) \$ B6 x( D% x2 l0 J
1 E* [* o# Y1 X9 _% T& mWe 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!) 8 I& C1 t* P* i r% A% e F' q$ q0 Q0 J" i8 M2 a
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); i5 [# a! F3 _1 c2 }3 J
2 z- I( p6 K+ s+ Q! m" D1 I: xWe 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。) 4 x" a& k" s% ]; Z1 o/ h1 W9 S$ t) r* I/ n: g1 D
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?) 8 {/ P. B% J+ [1 t, P& x3 s. ^& K S Q
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! ! d- O3 h2 f. ]( Z! w; x. w ' h. Y" q* z6 j/ Q" d* |4 t 8 o V$ O7 I+ K/ L2 P% }4 Z. O8 e/ ~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。5 j" j# o- v) S3 n" }# e
% v3 a9 K: p# W. s例如: : ~" u) a W1 H6 @0 A% p: C4 d: @ . H9 W0 d. z/ a z( ?) pAt 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 `7 O7 m$ }' M6 {2 O% Z6 F/ }4 K! e, W+ L) S; m! [" E9 H, Q
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) 5 L. y: ^7 E) q$ E- T2 `5 C ' X! p( R( [8 y* OI 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)+ `# p1 E3 W# W' \# S& J
0 i# N ^' {1 s+ Z" T' |6 O( cHe 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)" }* }- f+ |2 r7 ~1 L
6 L) Q' v. I# ~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 E% W. @6 M8 d: l" k+ K% p5 S9 F* D6 i) T( Q2 z( V
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) ' N2 F% }2 x, w; v- N. k8 S) W; e4 F; f) h- k' x
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 2 ?( }% N# d$ d, @8 y9 N' m : @" H9 i# T6 o1 B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: ! r; c- @" u! w8 B3 i - U) D3 d5 H9 f% F5 C5 NThe 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。) # F1 ?( p) o% Y- H * P2 _! I1 h7 j: r8 F# dThe 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.)6 n. A) H' L$ Z2 I
+ f# @/ W3 E- j! \; \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。)9 y* t/ n, `+ s B$ |9 b1 V
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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) * [. i% w3 ~9 Z' _9 L6 w) n/ O% M0 A$ s0 A7 S! J6 ~
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)/ B4 B. o8 ~0 L' R l
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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). z9 G c2 v/ R% H+ x7 j. r
/ r3 J. N* ^2 Y, S" R2 s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.)1 i. j" Y1 x7 k- j% ~
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 U& O: b; g/ Z
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* F0 ~5 R' \$ r7 g. n3.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」。. Q6 `$ j% P( r4 n5 Y
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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) ; h% U% d( ?: J; A* F( z. S* }. z6 R/ Z$ {+ b
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)* H! ]4 k. m: p: l& y& Y4 g R
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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) 6 S( Y7 |+ X; @: f8 x* U e: G3 b9 y; X! E4 m: T! f
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。) 0 h4 w, P* T. U3 }$ Z. H7 X& ]0 l0 @* f7 `# 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。) 3 T& ^( l: U/ d( ^$ _4 N0 T- g B2 g# l s, b2 ?3 M; ?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) o" p" c4 z+ l
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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) " u2 |3 ~ ]) V: f7 O* o 9 q& L; y. Z! LStewardesses 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。)3 @2 M( R0 J) t* ^
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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。$ I' U# t/ Z& _! A/ j- g8 B