本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " j* I3 ~' K/ O3 L( @ ) Q- Y$ b" `; S: n转帖0 d; l' {' b/ e$ c) l
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) 1 w+ _9 p6 d9 c ]* {4 x0 l1 @5 t4 W. {1 C
例如:9 \9 u( H' K# L$ L/ z( \# e! B1 w
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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 r" F3 ] n' d
9 y/ m) m; k* l2 ]4 ~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。) * k. n9 R; B' W7 E- i% I6 A/ z) T0 s+ _
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) a) O/ y* O2 L+ C- _! L( u/ K
) |3 W6 T3 ~, \6 VThe 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?)) W$ e9 Z6 g/ J% u7 p6 ?' ]
6 Y7 V- i! ^8 QI 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。) 4 K+ I7 H+ o8 d" h" N4 \5 W$ k. ]% S+ C% G: I$ O( y
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) % p- E9 ~! U# i/ \9 ]2 i+ y# t) U8 A5 X% t
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!) % D4 e0 M% V& B4 N) S1 w; ]) | Q' H1 p8 x9 G% tThe 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)' K; V; O& p" m9 O( y" L
& m# ^( D7 ~1 F, ?' 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。)( L2 J. G$ v$ Y9 h" q& y
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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?) ; j: g4 {% b. l& X; x' h 5 L4 W+ g) Z: h0 H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! ' P* F* u$ ^9 x; a& p2 `6 T) Q# ~8 w; E' z- E, `: E, I
$ U. p l/ z2 L5 T s& z3 H& x# L2. 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* J1 z! }* u/ d
0 i0 Z" g; `& J4 l a/ F例如: ! m4 |5 X* f* H T3 A1 K# B6 J! I k' h: Z
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) 5 o2 y7 c$ K- `5 I: J8 ]; i4 r% h % g9 Z* k5 l% c7 o% Z( U- b. sDespite 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)3 M# R: n' Q( A
* X: o }* ?. h# |/ t+ aI 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), w% h& P6 L" d- }7 c
, O4 _6 x/ S7 E' \2 E& t" s- VHe 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)) D; S! V6 N8 M% [$ ?" C
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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)% R. K' d/ Y( t; ~7 a/ h
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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)2 n2 k* \8 J8 M& b) B. v7 [
; m# E) d9 k) o) L& PI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)7 X5 Q5 K! U8 s+ P0 I+ N: g
2 F0 V6 }+ s6 E 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:. e; [* _) L1 m v7 p
& `# f2 K( x! P4 E5 {& @9 E* U! lThe 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。) 2 v2 }, Y8 ~5 D9 B* p; K% |! j! ^8 o8 R& v! K3 l7 t. z
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.)% w) I( r" u- P, ?; V2 ]# Y$ 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。) N& }4 ?5 d% Y+ G( A: A8 g6 J4 z n3 b% C
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) 1 v0 t& E$ ~0 ~4 L& F% R - `1 G, a& E5 g* N: d# gWe 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)- d4 l8 t$ Q% W! x2 T
2 u7 g9 r7 L4 j% v( S- AEnclosed (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; }4 Y/ z! D: `. R3 z: P8 ~; \6 F* K1 n+ V( X) C
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 i& V% i, ^+ C( ]7 {; T7 P1 Q 1 z4 m5 I5 H* I3 F! o) G此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 ] `5 Z2 d$ t3 o9 [$ d6 Q5 i, r) ?' N9 A7 l7 e
( N' Z) W& ^* M! S3.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 T, D- Y: @2 t" C4 _! b- U9 V3 e& o6 S% _# _' G) f q2 }
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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)# \( W3 \6 P/ P. H
- C, ~/ \+ L |) Q+ O+ W; [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) : n3 e1 F# e9 m) Y9 N . T5 P3 B8 x2 e/ ~, eThis 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)" D/ P: d' ~; ~/ \2 \5 Z+ R
, n0 V V5 `2 }8 d) z1 d0 VHe (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。)* a W* Q. `. }0 r
0 l5 y0 s6 k1 b. C1 K8 {. dMany 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。) : ]/ H3 s5 {! e' _ ' f/ @% }- a v# E/ w FPolicemen (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) 1 Y {* u+ {) l; O' a# }) Y % x* b8 l5 F# t2 {, _% \! p9 uCongressmen (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) 0 A6 i6 I) Y9 z9 Y) f - P2 x$ y( g0 {0 M+ V7 [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。)& j5 I3 i; c6 S4 D, c2 W6 J/ J
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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。$ G( Z6 \: C5 U( \
2 s% o" |" Z# H. k# I, @8 ]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: 2 T1 A+ j) R, p5 {4 ~9 a 6 [+ {0 }, a; F" s* i: C' Q/ K- Q* 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;% `9 s* R- G5 g8 L" S& W1 r5 r
( |5 D J v. @: @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;1 Z- ?6 D# l6 [( {* T
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! ~6 k/ O1 V: v3 A9 P: I" i% ?( X % j, T' a! M- |% `7 b7 Q: M) m$ A对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;8 U5 T D# j0 F0 k% |/ }9 h8 J4 w
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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:7 u, b5 W* `) |/ ]' [
4 Q% N4 P0 O; d7 {! j- 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)。 9 B6 ?% N. o/ a8 _' r : H9 q0 M+ f* H4 @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)。 / e: V( M2 [& i; u