本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 f/ S/ t G$ {8 H
8 P' H! v. y# n M 转帖 6 K3 P4 Q3 z) t: Y" o! J# ]0 ?! @' 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)- u, J/ G: a! D1 G2 N. ~, 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) 3 k% F% k# o; \7 b$ W+ |5 ?" o" r9 }! L
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。) ; [( o0 s4 w: p, d2 m 8 K# o4 s# c' k- w1 f$ yThis 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) 7 x5 g( }) n: R4 _3 P1 N7 A( q$ v9 V2 y2 Z
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?): W, l) O z U" v R# ]7 B p
; i7 L! R% S- P% P5 P8 o% i! `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。) , @" b2 ]. s0 t7 m3 M% Y0 I8 i+ ` 1 q5 ^( g6 R. w& n1 ?# H1 E Q7 XMr. 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); v4 b9 ]! Y/ J0 `7 a4 I) _5 q
9 E- Z6 e, s# S+ cWe 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!) ( P3 H" f, W. j9 ~6 b+ Z: N1 S) T9 q0 Z2 P
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) 7 K6 o+ s. I: Q; H8 l4 c; ]& U5 ^1 U( `% v
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。) 6 v# q: R, F1 G! Q, ]4 i # T. C. Z8 x9 p) d/ F6 TPlease 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?) # w0 n, W, d: P- i+ h$ g; B9 |4 i7 ~, C: @7 @- Z: M
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! * ~3 `3 b h3 ~* W2 L" a! w0 A. p1 ? ( H/ G( v. w w, N1 T , b- Z6 R: ~$ A/ k' c4 R+ r2. 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。 : F7 q" g7 p5 O9 q 4 j5 I7 K7 w( U- e5 q/ w; [) M例如: ; b: u4 a5 u, D" `) J( U6 b' }( N, O0 y3 r% Y1 E, H7 O
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)3 x6 |7 ]+ R3 Y: S/ o
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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) ; y' u; F; f, H$ D 4 z n; C; C: M' l* }- i8 eI 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) & {9 }2 g, c3 D7 r. H% l- Q7 H# r6 B7 y' N" Z
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)4 k' J3 h, z1 N" Z
$ l8 W, A- Y; w, k. gIn 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)* u q3 @6 N. n
& ~5 f" }0 K' q2 c: p+ @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)6 _, p$ S" O# i/ a0 o
: i$ a% n3 z `7 Q$ sI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 { g, [/ c# f
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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: 7 t J& K: R$ ]; y7 y' }. L % c) V5 x4 Q4 t0 g) n# B6 B$ [5 L; wThe 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。)) r Q% X: h5 h1 `4 z0 N
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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.) ) S; X! G% Z$ K- Z. x t, Z: z
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。) . Q7 |' f- M) t; z$ y6 ? * d; [& [( }' eHe 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)% O1 p6 D% r% q
; d1 ^" ^; m* y7 e7 e8 E0 ~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) 4 x: O" p: J2 Z) f8 h- d4 X j: g/ E2 Y4 c8 e0 i* b, U. h! S/ L7 M
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)* D% ^" v0 a; t5 {9 c! v$ V9 w; T
& `4 P, [" D) P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.) 1 ~( \" ^4 R7 Z 9 g1 H8 a* x+ T* T. f此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - O' n* S3 m. C3 X ; }) R4 k& ?+ P# y( k8 p9 {8 E . ^9 w& m B* O1 h) X6 {# v3.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」。 4 S. A2 h$ F7 j# u$ i; I- ^& d1 x. |1 V( E
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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)8 f: E$ |3 Y i1 s3 u
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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) 6 { ^+ h4 h C l% B. U: _! t' o, ]0 J- h- z# n' S/ R
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) ?+ e; B! E$ C% Y
) b! L; l2 L/ q' J0 u3 e4 `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。) , V" J# f# j, i& T: O4 T8 `- H" t( z+ [: l3 I% l" E& [: U7 w7 x
Many 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。) 0 o6 [9 m# t5 r+ G& V6 l8 {2 ^/ [( R$ |/ j7 \) k9 {
Policemen (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) 4 `1 f$ F, i% Q, l' E4 e5 m+ d + W) M/ ~9 T' wCongressmen (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) / a/ J+ @# E8 k( k- G$ u; m3 {* M1 R' N' V( `
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。) 6 X: u8 } b% Y3 Y 8 D( T% Y9 K% g2 }5 |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。1 x4 h" D4 S7 O, G% I$ k9 {7 h
4 V# k5 Y* Q' C2 f% q S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:/ S, t! D9 @- A$ ^" q- P& g
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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; 5 a' K& Z) c8 ~& q) J$ d5 ` 2 f4 b9 @, ^0 Y5 Y2 s) {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;+ R7 I: g- J+ m: u8 S& N) J9 z5 L