本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - @7 e ?' _" ?& Z* M ' D; T, z. t' v( X; c转帖* z4 _, Y2 n. E+ e
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) % n$ R6 j2 Y+ w* X" P2 s: o6 C0 A- H$ P" h, W
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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)+ U2 c* F5 c: e v. f. f2 k a
0 I$ T* x V' a2 HThree 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。)% ^' t1 r/ Y; h4 l+ ~: W
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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)* m4 m3 Y6 u- s1 c( T, b8 @0 M. h. T3 S
' q4 d3 \' R/ Q7 e3 jThe 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?) / e1 S) @1 q2 t. G* u3 @5 \; G8 E/ j+ U1 ]& H- V9 e0 f5 f% H' v
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 L+ p& {; }& [$ ~6 P
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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) t. F7 f7 n: w
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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!)* t6 H: r% L- Z! g# S$ `+ I
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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)$ I! P# K$ W+ k7 d/ F2 _0 O7 Q
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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。) 5 X' k z1 J" p1 V4 S( N9 G1 r0 y B
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?) 9 Q- `; J0 A3 S6 m6 c5 Y 0 W9 V3 z r O9 N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!, _# i; x- ?5 Z3 r+ K! M
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9 M' A# t/ Q7 x1 M1 M 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。 9 ]; p; j0 I0 {4 u. o B+ M9 y& V' ~" M; T2 u
例如: ! y4 U+ D2 F8 m P+ I. p 6 B5 B6 Z2 w0 |9 F8 A$ F' |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): a0 U; j5 l0 v( ]" \
: |. B2 b% U4 N% b/ MDespite 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) , n+ y2 p ^; ^) v" f' G( P( Q7 e, B/ [
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. J; e3 h8 V2 U9 i D e4 F2 j+ w6 d/ O LHe 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)' b# ~( A: h) Y' Y% U
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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)# X4 x. b7 L, d9 l
- A q2 _ t/ 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)8 x& ?5 a6 D. \5 p% N: r$ j
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 u4 Y! a3 |7 N" f5 N& W$ g* i0 y . e" r j6 P4 e7 @/ w- R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 {/ j) I; t. k& Z5 `
7 \: X8 h( F" w& Q5 C$ j. cThe 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。) ! d3 A8 o6 h/ r' x ) o0 q. D5 X }3 Z2 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.) - K: l; c( l) a o0 ]* K0 t& g5 v0 e+ 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。)( V! V5 k* Z: P6 X4 y4 ^. X S( P
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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)2 E, K! J% J' }/ S
: M9 m& O) T! }& ~& |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); }* p, @% i$ A
$ B6 w5 D T/ [5 I" Y% lEnclosed (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) - J4 C" i2 D+ I8 \9 e6 F4 S- l3 D' `2 a8 w: i
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.) 8 O9 \4 F! P# ^5 f9 Y$ b( o/ w X/ A8 G6 q0 e% T4 ~' ]/ }. m, l, ~
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 . ?1 {9 N5 [/ r: U& J$ Q& g( i/ ` `8 }0 t' y
# Q) D5 B6 X4 e0 _; ] 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- _! U9 h0 A& k4 s
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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)2 o) M6 u: V+ V- F C6 L
! G$ V+ R8 I3 c0 q# w+ ^1 L1 j8 [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)' w5 D: [! p3 `( o, O( o" \
6 ?. D2 `' w; Y% T& K$ [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)( v0 v1 p* i) h2 U' j& @7 @
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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。)3 b a) M' B0 v3 I5 V
5 w) V4 T4 |' T/ K+ Z3 v" @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。)8 b a. Q* g" U- B& `1 O# L& ~
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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)7 _' Z; X$ P3 \5 h. g/ R& `, W
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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) ( J- g5 f7 g, {$ K5 Q# b' }8 [ 6 Y+ t2 F0 r- R& G' r$ cStewardesses 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。)6 s* a+ R3 Z7 N+ J. K' n# T
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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。% o; A# b/ k/ h' c& T- Y