本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( A t9 f8 h( R, a5 E" m% r; P' t( I7 m; s( }: H- K q2 o 转帖 3 _ o' r: m; h0 R9 y& T. z) g1. 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)) F9 P5 {: F" @( Z6 w* G
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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) , w$ X5 q1 [* O0 E+ Q, r4 s& M' Q! k: u* a; O
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。) 4 s( \! D8 E. O% M- n& b% D7 x9 I% x( [) ]- z6 M. W( \7 J7 V
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) 6 ^" x0 t% v) n& x! ?( [2 X# f+ J1 H: [0 J
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?) - k1 }% \" B0 r# I. `% K: q3 C, G* W8 d" b
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。) 4 s9 R) O( S/ {* x3 |. b, p+ J5 z3 T1 y, m# j
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)+ |) e- t2 z1 C) Y8 u
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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!) l$ k! E1 a# H0 l3 s- b N " ^& Z2 |8 F z7 u* w; i- RThe 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)* c8 X# _! r% h* g
+ d Y0 ?" ~) `; C4 w! sWe 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。) 9 m; a9 T1 i/ A! g$ m* n3 x+ f/ s2 R1 W. a V- k9 u2 n
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?) ' z9 F, s& l8 ~& I9 [8 U/ {& v+ T( ~- x) C- _ H. s; a
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! 3 X5 u# W1 q- X9 Y 5 h: J7 R. G8 S) e& K! F b8 a! A! O0 V( d* b2. 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。0 }$ G. D- p# t9 S9 X
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例如: / h& n: U/ `- O$ G+ [3 G5 i6 F4 P9 u9 n4 y2 g4 B0 l" L3 [
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) / V. R# J8 q0 ]5 M0 P" i* H& \3 x Y- k* Z. 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) 4 z6 Y) _% J3 g' ?0 t3 E, e0 H: W; A0 p- c% q; ~
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( C$ m P' A* T6 M$ Z" _4 a6 \* ~2 m& R- ~8 [5 N/ r; D
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)+ _7 M: k( c. E
2 A! W9 ^7 ?; P: ^4 M) v6 TIn 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) + }5 Y4 i A/ J" o0 @ 2 o; C [/ e" M6 O9 l' }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)2 M( z5 k1 w& d$ ? F
5 n$ ~+ L2 f9 C- h' x2 h7 s; NI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " E h2 J$ G* v& U 7 S2 p5 N- d( N5 t- C+ x w* B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 B, G8 I$ l3 h3 a1 j7 N
, |3 b7 I' I7 E" _. G/ V( ?: qThe 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。)1 k4 _/ P# C5 w, ?$ x/ A
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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.) / R' V6 ?1 L; R; G. j5 v: @8 g" V& ~. h, _. B# u+ N8 ~) d0 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。) ! X" R% v0 z7 u. z/ B- P2 K+ C 8 e- `# {* }% l6 @, p$ C8 M2 jHe 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) + c3 B- R! I# D) P( Y' U) Q 4 z. G' a7 a. }& }6 k0 `7 u0 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) 3 f B- Y9 F5 u# A; q$ N $ x+ W0 M% m, i, `3 \: 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) : a. ?: h! @; ^1 h; J. W/ | * Z' b9 f3 W0 d7 i& q4 d M$ y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.) - H9 O; L4 J5 Y% M- I [, e ; |% V& N- e/ o8 }0 s此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- p- L3 k+ \5 m1 Q/ l" _
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5 [2 \. y, ]: L% ~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」。 , e% M7 z* F6 B; g( \0 E+ @4 l" A5 t) k% ?' ^
例如: 6 O* w4 X8 Z6 E: R: {; v+ | + }$ c6 `' I+ l4 v4 pMankind 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) 5 P c6 ?/ k. J0 I2 j0 L# y/ _9 B& Z3 X: r4 }
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)6 d& g* T- e! p' j
, |) e4 Q, A0 y8 IThis 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) 0 v m, U; a* n$ O0 ?# D) \+ s1 J4 X) F) m, R3 N/ B
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。)# H( F @: ^! E% \% K( s
$ Y' V; U$ W: o9 R* m( P' JMany 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。)% R6 o8 ?7 O% b# E3 J( [
" P6 W& B0 \2 `: G6 D0 W, P, LPolicemen (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)' N0 j' ^3 O) L
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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) ( k: ^9 s2 Q+ f& O/ @" ~7 [$ i9 I- \8 J
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 \; t1 a* V# ]" [ _3 ]* G6 ]* D3 E, s; m# ]& H+ t9 H' R% u
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。; ? P& p$ T' b- ]4 U+ N
& f+ U3 n/ @# @9 G' b B/ V+ U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: 0 C2 c: P3 W. {/ K0 i6 K: ?6 U$ h# Z) R0 O" N9 O$ 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; ( ~$ w6 F, s4 O( n' {6 N3 l! u% Z: T( j
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;3 W. L3 I5 n- V6 C' X
7 o% g- z. v$ W; q8 U: L* e3 Y- 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: 9 |* i! U. L* e% w, u) M% @% H2 j1 f' s g! ^0 H
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)。 7 y1 S0 o, a. B" p/ H% `9 q6 j F1 k& f) V4 q
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)。 % p" `, Y5 o8 @% s& ~