本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + h+ c% k) ~7 |) e9 M/ e 2 g; X2 I- o M& n6 ]0 u转帖 0 W" y( w( o8 l2 f+ K/ I- p1. 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) 6 E9 n) l4 d& h& t# `& _ # u, Y" y5 M) I! ~7 t例如: 6 s5 H; F' h! m: \ D+ d; e- Q0 b w( {1 M
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)! H. N5 ]5 V' E- O9 }
! ^- J3 j; F$ C! L. ]' 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。) / s+ p! [# D; d7 ?! }. ^7 h3 V. g" t. s
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) - _: B" E& w i. l+ S$ ?+ w# N3 W b+ b% e( G8 `5 r0 d
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?) ' G, V1 M3 h. g7 g3 ^3 P$ q2 w. R3 ]0 P" L
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。)/ V0 D. O+ c& h0 C V
6 @7 B) M' X+ P2 M2 W0 IMr. 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)" d& ~' g; F7 v! l! K+ V& S; R
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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!) % m- C( y0 t" _ 9 k3 ~ J3 d5 T# [+ c. uThe 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)4 W7 v3 [: H( S0 s( F
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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。)' U L- |4 d0 r' s$ d+ f7 G
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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?)1 C" U6 n; Z3 i1 w* k0 |4 h; ~3 c" A
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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!3 j+ J! V- {% Q+ o
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$ e: g; ]4 u& T p" @7 o; W2. 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。 & A! I4 r8 a6 g1 q* W8 ^2 X3 G/ U, i, i
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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)2 C) v. F* a- D9 n& G6 T- f
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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) 3 K4 J3 m/ h$ k! Z : ?" g# {4 ]5 l1 n$ D3 @) i7 tI 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)* V$ o0 o: J3 w$ x5 R; P7 ]" R! c
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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) 7 e4 {8 p O% P/ S' R0 ~ ' T0 | n9 J Q! cIn 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) , [% ^8 D. L0 K% W! x; |+ U1 g" k5 i6 q2 n: m# i
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)! Z, m+ V3 T& e9 T. s2 p) L7 h8 R" Z
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 b: D0 h% D0 C4 G! H4 C" T y" s9 ^ N1 `# I- q5 K 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:7 ]" ?9 g) j$ @2 u4 }5 h: k
, c- ` F( n9 Y) H% w: E3 RThe 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。) . b& o+ M: D1 U: H: _3 ^& r6 E4 v3 D
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.)7 v3 ?$ z6 ?0 [6 Q. @ C3 Q9 P5 |
$ p& Y: D# C. U. P# eHe 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。) 7 k1 s( R% [8 k( R ! h/ ?& @; T. Y+ fHe 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) 1 F- [& K8 s8 V0 t, t7 t. N" h3 U. [
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) 4 I" i0 d* r& _7 A. o) x3 L U! o$ H& z I" v* y( Q( @
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)+ D: `& Q( L% v M* n
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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.)1 {5 N( h' ?4 B
' l. ^! f9 z; M% w6 ]+ ?此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 j. ]# X$ o: [0 |" D
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# ^0 Y7 Z' }. U+ [6 q 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」。 - I, E* J: W& d' G0 N) }' `+ S+ n$ \5 E2 X
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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)+ `: ~/ \& W& x2 ]0 ~
& ^# c0 p6 e* g* ?9 W! EManpower 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)2 b j e: G, m, r7 W
& O: y8 H$ U6 ~, b# i6 Y. ~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) ( L- x: i0 _* o, u8 J( ?! L _9 {1 X7 d2 H5 \( P
He (she) has been a committee chairman (chairwoman) since 1998. (自从1998年他就是委员会主席) (假如把chairman或chairwoman改为chairperson或chair,就没有男女之分。) (如指讨论会的主持人,也可称为 moderator 或 coordinator。) 1 m& t* [1 b1 j# C8 d' k % d' J V2 l3 h2 @Many businessmen (businesswomen) feel their jobs are very stressful.(许多商人觉得工作压力很大)(如果把 businessmen (businesswomen) 改为 business people 或 business executives 或 business managers 就可包括男女了)(凡是单数 man 或 woman,其多数都是 men 或 women。) 2 K( f! @3 y, b6 k+ u3 M* k) ? ' A5 L. C& N4 H& Q- d: X+ A* _5 cPolicemen (policewomen) should treat citizens with courtesy.(警察对人民应该有礼貌)(假如把 policemen 或 policewomen 改为 police officers 就可避免男女性别) & |: l4 U! d# g8 [1 M3 v0 I5 i( H+ b& v: ~# T0 h g8 \' R
Congressmen (congresswomen) should speak up for their constitutes. (国会议员应该为其选民说话)(constitute = voter) (我们也可以把 congressmen 或 congresswomen 改为 members of congress 或 congressional representatives)" q% p3 B/ j- W
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Stewardesses for international regions may get jet lag sometimes.(国际航线的空中小姐有时会有时差疲惫的现象)(如把 stewardess 改为 flight attendant,就能包括男女空中服务员。) 4 H6 N0 [. J4 `! ^% ~* E0 P+ ^: n5 z( H* Z% D. V
同理,我们可以把 salesman 或 saleswoman 改为 salesperson;把 mailman 改为 mail carrier 或 postal worker;把 foreman 改为 supervisor 等等。 6 F% t$ @2 e6 n+ x4 a2 }7 i Z& e; k0 O
当然,一些带有种族偏见的字眼,甚至有侮辱的味道(insulting words 或 slur),也要尽量避免使用,以免闹出麻烦。例如: ; y$ }0 \) X$ Q9 N; ], Q+ s, T9 ^- t+ T8 [" C, w; X
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;. W( Y3 i# v$ M) H4 A# D$ f
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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; 1 N/ l. j9 n; V, j# G4 K% `. M4 R+ G: H2 M' s' K" @
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 N7 _, V2 j. q. ^ q
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;5 _9 M9 F1 [: C4 k! O