本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 `+ V1 V1 _/ t4 D2 r# ^' i: l" D: n3 s% S 转帖7 N4 [. o0 r- x9 ]) B& P7 {; S
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) ' j4 j% z; t4 L1 O' W: K9 R 7 j) Q' }3 E- Z; F; a例如:: X- r! s+ e" z- J e1 @8 _/ Q' M
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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) , \4 @6 z1 }7 h& e O3 x! ]& s6 `- h6 f* A j
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。) ' }) q: i# S- Z/ H3 T2 Y2 ~) }
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)/ v8 X0 K$ [8 t; e0 G5 l
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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?) ) I4 G/ `' Z9 _4 R7 m' v$ C/ `" W, d: k7 f
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。), Z0 V4 @3 n& C' g2 x
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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)1 D) r5 q0 ?& N* F7 ?8 w
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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!)4 Z2 ~# ~* ?; k; k9 Q% a0 ]7 M
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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)$ s& N( ~# x! {# T1 T, K/ m
) t; _+ {1 \4 @' tWe 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。)4 A$ v9 ~3 {' g. Z9 A5 L1 @
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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?) 7 O2 q0 F, I* z c; O9 A* n; _# Q. L" d8 K% y! U
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!+ ]6 E% e1 e2 _- h; V
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9 [% J! k$ h0 V) g; b 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。 3 h6 A; X$ I& X7 s9 Z4 u" k E4 F) O$ n* D
例如: % l8 M$ L; m; r' J5 K% M; B4 V, J* o2 o; M9 _1 L
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) 1 X9 b6 c1 L& _+ e: ~& Y" F2 q) s E3 r0 g1 O! g# f3 T9 ]+ s4 U7 K
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) 0 G. D1 ^$ ^7 z e' ^ # ^/ X$ n$ ~+ Y$ b: k* KI 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$ |6 ?' ^# S+ x* {3 O / V* W) E& a5 E, d5 kHe 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) / S3 e6 d5 h% }3 w. Y; V 8 s7 R2 K6 ~$ e3 aIn 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) , M" q% ?7 \% a T+ c- ]2 L - e. L" c s4 j0 x: [9 kShe 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), f/ X. K- D# z$ K. X# P2 v
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 d( Z4 L/ l$ r- S* f/ X; w
8 Z1 B7 ~- j% E6 d% F! V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: 8 P4 \) ~7 ?1 A1 P$ C# O L 1 B' [( \) r1 J. W6 I5 mThe 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。) % f( O' f3 G* g& N 5 r* L& M$ r" N$ X; M% S4 }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.) 1 N! e) y+ K# l) K0 |& {' H" Q4 H% k2 N- O5 N
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。)5 ]# v3 p5 \7 M4 l
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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)4 u# [) P+ `% v2 U( E) w: t
9 }0 Q2 ^5 H) P' R. H! s" pWe 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) 8 g" m+ O+ d, _, Y, Y8 e' L# p0 O! Y+ s: i
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) % p! \0 P2 J+ Y0 z/ I+ d* r; {# F% q9 O8 O9 V3 d% ~, J, e
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.)& Z7 r& c# m0 V4 t- }' x
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - U7 t9 u b+ `0 U ' g9 r8 I* s* |3 ^6 z : Q* Q. O7 {9 E# b8 H' @3 M3.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」。 % w: u1 P1 f& N. P / T2 e8 d9 Q, `5 o* D h例如: 7 w( W8 s" }, [0 [' n; r' P " B4 e& F9 v7 r+ M6 s6 n" MMankind 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 E9 h" h) b2 i, { ! H7 A+ t4 t' l1 R) b0 }: LManpower 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) 2 A2 q: s7 Z' C 9 a2 X/ `8 e0 ?( L6 |# Z$ s: T; N5 bThis 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) 9 V6 c. a5 r: U K2 ]; f5 F% ^4 x8 o) F) t& D3 i0 _
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。) 2 ~( y5 G3 i% R; C; g$ A/ G' z2 H; ]; P0 O$ L! O$ `( g2 o f% Z
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。) $ I- t2 C( H: n1 F; J7 }3 n 5 ^3 |& S+ B# I1 XPolicemen (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) $ c! u6 J. F" b4 B1 d# Y: U1 l6 O3 U2 L! S
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). {+ d6 x; k/ ?$ e+ {/ l$ F) m
, _8 U( ^5 j0 N# |. m' h4 K2 ^$ ]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。)! E8 }. D9 U* j6 d5 I- N) H5 S
. V K. p" R }% G |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 r5 h Q9 |# V, K
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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:4 G2 x- V. e3 O
$ a8 g& L+ T! L& t4 H f: o5 Q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;) @: P8 g9 E9 v( p
s9 G' n9 _4 }4 R+ f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; , a+ _- D( O1 X3 c) \8 W- s - u8 |) {8 G4 {, Q( q- F. J对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! }: D) `! k' g# j; _, h2 |
# ^: {0 R- t% C对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; * ^! i8 R9 [+ k4 w / z! _9 W# A/ p" M5 |% k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: 9 W0 k2 r2 ~+ O+ _/ P7 } 1 `1 V1 \# J$ x, v, b5 I9 P }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)。 ! F# E$ @% p+ R; X) i- T! T) a ! [5 j, K# I& h7 j% j% V7 k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)。 , c3 f1 l; [+ u5 f! I K1 Y