本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 # m) n3 z9 d5 B3 I . F% ^( K# F0 m' h7 M. v B7 M' z转帖 & [, b# n4 a2 K- _: E1. 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) $ g; p8 G" w: {5 W; D. G 6 q: l1 }/ K9 ?+ Q例如:2 v @0 n" r, K# n X5 g7 p) e# F
, b5 ?3 A+ ?, z- V% YMany 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 W3 e N6 F& l; ?
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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。)8 y( s$ E* X4 n7 m" b8 N0 z; L" O [
- E. k. u0 J4 m$ [4 i& ^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) ' D" B9 N5 O0 F- m) y e7 o$ u+ p5 p7 j: O( y# [; g
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?)% O. x2 I: S. ] R& r0 Y
. ]0 `5 H+ E* A* F$ n; y0 c) d4 mI 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。)! B2 `3 Z1 {! d
; d( s: {- t: A, H# G9 GMr. 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) ' j. f- I% T# f2 v9 Z ; x k0 j& B+ yWe 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!) % k& c1 h Y: p. d% @9 r+ B % Q: Z$ M7 [! ^' eThe 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) ) ]1 N- S! v# P- j/ ]4 {; m2 x) T: S& j5 b" M0 @
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。)" M3 C0 c w; {
' ]- n) V. Y L6 m0 SPlease 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?) 5 ] a( U5 B7 T l u & w0 \6 T$ N1 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!) j' B0 [: Q) A3 o+ ?
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3 S- I# W* g6 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。 # u8 v6 g( o8 k+ d & h$ t3 ^5 e7 ~3 o例如:' ~1 j; T' g6 p* ^( P6 d# q
# R& h* c5 T! `$ i- ^1 a- H% CAt 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) 0 j% T8 q! ]$ O" K# G* F' k7 j/ G0 z5 F. V! x
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 w2 e7 s& \9 W: p @- A, b& i# ~ ; ^3 G5 Y! d( x4 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)2 V2 O8 d, [, S% C7 g$ C' U8 b/ y. L
' q& B, i( S: WHe 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) " I- n. ^& n/ I. y# p# B; F9 ], V6 L: ] W: c& U: 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)1 R8 K5 \) i: t1 d: k1 ^" X4 m
3 ^5 d9 j0 W5 T8 K) C6 N! cShe 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)" q' }3 r6 Q. I' V6 y# _! E7 A
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) * P$ O* {) A! R g9 v) j- x/ r2 d/ V# n5 w; `2 @- p
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: ; n1 t) m4 H2 J& l8 M0 c * p: Z: Y3 q) X" ~4 ?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。) 4 K6 l% S9 v* s9 N2 K # F3 n P3 b! u5 g' kThe 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.) 6 V ^1 _$ Q' z( e( f7 J) o2 w& d$ w) Z9 h7 Q# m
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。) " M! ?3 E. t' C/ d3 d6 E. V . E. Y8 \# J/ OHe 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); {9 [- I& s$ V
4 J3 x' }2 V3 l* N9 |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) * K' i( H6 k7 y4 p2 _5 e 3 ~ U: p, A4 w& O! S( bEnclosed (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)* ~; x2 q" ?. y* I5 m
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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.) 0 u4 O/ b8 F9 r! `6 _) M. D 2 g! h5 A% }7 z4 `' l+ H此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。0 w4 ~* n5 ?, T# H
7 Y" V" ^$ g- J0 `- j( c9 P) ^, j4 \* ^& T5 V. A |) {8 h 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」。 , t) o3 W% @: v/ ]2 L& i: l - {1 I+ Q n: f6 s例如: . v' U9 E8 k8 Y4 M, F6 A; c/ }5 b2 y' E# `: ~% j
Mankind 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 v' o9 M) L! w- q# e+ G
6 Q" G1 @6 a6 o g1 uManpower 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) 1 J( Z! [! z3 O5 E k! j3 l; P5 a9 |, A6 O8 l) y, p. t
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); b x g& k) N" ~1 I
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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。)/ \# O' ^7 u, D* s% I9 ?
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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。). R8 q% I/ M) R* t9 o _
6 \; v. n6 ~' `" vPolicemen (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) - z9 S4 V9 k' z- {2 ^8 A" i0 X. `. R; 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)( ~! C. a, p; _
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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。) 5 B3 L2 c$ k3 z 9 R; q$ }& H; K: }0 z& o% ~2 W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 G7 i* v' v% s+ H0 L5 ~$ Q; ~$ E! r2 n' S+ W
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:& G9 F, r4 U+ c& q8 W) s7 s( ]
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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;( J( ~0 b7 ^' [! D* x3 G K b' ]* C, Y
: C6 V# {7 p5 @8 @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; % X* y g( R( m8 R 1 i# W6 A6 ` o1 o* U( \( ?对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% J& e* X2 G3 t* I/ @0 x
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;' M- |: u8 g5 Y, \1 `
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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:. t/ l" i2 ^4 o
; s+ v% j! g, ^+ q$ Z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)。 $ B* K& B4 Y W8 {) u6 Y5 E! |7 ?) f$ D0 z1 R3 v* v; U) h
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)。! y( T1 g* p& l: J- x