本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 u: G% m, \# c$ `$ a' ^7 O
' F/ S+ K1 G/ E$ Q- } 转帖" G7 C) E5 \& G5 S1 z9 ^
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) 7 k4 L+ u# F& T% A+ j& h+ [7 a7 s3 k9 W, c
例如:( d4 h9 f, Z* `0 z* O) l
: y& o! S# V3 Q) g2 `
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), C- [8 f! r3 w1 D, o2 L
) s& n* p6 U+ I, WThree 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。)* U: K- A& b- z+ Z% y
+ Q) z6 `! {1 L1 |% C# B# U8 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) ; k) z1 G3 a% D! J" G8 b$ E& i0 O5 F6 T5 L
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?)6 d0 j" `3 o4 o. [. Q+ L; v. }
( g% U# ~; @. V5 h
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。) 9 {9 k$ Q# } ~+ M* K: g( I) R9 @' {0 k" e) C* ~. u' p) @ B: Y2 Q
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)1 ^6 X, w; b' m; ]+ U' \& c
) v; ^9 x; k, j1 n) Q
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!) 1 [- {' l. A$ ]& {) n6 j! n $ W9 Q+ C$ ]9 D* ], d6 \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)9 x9 K6 V/ _+ u) `, ]
: X, D& o4 e4 R7 C# B/ MWe 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。) : w3 Y5 o& X4 b 1 a4 {" Y6 h4 ~4 f2 EPlease 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?)) o3 P6 F& O( Y* `* e6 P H
/ k. O: n5 F. G8 j6 N% }
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! - A2 Y6 }1 S, q W, w0 d- _% U& X5 A4 h
( @ ^5 S9 M. A9 x0 n! ~% v2. 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。$ L; g' F2 Q! U
: h! f+ J9 V- V% J" V4 n例如:! } Z8 ~7 ?) |5 p5 S
7 M: Q* V4 ?: L( h+ 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), f- Z* g0 \7 M! n! _+ N: A
) w8 r) ]$ |4 F8 w! J: Z- s; D8 iDespite 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)/ S7 v' s0 {$ s5 W
- u+ a4 A( f3 Q4 g& c0 LI 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)8 v$ C7 r1 c/ P Q, D1 V
4 ~+ T a! B( s$ ^# ~ Z1 z1 ~+ V( nHe 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) ! y0 n2 e3 R+ _. V0 _; T 7 N; N; A' V! V; SIn 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 n5 r# K% P& {
% y4 ]9 K' A {( V; \4 G7 }
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), G' F* U$ X$ U
( p* I5 K1 t& t9 k9 a2 y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' j% X! `! y0 [# {* Q
4 b8 p# k( T. q' z" s/ O
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: L8 o- f2 v6 K7 h
) Q- |, h2 a: D/ [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。)" ?# |4 m2 x* U/ }
8 R A( A! K- ^* R. 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.) $ k$ {* Q+ Q$ G( S+ L# A) \ * [! z6 B" X9 r) tHe 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。)* ]. u7 _/ @/ ^9 U, a, V9 T
" _4 _0 e0 C! x( s- @4 _+ XHe 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) r9 h5 B O3 h' N
* l7 F$ Q& k" uWe 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# ]7 i, t9 {4 M5 _4 O; N
1 E4 R/ F: v; W6 x6 i7 u; D& l( XEnclosed (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)5 M+ b2 K7 Q2 S+ Z
( s& A" [5 ]# d, ]- ?! z N- |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.)" r/ b5 P# _7 ?! ]3 F+ M7 r7 D
4 y0 b6 b" ~* v6 g3 d7 C此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' S; e0 R R4 f; e1 }, { * B5 e4 g# p, l6 U , H0 L% T# u. [3 h3.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」。. t% I3 U: T) x, N
! V0 m+ M$ F- M5 d) s* j- k例如: 4 } [0 h# M6 k2 y1 D) v" H" s3 w0 y+ v5 G
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) . d E& ~" |) ?: G3 J' @& ~& A! O( e- U" E' h9 I
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)3 S0 }) G) g6 C: B& i' g4 `
% f8 c: m$ }6 }+ R5 x' D4 L4 \4 [
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) 1 L$ y0 i# M2 l2 _ 9 M% n/ U' m6 F" fHe (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。)2 h5 _' J$ Y: _$ V- j' E
5 h, N6 b! j" P6 e, e# q+ [( NMany 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。) 7 R( z' U6 i# s* T 9 O& s2 x" G3 `$ x/ P. x' b, Q9 ~1 GPolicemen (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) ( S/ Q( d+ q) R' ?/ b3 A; e/ T. v$ w0 ?4 v8 K, q- r. E" q
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)1 K( ~$ @" x4 n5 n' e5 |* r2 _
& {3 l+ L6 ~% j) l; ~0 c+ jStewardesses 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。)/ n+ O$ o( b& U: Z7 U
& E# G, V& j P! o2 E" _+ Q
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。! D! w- k, G: j- N( H
: o" _1 F' n- ~ I B7 N& g; b4 y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: 6 O$ Z* l( z4 f7 N0 Y+ w8 ]* E/ n6 r- E# h; V$ Y
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;$ k1 @" T& A6 T$ O7 [; e% z
& }2 }/ q2 }7 }& [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;0 m8 r) G% b- Z& }' y