本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . `2 b+ J v6 V* `% G5 _* H4 y
* j" [* y1 ]$ a/ _1 }转帖 t$ D2 [( D- `9 @4 t: b1. 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) # K& `/ ]% X: K5 I+ `0 K 8 N: j. X' M( D% z" D b例如: 9 P i* N! q+ b3 L' v, u7 j4 n" w4 M" l
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) 8 D1 M' C: a* j# j. o 7 |* S# w% E' SThree 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。) ) w' O/ j6 G7 J5 \: V" O+ G6 B6 w! a9 p/ @8 Y4 V0 A; a
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) ! |/ x" {0 u0 T3 Y7 H$ \! R5 A$ `2 v- I- D
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?) 3 B0 Q. F% K* `. y 4 n& h* X* A! vI 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。)# K, L* X( ~0 d0 D5 A6 a
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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) % o# B6 a/ u! _ + {. y ]' \' w! w, Z hWe 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!)7 ] {; [, h0 D1 v+ g
9 P% y9 [- V. R( L. ^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)0 J5 d" z0 P7 N1 V9 o/ j5 T+ ]
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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。) . X7 L5 D; o, t/ N; _: h$ h% F7 x" U. b5 D4 q, j
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?)# a3 A; K/ Q; h4 i$ |
$ W" u; f4 W2 C# B- A1 F0 ?# l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!4 V# J8 W6 q7 V+ H) h" ?4 b b- i
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1 U( r7 k4 ~! \; I, p 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。) Q: ]4 A) t5 A. o) x
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例如: 2 k2 T( F2 T- X' B" G1 E' K& N* t0 J: m9 V! C( J
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) ! x; j/ t% e% h2 a* S& X; ?* ^" N& Y- `; n; ]8 m' 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)) _/ K. I$ k4 h- I# u" N9 c2 G
3 x7 J; \) D! l; D% A) aI 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) 8 ^2 a5 D9 y. o 0 W: u) R; [. ?2 H( [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)* w9 C& B! A7 X
' ]) b4 Y- j+ mIn 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)- I. {, O" ]7 a) ~! N/ N
9 v4 e$ J- r5 s* ?1 ?1 X5 dShe 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) 3 K* q: A8 w% W2 I- ~6 w( G- _2 P6 {* Y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)$ {# f# I2 [% p1 B1 }$ Q, U
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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! m! n/ ]2 t( @# a! O {* t7 K- n) y
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。) ' ~# l' p* g+ y. s' f0 |. L5 }% K& u6 _6 q/ `1 n
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.)) u2 n, K7 i) l" b2 F; ?7 |1 C8 @2 s
: n0 R$ l) y/ B1 ]4 G5 m2 X; o4 pHe 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。)$ n$ w" O8 C" A* H- S7 O
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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)" ]7 H" U) q5 j7 |
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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)$ J( R- c8 s- ?( p2 N+ f
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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) ; n* E1 K% g0 M* h7 {1 K# G$ Q / i" H5 o. N" D/ c' d7 U9 u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.) , R: `0 t, I( Y& H' _' n6 s& O/ \$ T
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 j2 v+ E! q$ P7 H9 S 6 z+ x( f+ n) ~3 Z0 `, I0 T1 A ; k5 Q. ~' F( k' Z3.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」。 : U2 o* _" Y' r" Q* C. x+ W & ]4 m ^, B7 K6 r+ I' D例如:. S: g q n8 i" ~2 n0 ~
# D+ E6 ^! w+ A4 `! G h6 EMankind 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)4 q4 [% d7 Q" }+ G/ u, }
1 a, w$ D8 `; t1 @$ Z6 t5 q9 w) {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) ! X6 v9 W/ g) |& Q 6 x! W+ {2 O. ~! N5 F+ h% u! A! J2 UThis 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) 7 `$ m. U& {! a7 ?, i 2 b9 p+ n2 [, X; `( C# lHe (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。) ) i# F- R9 S: G. E8 z! z & S) w# z: O2 ^; ?4 b$ j; ]! l* rMany 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; ]1 q3 X& }0 N# U
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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) $ N; e- Z% L6 b, L4 ]8 u6 ]- J' G$ |
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)5 \% i& m( O* o8 T2 i$ j
& H$ o v- ]; i. kStewardesses 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。)9 x9 B5 ^. D' Z
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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。 - f8 T( G. f. c; [& Y/ q( J( t * \8 H: z1 l# J' a1 ]" L6 q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: $ o+ a+ b, [. {1 G' n$ Z9 k* q , r% x [. B- {7 l9 V) R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; , t3 L' _; `* k( E' I4 x7 C6 S5 i" F7 d
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;$ O- I# Z- B" S9 Y
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;8 y/ B( T% `9 O* _; ?& L$ a; o
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : U/ G) a* `! B/ ^9 V+ l5 t3 Y; B, h, p1 u
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: 1 i: o9 G: q* p4 N 5 c" N, s0 P" H5 h$ l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)。 }4 s% b5 Y, }/ ~* O+ S& E* y% c7 Y- a
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)。1 U4 Y. i9 _; g" W/ `5 G: d