本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + P. c5 E q6 x' T) ~
2 ]7 ^ H7 h$ G% |转帖 0 R9 @5 ^& g d1. 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) t5 m& Q$ k* U% \+ F0 I, O
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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)1 X# w+ E: x- p5 `6 l2 i. h/ h
& H: g5 C. M9 |1 zThree 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。) 4 c- ~$ x8 ~% x! ] 2 k! e- j3 e/ p4 Q$ }9 ?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)8 k5 c+ ~/ i( b" D4 f7 Z( F8 d
7 ~3 s4 y% }0 V r+ jThe 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?) / R3 s$ U# t) I" N! d8 ? d# t/ x8 Z% x- w5 a* _. ?7 i9 m
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。) ; J) M7 T3 J+ C# c/ v L1 q0 {9 \/ }; ?- P
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)- @9 i2 B" ]# D( a0 v$ [
. p2 T w' I+ { p% s! mWe 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!)2 k0 R) A1 b! j3 Y, Q
/ ?* n7 Q0 A4 l4 p0 MThe 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) 5 P4 t# X; C" ~3 n S' _3 @3 J3 p# [) m) T" T& {$ U* {
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。)) k/ a0 _+ {4 v% G5 ]5 Z7 K* 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 @1 G1 f% U( d7 M) K0 d! v1 W* x! D5 U. s0 ~5 h+ J
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!2 C/ o P+ T& ?6 C8 X) G' \* O
, c9 t. k6 g/ G/ `$ q# B! Z: N% `; s4 F 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。 ! U0 y3 u# V/ d/ E1 j5 O) F" h0 G; g2 j0 u" \5 i1 X1 M
例如:3 F+ M" ] s) A( _! K8 l W
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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)! `/ E7 R7 a' \5 G$ V( j
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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)7 t" _8 j W# Q- x9 c J
9 ]! ^3 ^/ Q+ Q- w0 F5 @& L0 @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) 1 z; w) W4 A/ F4 B' H: |' K2 L' \* H , e, O1 c: Y0 d/ XHe 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 u; i% Y9 L/ c @* N4 E1 Q5 _! I
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) 4 j# l1 N# l# P 1 x5 \' X1 f2 \! B$ VShe 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). t) e8 x) b+ `6 i5 A, U3 }
1 B' q B! m$ |3 c8 ]I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生). i( V; I- V5 P; N
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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:& @- F X2 U1 c6 u) c& f+ ~
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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。)7 F% V/ X4 o+ G1 h0 `
) ^# @4 U$ }; l0 D. JThe 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.)8 w7 d" n% s5 P7 M
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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。): O- K+ ~& @9 }1 G
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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)$ G/ j' e7 H* n+ _
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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)9 m, z. u6 t% e1 y9 C
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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) 2 [! c- b( ]: S1 i1 u9 H5 b5 ^# Y 0 i! @6 b. W1 L$ [# |* }" o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.) * p5 t$ [( {& o) L# F% ?: G: Y " m4 |5 t. Z% Y* M0 r$ N9 r7 I5 o) Q此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。, z7 [1 ^' K9 _* l6 H b% ?4 n$ V& [
3 Z5 c3 L2 H; I f: h! F7 i . a r, m' N2 _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」。7 C; Q7 Q M; x( }; E w3 G
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0 P, V2 }& X; x# q) SMankind 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)$ S6 k! B5 Y' g9 e: d% h6 f& y$ `
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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) ' R: m# C }$ i6 A , g$ e' c) w% M4 RThis 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) ( C; A2 ~/ B5 g ! T# T; R. i( L( gHe (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 g0 b' {( w; F+ H
?2 v: a- r2 c3 p; ]3 D7 iMany 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。) , t4 n3 e& D z) a& ~! E 7 N: f4 t2 x1 n. J @& 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) % `- S2 `: {& F- [1 P( m ) f: @& n$ g. q+ j+ z4 E7 b( k9 `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) ! w1 `( g/ _' J" J- R$ J! \% v2 z1 c( l" x' U d
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。) * |. K& W; x0 F% G: _5 s1 r. V & ^) ?8 q8 n) V4 O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。 " o/ I b- b3 W6 ? ( T( z- v- K- W$ Q2 x4 G9 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:8 W- _! F' C, {/ ?0 Z: g7 q. _: ?
/ Q0 v0 a H+ k) e$ Z1 z9 }4 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;0 j( D! ^4 \$ l3 I2 P1 W, 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;* m7 \: V8 V- ]& R$ O5 }& T