本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ; U/ {6 c' w# k. f+ V1 R : |8 h( N6 H0 c. @' v+ ~: t: A转帖% r s3 @$ i1 [$ V- i+ F2 w) {+ m& K
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) 9 y5 V' [. [) D& r! J7 p) @& e0 [! c3 P3 S4 h. S. W( L, ?
例如: 7 M- R' c; O' W6 k% c0 I Z/ t , c% e9 x; ]4 u! b0 o, a, M! c, iMany 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) % s) }7 X0 u I' }# U F. w q+ }
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。) 1 W9 X- S8 ?7 `& J: m 3 G" v7 z. C! X9 N# x7 WThis 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)3 q$ T5 V* Y, {5 S8 ~( Z
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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?) ; a! s7 |3 j& k @5 M; f ( p8 |: R) f0 h$ ]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。) 0 L- H- {% e# l$ H9 n7 k4 S% E/ j) s/ V# b( u" V2 N8 U
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) % M) L3 |* P6 {3 g% I& N. @/ x. ^0 i0 |0 X; s7 F6 L. C3 A$ _
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!) 2 r4 C) o" j4 S4 s$ r 5 l+ Y4 P- L2 Y7 PThe 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)* z! ?6 z- u; E
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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。) ! o" ^4 @& a$ Q x0 [3 j* Q" z # G8 L+ [+ [, t! e& bPlease 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?)# T' M+ Q. Q- Q& O. r
9 @0 E- g+ S( l5 u/ p+ G% 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!9 d7 o( V' ^2 ~3 n. G
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. L3 V5 u6 W! j. i. l% [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。 + B' a4 k$ E3 I) p* F/ O % T. R% P( G% _7 l& S! K5 e4 O例如: 7 E. q; w( I& O. I) \# B7 ~( u: O! @" ]/ X% f
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 p f* n1 Q( C7 d* \ ! k: ]) j1 w" F, {% }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) 1 H1 j2 S' w2 e- _, c3 O. X1 n. F $ v! p) f2 K- |( F5 \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) 9 V' n$ t+ V9 S3 R5 c: H' y) _/ R U' m( o7 m0 u# n
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) : f+ g% n; p! B) c8 |9 Y m7 L; c) u v
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)' u. k# ^" i3 t4 S
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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) ) b) w3 S( Q* a) R% ^4 H 5 \8 x2 _8 K2 z( u5 N+ g4 RI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : Q6 [( ?2 y/ y+ \& X7 s8 N, M/ u2 L3 Y2 L
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:- A/ A1 Y7 c5 z
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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。) : p. H1 `! H: b. @: z7 O & D) K' s8 t0 m1 w# M0 t' }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.)4 x# d- a# h( L! X4 q& h% Y
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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。) ! ]& ?2 u9 w7 m 5 X8 \8 @- ?; h9 q' VHe 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)! o- Q8 g3 f6 d, L- H
4 L1 g6 D* ^/ f# RWe 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): t1 W4 Q6 J0 G7 U, i
" t% \, g* P& ], b' sEnclosed (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)) Q3 Z4 `+ s: N
' E" {9 ~/ e4 J" o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.) 4 j+ j0 n( H4 I+ N8 b ( A) w- Z" N* o6 b, c6 j此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ! [) N8 Y; h/ b+ I! ]% E1 p5 G / R0 d' {& ^4 I H0 }$ [ ( K4 ]3 ?' s% B" Y2 q3.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」。 2 O; y9 {$ L5 h2 T7 u: b 1 b0 c) S! b' A1 H& [例如:$ E: Z( w: e9 O' r' F
+ F5 O7 `: b2 I( i$ {: g, h# y6 }, kMankind 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)- y0 ]. b9 K0 { c" \2 H& T! v% u
" v5 |+ V- g& ^8 |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) 0 c7 `" |) G8 B# h2 T% S# M - \( |, ^, B' V/ p4 h4 \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) 2 i$ o) m4 I8 d" K' w, e8 B' c! z 5 z7 x, B; U0 v! cHe (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。)8 `+ \: s( g% {9 Q6 h
% ]9 ^* U; E+ t. u. h: O' a4 kMany 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。) ( C+ P" v$ Q8 \* L 4 @4 J+ F. G- c# ^' {8 Z# 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) & c, Y! ]. N& Z, L9 h* j! A; `/ U7 v- ^% B: I* Q5 d
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) : U3 n; m$ S# S4 c' W* ~* y( \" R3 [5 u, z% G- L
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。) 8 [; V) `: a. K$ P* [ 4 ^4 C. G1 s: @9 p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。 $ V* ]$ A) K4 X) F5 b) p# k( u. y- p- n3 s7 W) P& }. {
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: 7 _+ b, b! ?8 B & k! M0 R. l8 X% G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;2 h" g2 I2 _* O- G" z7 d$ n! I( w
4 @! m5 H0 s* W9 B; O2 y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;2 |( [# w9 [# Y
' g4 @- p+ [7 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)。 ! @' I2 }% r6 A