本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 l5 ~5 t5 n+ y6 u5 `& } , a3 Y2 y1 {& m+ ^' q转帖 5 @( _, E" O3 s7 | R' 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)$ L7 s0 }( }" Z. B4 K
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例如: 7 W/ A9 W& C3 ` H: S* S! c8 m : {7 p% y2 j4 p9 T2 V. p5 v$ k. rMany 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) ) d4 `( w4 e: _ ?7 S7 A1 h 5 ]3 h4 [; b' l( K" }% y; S kThree 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。)" J( n8 D% m$ p- ~7 o
) m# L/ f! X, SThis 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)/ g( R' L/ H& x& o- J2 U6 {
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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?)% c1 C7 y. C2 N. b' \/ U
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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。) - [7 v$ z4 q* V( h4 R. K, w9 x, K8 Y7 {8 F( Y& x4 Q- H+ y
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)/ m8 a- A+ e6 e6 S# O6 [3 Y' g
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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!)2 f, v9 d: K( f' F. C
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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) . V3 ~* f, j& `" K9 S . T6 l0 e, B; @0 f/ MWe 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。)2 u* |1 m+ ?. k- N! z4 t
/ X# O; h7 a, q# o5 l) xPlease 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?)& y( t( s& F9 V" n7 s- g
7 a; Z! U5 C" c/ {! D- q' l. X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!% s, B# l2 K! {) ]
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% {' {) k" X& O' Y. W5 t7 n# R2. 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) A1 T3 P: |1 r1 `; {- S0 R+ R+ U
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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) " U, h. y7 _' M) k: ?- R5 U: a- A. S" k/ o+ 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)& R) u/ x' p' Y$ N1 _' @ V
* _7 S3 D+ C3 ?( P3 o+ RI 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) 3 s- h3 T1 B( E( i- _* O# l) \: \" B- C+ f9 V2 i: f
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)' X7 n+ H2 `8 g4 }" S! n
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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) 4 m/ N5 {. Z4 U % t# j6 m% i4 a% ?+ yShe 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) . n, _2 r$ Q+ @; I- k& C' v% [9 n8 {! V3 f. T4 U( S! c q* K
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 s7 C, _' X& b2 j
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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: ; |4 w- Z4 b* L/ r9 f2 _) F% i+ P8 G3 s0 ?! N4 ^2 p
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。)! y0 \8 p4 x( B5 v- T
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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.)" [' O: v4 T) ^
( B/ x |6 [8 vHe 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。) $ b% m3 S1 u% m" s 9 W% z' @0 T4 R2 k* CHe 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) ) _ h: ~$ e- x! m: `3 _$ E- q' E) \* c8 i- ~$ H( k
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) # e' C* [) g+ W d+ h4 o+ V$ x * [, d: S+ I- Z% P) _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) 1 g5 J2 Y$ i$ x( B: R/ H0 `( k4 B1 }3 O) j, D4 A
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.) - {3 C/ x4 X7 N1 O) n* ?! l7 K) e" S" h
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; `6 M: q2 U& @4 E. A) W
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" M5 `6 ^( F# l2 \# \& z 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: D) R4 b. j- L6 ]$ J' L# u8 c8 p( r
" J& t! ^! R+ V }# |例如: & l, z; A: L. H( ]3 E1 W. ~5 J% y3 Z' P/ v2 C: X; ]
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)/ p: c; A9 g7 X& \! _" _& v! z) e
# E( ^( r4 ~5 ]/ V4 B) fManpower 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)( l% z( b- K( J% g1 M
; v/ U; P z$ ~$ PThis 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) / Y B: c) C9 C+ I - F4 O$ @7 u5 Y4 BHe (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。) 7 a/ e; x. e( `1 t8 n ' x* m$ V# I1 E# P7 U- QMany 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。) . q" [6 O! g5 \0 ^0 M3 n1 P, ~( O, J9 l9 ?- z* t( [
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- ~# Z) B) _1 |/ e * F$ J O7 S5 D- p& r7 CCongressmen (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)! D# p( N8 J x5 R9 y
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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。) - K5 U& t! N C v5 r2 t9 J! Z% T! P; g3 l* N1 L6 u; X$ ?* @. l9 l! ~
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。 1 [, s0 b$ z* g5 j1 |; c% S6 v8 ?, K6 h0 P6 D
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: ! X5 [ D3 m+ Z; [* E7 `/ H: ?7 I6 U4 Q9 i3 ]8 x% B% o
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;! a1 t2 l: D2 H, Q& r
9 l, k. T8 [8 O. u4 S+ \; L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; 8 w6 c& v' S2 p3 {( Z7 }9 j" I1 H! O; C5 \1 z* ]0 _
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! p# B' q3 I8 }- B- r( Y
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) Q' ~# j+ }: R) e+ c+ K0 L
* q9 ]/ p" I# I6 U6 I0 `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 W2 r) n- E+ M. Q, ?
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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)。 # V3 E: I# w5 v1 q5 A, V) S6 N 4 _8 _3 t; S1 z* t. s& f3 N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)。$ l \2 ~, j5 w( B3 \, G