5 @! Q; O! O0 X; d. I8 i' w转帖( C0 I1 y/ w; p2 f y4 S
1. 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)- X+ ^/ U3 m! J! `6 W, h l
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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)$ P1 m# W1 `- v. `, ?0 N4 R
" E; V; `- S* }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。)" G2 U0 R2 \: _9 I$ J7 ~; E, f
w- ?7 H/ B5 c, J( W/ Y% A$ B( OThis 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)! z1 U( F9 q f* Y; b j
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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?): B, }0 \9 `$ f6 w
6 ^2 p. c7 Z( ^/ HI 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。)/ T: p \% d0 S8 R: n4 z o
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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) 3 K" @' f( o/ h% [4 ] ) @9 B8 }$ q( I1 m. b* i' nWe 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!): g& M4 F8 V5 P
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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): Z' d( [: Y5 {8 g& N
: L/ }/ M: b8 A. z. uWe 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。)% z8 O* ]4 R" S4 v; z0 ~) v' i
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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?)- t- y1 `+ T: o* l
9 K8 T! G; H( v5 W4 U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! * N2 w1 o# o' y9 ~$ z" F% d6 y; K
( q1 g0 U9 d, x, _# b8 X8 r1 s: R 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。& S6 A, e% _' N$ I0 Z3 N3 c
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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) / S; M$ Q7 D; |% c3 h* X G; R 6 G6 t- M2 j4 W# LDespite 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); g: p" s5 M) N# }# n
/ d; Y8 E0 |0 C2 h S( tI 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) * j5 s8 T' M0 s1 P2 i7 J( } a, p9 [4 p0 ]7 @( UHe 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)) Y" f5 g- Y/ @* }
8 S; P6 o' b9 @, 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) ' M. ]3 R7 j6 [! g6 a6 d3 l* I7 e) A& v6 e4 A8 B; V0 f- C
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) . N+ {" O: Q5 F6 p0 ]4 t + m, u( U: c, e# y0 Y/ U5 X7 [% kI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 6 k& ?" q0 {* ^9 U: B Z) H( n" q' i0 j5 p9 L! ]- c6 i/ m
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:, L" h1 t2 L2 ^9 @: ~' o
+ t( n _; J+ E3 y" ?) Z& J9 a" NThe 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。)# G' b i& A% w, i' i
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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.) 9 ] u, Z& m' m7 P4 d8 G* L4 y: J
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。)' i3 r& J" G P/ w0 f2 ^3 `& \
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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) & u% ?7 \& e0 L4 D* U( t9 ]/ @ x; B+ g2 M: z- ?. G
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 [) T$ _+ w1 n; F
; h, n2 J; {" ?* _$ rEnclosed (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) 9 c1 @: U7 A$ M; |2 r3 s% Y2 }2 @, O ` _
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.) $ B9 P6 l6 `. t1 S8 ~) M* e/ m/ F c' a* F" J a' h+ c/ C
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 u# C. v0 A1 M% o( C# B - E% R1 ^; ?- H : N7 R7 ^% d9 \6 }7 z3 f3.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」。7 |$ {3 a/ G7 d6 r/ J, |, n
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7 H' J- Q3 a2 N0 c: ^3 rMankind 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): n" V$ F5 U" W
7 A" W3 j# v+ t4 J/ V0 hManpower 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)+ q. T4 H* p# x$ k m- _
* z2 o% j2 A# B& W2 U3 n7 M$ g0 z9 SThis 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) 3 k) g, h4 ]7 v; x 6 B: z* `1 J5 S; Q7 V+ z: vHe (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。)8 C H j i. }6 q) s3 ]5 z: y
# S/ |" l& m" i( q2 }2 E4 E3 A5 LMany 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。) ( d5 u8 Q. i8 }; {% r , \' U/ r' a! I. S% Y3 PPolicemen (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) * ]: W3 V1 H- _% a7 b * P) [. v% R( W( rCongressmen (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) 3 I' @+ U7 v1 W $ l6 w8 x/ M; yStewardesses 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。) ' k% u% M: a0 C& g + Y! U" c' ~" x; w4 {! ^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。 6 M p( ]! |8 n- h ) D5 w2 M3 m$ R5 J- l9 L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: 3 Y# b% \; Z) t- ~' q6 \+ v; I6 l# Z# M, j6 M+ \
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;' F# D' g% }9 W$ t L
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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; % v. @. M( P/ C: F S% M) d1 c 8 R& C0 }* [7 X3 f9 f, H对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ S6 n7 @4 R! i; U/ _$ D$ D8 J 4 p. e6 E3 ]4 A/ W7 d$ a( T对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " y- Y7 G6 \: c0 q V' Y. a0 N2 {5 X3 p- l ?
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 ]6 A! `& Z" p6 A, l7 ^1 C" ` , c9 p7 r" J5 Q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)。8 Y' p2 B1 ? H& ?# I- D% ~4 W$ H
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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)。, t7 b7 S) W5 S7 b, R