本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ; Z$ b4 _% o8 d. r3 L% {4 B / }) O1 H7 R/ H. X转帖, c! V3 N& S% r% Z
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) / d. T7 z; r! u% d7 H+ P" H: a; X. _6 H" Y$ K
例如: * E* W, E' b" y: K 8 f" m! I; e* z0 ~, r0 f1 WMany 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)" L" i3 x1 @# ^0 {4 H! H; M1 |! A+ e
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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。) $ o; _) \) m$ w' e . O, [8 _1 @3 m% p0 g" pThis 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)8 n* F9 G; }/ U; ]& f, ^
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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?)2 J4 Q' M& A3 L
) g% b( q$ W) ]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。) # B: A M- ~% L0 W) T' y) k9 n' c8 l
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) , [7 F2 C4 o0 X; y' c* V# c2 }8 B8 S5 z5 s
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!) ]4 |+ W1 @1 d% ^5 T
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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)9 b. g6 W! B7 R3 Z- s
" P, Y0 d" N6 HWe 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。) 9 o9 ]7 e( H x4 a3 j 2 l" v. y" t6 e3 [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?)9 X; Z5 n: {+ [, _5 c
# Z# D8 Y, v+ t! d4 T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!- z! v. o# Y" p2 K. ?; i; A I4 j
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# Y z3 w3 ^1 D2. 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。9 k r& w% b8 T& A
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2 t4 p$ Y9 K' I0 J# UAt 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) / n# H3 u8 Z8 Z3 J R3 g4 p5 a8 e
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). ~4 k( C# v2 _* s- k
+ E+ r. N: v! 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)" U# ^6 N# f% J, s+ Y5 o! q; ^
3 z- x5 i Q; A: s) o+ K8 ~: t SHe 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) , u* r5 I2 H- Y: ?- Y " n' O# \3 N' U; g0 ]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)6 R9 v6 y6 K) m. ?1 s6 v
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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) 0 @: z1 }$ A3 t8 l1 K! D# ? 1 i6 |7 m5 d; V3 rI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 B# x% o: L. v- w
6 H: j0 G' U, a! E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:( Q5 _; o( N7 g% K' W
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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。)' \& g9 P/ @8 {# P O
5 d7 I" f% t# |' N+ ~: mThe 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.) " ~5 h3 G! J* f% u$ g , K: d& L' y4 C% BHe 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。) `3 l* O2 c, R8 Y- i 3 L; O2 ]# d! p1 }/ pHe 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) # O f$ a. a3 m! i' z4 ?8 p+ h2 d1 q/ }
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) 5 C2 m. c' I, n C7 I / o3 z& ?2 ]5 u. K* rEnclosed (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 d: A3 Q* O" S/ y: ]1 D
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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.) ) ~* I$ s& X& t, g 1 O! V: A p; s) v& I此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / x8 i" L4 {2 B2 m6 s" G * c% Y, o8 E2 z$ |" Y* L& O . A0 j, d, k% f5 ~! W5 q3.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」。9 ^* M/ q% B* c2 T2 O
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例如:$ o* H+ z2 S# Y
1 C; w( {3 m# |, u$ X3 bMankind 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) . Z u7 C D ^( J0 A) A- J) r$ I* y 4 m: ? o A6 |/ |( AManpower 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)/ M% H3 ~* [/ @+ w
* M3 l! x9 n8 V' Q; _6 n: R/ _7 d* cThis 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)( S' R( ~% T* Y/ P6 |: n
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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。) 9 D4 ]5 b7 Y z / S: h) S V4 a4 {/ e9 i; c& PMany 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。) ) d3 U% k, S5 i+ W ' z8 l+ _$ n- y9 `2 c- X. y% 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); G7 ?2 E' F J) p; n+ c
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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)( n) u2 F& |3 N$ R; o I$ e$ 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。) 7 x! A5 I& L$ s* \' K' [' a9 i( Z& D/ @8 M$ m. I% c) |9 ?8 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。 $ ~+ s! z9 S8 b$ o C& }) m6 C/ ~
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 ]1 }, ?0 z# [4 s; J R ~8 |# f i
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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;4 N/ h$ |# o6 g
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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; 5 b7 @& s. [; [. @ 9 U8 l/ w2 x! j# n6 z; C+ r a5 H2 }对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;0 ~/ H1 {/ m, q& d n) D& \9 F: X
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - B& I6 h3 a8 w % D' Q5 D9 z( r/ ` K3 H9 A z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: 4 }! @/ e! N& z3 A $ i2 a# F. u/ A; `8 e G$ u$ 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)。( ]/ A9 h8 I( E9 t
! l5 x. l- @. |+ N) K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)。$ H' S; c- k& q1 ?5 c8 m/ K