本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " t$ y. f8 w7 G& S* `1 z# ~- ~/ I) ~) ~$ ?" B3 V: L 转帖 " I1 A4 Q y4 h! W1 ]. X) i& k# U& S1. 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) 9 |/ D+ @" x9 ]. L# W! J' o- p! M- P8 E- o, t' y4 ?. `6 \4 N: I
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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 G0 W' O2 Z+ c9 u
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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。) + ^ z7 L+ I$ K* N* I, O! A7 o9 L" r
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)9 [- M! X7 |9 _6 j, J, K& }* T
4 H+ M' c% `6 T4 z) V: d: [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?) " P# _* ?/ B/ K1 n, }& G+ I ! b( _: a' X! K+ o+ Y" SI 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+ ?) V! w. _9 M9 O' d# Z7 _
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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( n# b; q( |- |. _1 F% J* S: N4 Z! {2 z" m4 I: C
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!)5 j1 |+ n: I) Q% n" D# g
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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)" N0 n; y# }4 r z' [- J: @
; [' H" |/ k5 f UWe 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。)# \" d/ S* e$ f+ {% a* O' A
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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?)- w4 t0 ?, \# S& y* r) R7 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!1 s1 i, _" @4 W- y- z+ e
8 l) E8 ?( k! P E# N1 f5 ^: |: j. 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。" p# ]" I$ p: ~, b- U
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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)' o j3 z. ?+ u
3 i- l/ R2 u- n1 b P6 i, EDespite 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) - Z, Z# c7 Y! L; _) ]( e- L, E; [$ P
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) % d/ ~ z' V% @4 M) ^, u" [& f* m& F7 w( ]7 s& s+ ]# f
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)3 l! Y, ?) J% X) E( [5 L5 z
: @ I" q% R' j# H2 @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), X* h; e$ O' a3 z. }1 g
3 d" b( r y2 `# |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)3 G) c* a+ T' e) J h
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : j* l |2 o3 E+ F- k j$ C 4 n9 C' o: b& E% N5 a8 d) T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$ z* K- D- e4 k. g/ ]8 s+ V6 `. n. i0 _9 f$ O& R% p
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。)4 c, C& n/ U: ^& l
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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.) ; @0 n4 `) x7 L& ]- B8 j 3 p3 a% b G# O$ zHe 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。)& p: j/ D O5 H' h
) |: L8 W" O) ?8 {4 o& THe 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) : U6 k* z0 X, m/ o & j3 { S& z+ R. DWe 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) : q& O' u+ c2 u2 f9 x+ t* @; D" ~7 p2 M, `: Z; E2 ]9 J7 P- `
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) + K, L. Z. q3 L4 C" u9 |8 E 4 V$ ?8 L: S$ }9 N& B/ Q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.)2 x2 _- L4 k0 u, w
# r. s1 [. i ^) }此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 6 r' O; l" f3 j! [ : {" {# |$ N; s L8 s$ H' b# y. N& {/ _# A! _9 I7 @# R% g 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」。9 {# ?7 ?+ O5 f, w& [" f9 Z
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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) 7 i$ b" E6 i0 w6 a3 Y% J. U2 O' ?' r0 L! w/ o
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)% K: ~. m! z5 b7 L% k% p
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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) , D9 `+ O7 s0 N; L9 n- f % S# z+ n0 H- 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。)2 g, ]* M$ L, I8 O5 K9 R: v+ m
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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。) 9 g% v: o5 j) h " H* H. K. v. [. s+ ePolicemen (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) ' t- N- @+ u, i$ _ - }1 f6 N1 r* @: F4 Z8 CCongressmen (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) 7 Z( f- c" X' l" u. [4 g! H7 x0 I8 k+ N+ P! q' O7 X
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。) 4 L. g' F7 Y- i3 p+ E+ n! d* T S9 `
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。 X( j) w. W. |6 B5 G8 z \2 k2 Q
; m; E0 o% [3 b6 w+ a/ _4 G3 ?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: ' d5 B7 m/ N4 N9 k4 |: @' e1 N$ G/ h
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; % U% Q' D& w7 ?% ~2 v, ], K6 j* E H3 m: ~1 K* ~" }+ {
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;0 K- F4 U8 h$ K- z
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; " f3 n. k( |+ v' y/ ~7 C& M* A' d, Q1 M1 n6 |* k, P8 K# Q1 G* V
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;4 ?1 l" ]1 K4 |- f
0 [4 J( a* h9 S, n+ z. S7 z. v8 D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 w: h" \: V& z& d2 v
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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)。 1 H& _4 x5 d8 J- R: S0 K# ~* v# I" B X% \9 ~/ Y
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)。 . V9 u# ]5 I0 |! j7 J( [7 s+ L" K5 Q