本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + L. W8 r' R6 R
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1. 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) - P1 A5 m2 F9 L# u( h+ w% m' q3 E* T1 K% r4 R
例如: 8 F5 B& [- f. i8 }( X 8 V/ r3 ]% s" c5 }) e; 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) # q: I& N' k2 r% }! n" s % M+ B$ @. [+ }- X& ?' q3 EThree 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。) 6 K# Z& ^, E5 X. h" l" ?5 D X 9 x/ Y" _$ _. ^3 XThis 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)* _* _) \$ e' f+ r0 I
0 t; c4 Q. C4 c. P" @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?) $ q7 R2 z& [9 q# P8 H) I& s $ k* c% G9 k/ F9 HI 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。) - O8 y1 x1 l# f" d* a& {( S* s' f3 P# v
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) 6 f5 |2 A& w" \+ q! A 8 M6 A" t" S7 XWe 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!)$ j# N6 a' V# p# m) X( f9 s
( j6 f/ Y- R9 u% r1 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) L* f3 h: A0 D! H
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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。)% l, K5 J/ ?- P6 Z7 B; P- n
- ` M- l% h* \0 y# u2 [: M# qPlease 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?)7 N y, `# h5 L4 j7 v9 J( Z
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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! , O; y8 n. j$ M+ m Q0 G4 e, i4 L/ f2 M. F% a# M8 s$ u' C5 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。' h q. `- D1 C8 g& x
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例如: " t: a; O X% I6 F% R! _7 a# `" \0 p' d0 o( ]: v% E
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) % i3 f+ I H, b2 L ) W7 Q' e3 q& ~7 ^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) 9 o8 ?* U h/ o0 u: S 0 X. x& y5 Z* j% sI 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) o# I' B! U+ t" q9 a0 U& \! c" C% x& K$ g
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): b2 O/ Q) o8 x1 s8 W
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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)/ n& J* I8 H. g3 C" Z
2 X2 r+ ^; B5 `! XShe 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) 2 @! e( l q1 o* \2 ^" c$ H. a9 n: T, Z# Y' V; m
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % o3 c' S- e9 V1 v4 w3 z \' i+ ^* K% \, y0 O, q0 W
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: 5 h+ x9 J, i8 F0 D& B5 _& A3 U( q 1 A& j/ M' T: k% wThe 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。)6 g0 j8 p, v6 w+ s5 _
% |5 y6 w' R# z4 D" 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.)) F( k- o# {2 N. y. C y
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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。)2 G" {! f2 c/ Y+ ]- D
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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)7 @ d H% Q u9 j
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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)/ A, s8 x, J+ J
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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! Z% o0 J- }0 F& r& G* b
1 }" [$ t2 V- a2 v: 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.)% n( v1 x, r$ j4 E
8 P3 h% E0 G! i& h& l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" n' P* x8 `, A) m, [; M& y
& Z$ p# ]% u# u$ lMankind 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) ) U/ K# p; W2 C& f3 o . Y: \ H4 B$ L- E' u, F8 z+ _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) # a+ J, P; c; D3 t1 o% x$ g3 F2 P+ w' C; x2 S, |9 d; T
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): T. B2 ]- P& D* n C* J J! r# V
. x$ ~0 w- {" Q8 NHe (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。) 6 k" f; o( Y5 f9 M1 c) w9 s" L' @( t! N# Y! s% D6 t
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 s, i \& Q% t* |4 Z) p# A6 @
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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- R! U* N* I9 {) f' H1 X9 Y) Q# Q. i- j
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)+ N/ J5 w+ F; A z) _) K5 E
4 W" `$ \, x2 R7 R3 ]: C9 V" \1 T/ \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。)! X S6 ?6 u$ W0 v
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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。" a5 N! ^# M* L; V# Q3 a8 X
* ^4 y; R+ X( e6 n- 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: 8 c7 _7 u+ \4 B6 n* X- g& `" Y g' [0 { + x$ S- D' K5 k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;' E% C! w( H- y4 p H) p: A
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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; + p- v& p! _( A X. q+ ?: q* P) q. c, {8 f) s8 z$ A- o( x
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;: ~: ] r7 b& h" {) E
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;/ @" D# i/ S# C9 m% X
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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: 1 [, o* ^- V6 }" Q6 b' p v6 q. F# Y3 h6 h: k7 x: v
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)。 F5 s/ Z. q# `+ v- t, M, k, T
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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)。3 T) j+ v8 ]2 B& B6 X0 J; V4 p