本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - m6 J, t- H& }" |' p* ?% j+ U" [/ w" x8 P1 A/ S% |4 @ 转帖 0 T: o" @% N" k$ A. D1. 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$ U+ d4 R7 g- w" U _8 ?. p5 g8 D
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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); n9 l6 y; W. {5 I8 j
- u8 [$ r. C7 Z1 Z% VThree 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。) ! l/ |) b/ T1 S , \4 L. b1 w/ `' k: u: r8 ?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) 7 `6 F; j4 o% {7 C: K4 x, o0 C6 G- I3 g3 Z+ R
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?); N; I5 a! C) ?6 G
) `: s. h% R' h$ N6 PI 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。) ! A) z, `. X7 D" p7 z. D- w( D' S( b. M4 i q' u' ?+ Q
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) ) l8 D$ Z& S; a i5 q5 `% k: q 6 s% z3 n7 d- |; g. d" }1 O' Q5 \7 xWe 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!) $ h" C" S6 f$ u" E D. |$ q1 Q; A; y/ Y! X
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)* _8 T6 L6 N; m* J0 x, s
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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。)0 {' j, b8 Z; o+ J/ P
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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?) P X& I9 h* Q5 D
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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!! K2 L7 v: Q/ i3 R
% _$ i8 x0 z" u! P$ |0 d3 r- ?3 Y7 X) \" Y/ @ f9 Z) F 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。 9 z( T' \9 b: E; E- s; v 9 V- ~5 u4 \6 U( U! p例如: ) w, x1 A+ L1 q ; p' H" P1 o) pAt 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) ' B; B+ [ X } 1 `; x. v; f: M: kDespite 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) ' ]% t& F0 S* m) S- l G6 D, z! [% d: y8 F% y1 V/ I
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) 6 `, X/ _, W% N: @2 q / D _! F1 f/ s. H% z5 NHe 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)( @; n: D, y& {- S6 a7 k
8 g% r2 S1 {" G8 j* o! ~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); L$ o T$ _# Q& f6 c/ G
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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)5 K" [: q* w. U3 [- ]
3 `5 e* M( o& }I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( C9 s2 C- w, Q' R! ~( |* b6 J5 H8 J) T/ q) e( C0 F }7 S3 f
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 s" \/ t* t( O! W! s4 d( @4 U
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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。)/ {5 N1 G1 q. S
2 |9 j, q! w4 U0 o, @) a& C, a' jThe 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* \- L$ I' d- Y, n- s W ) _" y1 ?8 @* W5 C* |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。)) r* z/ [" D# h
; C7 a1 o: x& V% wHe 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) 1 Q+ O; }7 W% D! V, g. ^ - N% C2 r V% `9 v, }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) 5 U0 u" D m+ r: R$ E4 u4 p7 M, q) M4 S* E0 ?! ]; j
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) + O! M: U, g/ |3 z; k1 d 7 k5 O- o8 O# S0 u- G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.) 6 R- ~: A; U0 M: u, ] & ~3 c, p7 M1 H4 N5 k此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* P( u+ v) s% j% b6 G
; s f! {; H* X. t' R* y* m) f2 p0 K2 y8 J/ y& K 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」。; T8 I! P6 I& w* Q6 q+ m, h
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7 I1 L( v2 t: A( HMankind 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), C- O! `- J, r5 ?+ N. ?$ p4 J
; g7 z: _1 s( a. r9 m; F& P" nManpower 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) & w) W" u i, Y5 z2 y" ^1 k! X, p, E- M
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) ; H& c6 n- e6 R, Y6 B. F6 T$ a! L/ ?& ~; `
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。) 4 g3 q ]9 I" h( q1 e/ X3 c# G) G; z' S& H1 _
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。)$ f( \" X' g% e
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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)( U% i: ]0 X& K) h
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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)# @8 y0 r Z4 b2 {
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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。) 1 I! c4 D2 s& X- ^5 ^ 6 M. Y" ~4 g: o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。4 @+ g9 f% l8 O8 b" A* @: O
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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: $ w+ x* H3 v9 G) C8 \, O V* G% _1 d+ b
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;# s% X. j9 _+ j* N! s% V) L' ^