本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 w5 l2 H" G' z6 s8 T) i
6 u/ l' h4 V4 i+ a/ [转帖 : Q* |. D6 v3 e- H1 r' Y$ 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) ' F% @& e% i+ @8 [0 M $ d" \9 B$ v5 K' d例如:$ M9 B7 T6 q+ d0 s- v
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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 W; q1 w' o/ ~6 S0 Y2 p
- w- t1 F0 R8 D; `5 @2 xThree 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。) D1 e) R, V& N5 b
, q3 e: h& O" B$ s9 kThis 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) 2 Y3 [8 b9 f$ C 3 l; W: V4 M' [( T0 _5 fThe 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?) 7 K0 u( h4 @. D: [7 i3 U 8 U. y" O6 D+ ~ d7 z1 G, M' eI 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。) ! R3 l1 d) R" {" p7 ~# y0 _0 Q8 ?! y4 n6 h/ @( m( d4 v7 E
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)% u% W$ E$ h% g, y) K* v
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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!)' b6 n4 H) L9 L, A; f3 F
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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) , {) a4 Z2 I1 C$ V G- Z. w * C, h& F% g( N* tWe 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。) - z! @. a* T/ _: Z' p% V 6 r9 k3 w) e" n$ Q" x% dPlease 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?)2 I7 a. c1 i+ I- X
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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! 8 y7 b7 e6 c5 o * ]/ T7 O# J, v4 s + a4 Z" \4 L k1 A2 x2. 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。& R; q& W$ O& I
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例如: $ U5 h: O" U$ U4 P : [1 A$ W/ a& f# g( d7 q1 k$ e* yAt 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) & Y2 [( y) w5 I: n ) Y' p! J( U c% DDespite 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)+ x: d( T: W3 j7 t" f# | v; F, V9 C3 _
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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) ; h( d5 }/ c) L( S) |1 p5 j |. }/ R" }5 P- W6 ?1 d! k
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) ! n& F: M' Q4 N& F+ t( B* l' M2 N0 i1 T
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) $ e% G7 x1 }7 O# Z6 Q$ g0 m# y* |2 N- j l4 M
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) 2 i8 K* H% s: m2 c# W2 w) w* z" C& B$ v- @0 J7 Q- _
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 y- b' `# `1 C' B3 z' Y5 p1 f
! z5 Q0 r1 n# L4 l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:/ j2 Q/ r% p7 A" e+ _5 @
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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。) 6 S+ ^4 o3 M5 O5 l! N / ^3 d% p1 O0 ^$ @, r5 n1 G# zThe 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.)) s# Y$ l6 A# L) M# d
% B$ T0 k5 O' nHe 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。)+ L! V: v- P: ? n) N
0 M: @ _. F# v) ?( l, p0 zHe 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) e8 ~. o+ a Y5 b4 ]
& p* e0 V7 x, HWe 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) & q7 g. h$ i C' B0 C( _6 [2 r" C2 {0 X5 Q% W; `1 G* I/ W
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)& J s/ F/ {6 ^
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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.) 3 q* |) d" j% {* A 6 E/ Y. M9 G. T/ K& H* h0 ~- a- }: z此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。3 U. h3 j0 t2 _( g2 D. e4 J
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6 ] g) \( {$ k B( HMankind 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): O* D6 { e Z# f" f( |
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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) $ n! g( h) u, l% f7 g0 B/ U5 D& C" o: P2 c' U1 c
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) 0 S7 j2 K% x- m 6 q3 M* }! V- u) U8 @; 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。)% E" V- [: n# p4 M
0 q f" ?0 W- ?1 @* S- MMany 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。) - i+ y! ~# B" }' O" n) w 2 i6 T' E% J9 lPolicemen (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)3 b* f- B& t4 \' I( L; x$ O
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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)( H+ J1 }! ]3 G
+ k5 [) {' t1 r3 D; qStewardesses 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。)% e2 G7 ?" \ l+ U, w# v* j
5 d' j3 E; r }' n* E+ n& B9 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。 ! t$ m. n1 k4 c7 T7 D P% h' |) H- o# M7 {- r3 p/ 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:4 x8 \! F: N) |& g9 t: _+ \: U3 D( E
' q* d& a0 A6 u; z% G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; ~7 t0 [. f. F# |; L( o/ h7 L2 W
& u* S1 J @! Z$ [2 @8 R7 a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; ) a9 f2 e0 v$ C8 R * K$ x2 D* i: @3 D# c! |. q对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 1 Z4 D8 n+ l! M8 w/ t# W+ @& \% U: s( h
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 9 [. t" k8 T- l! ?& ^& D 9 Q; Y( Y" r2 {3 i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 C- }; p I2 v+ g% b, }; O& z! U# v; O1 u: Z' H4 j
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)。 4 I/ |! q, v0 S4 N* w5 {$ ^& j3 x" O3 K+ ^& b" S6 q
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)。 % V" v8 y. ^. D# w( o