本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 g% F2 _. V# ]
, ]; v0 k+ v& c% U- V/ R 转帖# [. `8 B+ e- O2 V, u$ ]5 |
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 ]4 c9 {2 U( u9 q1 p, G: o1 K$ X& Y / S, E) r+ | Q2 q3 C4 `例如: 3 P. ^8 P* k6 b. l- [( V* P. Q* C" a+ A# i
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)9 I- u# c6 J+ ?
) }: Z" }+ T, x& XThree 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。) / x5 M2 d6 k! b9 N4 v8 W+ a 1 N6 f6 x6 ]: F* R7 IThis 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)5 e3 j4 x, C0 T% G$ z/ `
6 I, E7 ?# z, v
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?)0 _' F! y+ W* k8 z
+ |0 ]' G6 q% k F$ v. oI 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。): A1 M+ P" S- U' S9 Q- k% a
6 }5 j) E" _; z0 Z
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 r% ^- \5 I& ]: | M" H/ T
: j2 A0 j' V5 A0 Z% g5 V. r/ ^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!) 3 _( F5 }1 [7 H# s: W% q6 v. ~' ~7 U' L* X- A. K4 c9 O
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) . T; R2 q+ V; N, F5 ? {8 K/ S; g# G* o$ F$ x1 c- ]2 O4 h
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。) 7 V4 ? c% P6 K9 r4 L" O8 ~* w$ M) B9 P
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?) * |- n3 m1 Q8 S3 E+ j" g0 _3 B* O7 E! y0 ^. E
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!: B$ S- h5 H- }7 {; n
; P/ y" f* z7 e8 O+ l8 M : U- T* c" u3 F# P" v2. 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。 ( Q W% w& p+ w* u8 f S+ l- E. L; Y) Y/ U
例如:# X5 N$ j' T1 ^
- a, j+ d- h2 b' I Y
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)0 ~6 A0 t6 M. m2 m. m) T# l
/ w5 |4 z5 z! ^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 ^9 M- W1 W( p! q1 s0 I0 H% Z* x& q- B* y$ j
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)# Z3 K- T$ s# G" G
g' I2 f: A$ J7 ]7 ?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)5 @. N9 ~1 |6 x
' @1 ]' ]" w. B5 wIn 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) 9 Q$ e; m! {! R1 J2 K" q) ]7 g. w' f+ ^ / \/ S9 j: n Z$ e' J8 i8 IShe 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). d' l7 ^: c! B. ?5 M& s
9 _9 X# e% W4 f- s5 `+ L, b4 g$ W
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " p' Y$ O ? a" C# d6 v8 F8 c: d1 c' N, a9 u8 }: g
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:& ^5 U( z0 S! C9 c
0 X3 U6 X0 c1 @) f, i6 I8 t% g4 x4 }
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。)/ D) q4 A/ N" |1 B
& y8 z* [, o, Z) o7 r% gThe 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.) % a* T5 a# l B* `6 p0 S0 l5 F; _+ q/ j, C; _) |- a' D$ x5 u3 \
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。)4 P: p/ d" h7 H& l! e" K
# }3 y5 P% F/ M- v0 N" X0 xHe 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)4 x2 p- i3 V, `6 V! n( @
* o9 i' F" p8 |9 F1 a4 ~
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 ~; |( p. g. ]- w2 ?7 A
+ \: P2 z+ [) O1 T5 A7 v
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)1 e( K) E, g- W% p1 l V3 [
3 ~7 A. P5 g) q9 O& t7 ^3 r0 \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.) ; z, {. p1 H0 K3 N1 l% S4 T# w* I4 B$ f& G1 M7 E/ P6 j6 Q' F# @
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 C P$ c" Z$ U! @, J" e3 L \* ?+ L1 t: p7 w9 H/ K
# P- U$ c, [ m5 i 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」。 , j3 o+ j1 \/ A 3 M8 t% \' r5 ^3 v7 p4 ?例如:. `% U% P' K- S$ ^7 i* ^' K3 R
" f3 m- S- I2 f. _) x
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)3 ] y3 I% @4 t: m
) T ~. f' v$ S6 a+ dManpower 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)4 s/ }) q6 P* ]; y1 F v
* b; \4 f3 \. u5 oThis 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)8 P& y9 F5 O9 B
. h3 w, }5 s" N; THe (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。) 6 e- O3 D4 ]4 F5 O( s @ 5 n9 T8 H, Y- o& o3 Q# g5 i; Q7 zMany 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。) ( N4 V% @* p5 V) P2 D+ J+ ? - i; k. E" E8 o8 f0 G5 rPolicemen (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)0 Z" }& H+ h2 |/ J" }. K
0 ^7 e* ? R% P( p) O F* tCongressmen (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 D8 Z9 w# D7 x1 d; f
) n! N% o- ?7 N. `' L8 ?
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 z N7 @# h4 v( P" Z2 m4 o
: X w& W w( m* m+ ^
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。6 t& J; j& A- h
4 y& v, x% `2 X1 G0 D+ [5 |/ o
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: # H: ^4 E7 T. Y& b! s2 m - G, J l& A6 M4 t4 T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;- J) o( C2 W x3 `, C% }( e1 E
" Y+ A9 q* t: m+ h* N! P2 p1 {
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;# h0 o5 u- v) V; q: U# r
2 N7 l" d' v6 x0 ?* S
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; - S2 Y/ R1 U {' a- _# o" g y6 S% q, l/ W. |) s
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 m% W: l8 R% ~ ! |' W2 Q" Y* _# f9 E& n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: & f+ i4 m: h- [" p/ s, \$ ~) O& R - H0 j& C1 B4 t% }; X& y5 k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)。 . m3 _3 l3 a' |' p% V, X% k* c) W! R
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)。; u2 a4 T5 ]& X; @. W7 c4 f+ b- p