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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) ! g- _8 A5 n. m1 M. x% X8 i 1 o7 |9 G$ g* Q) r例如: ; \6 Y. M" F/ P' ?3 |; f' { + e# p/ t9 p6 XMany 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)9 s: |% R4 d5 ]* g* T
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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。) 9 k; t) O% \9 g' d8 J$ J3 O) E4 ^" i% y& g0 q& X0 ^4 { L
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) * ^* p9 z ?1 n7 h6 r% X7 I% r1 C. v% C7 C; ^" ^
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?) 9 E \0 r' S3 k' R1 H- R & A/ V( x8 n6 }3 B5 g3 cI 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。)# Y' o. x0 C' o
/ V6 ^8 l' B$ p0 W/ e" @0 kMr. 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)# o7 C1 `! x G. J. Y& q
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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!)* I K4 K: y i& s0 u5 e' b+ }# w
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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) + m0 o" L0 G9 _" m1 X 0 b7 r& a& L) z9 X5 c _% QWe 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。) 9 ~6 J3 k" ^0 V5 d " u9 B- F4 u; Y/ QPlease 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?)! E" b" Y/ E9 R" D: W
0 A5 L g9 J5 f! c! q" O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!$ X5 ?( N, }4 ]) l" Y( E
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) M8 m; K% ^. F: l& 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。 ! w" l( n6 P8 U% Z . A$ ]8 f* D+ B7 v6 G例如:) C! Q! }9 H0 f1 y9 l* Q' [- p5 J- C3 I2 D
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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)" J* t/ D& N, P: ^" _/ o
* I! k# u% x- O3 o% yDespite 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) % E) Q* p# W [6 e/ @4 I0 u $ {) B- e: O, [ Z4 H5 UI 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 _% {6 ?& \- [+ H3 n+ X 2 O g( c, E0 g7 q3 G+ p' O5 w9 @+ PHe 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)# J4 N2 J9 H$ t: A5 x# |
0 Y- ]% V5 o2 x C3 X# `* V: ?' VIn 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) N9 i$ o2 _% Z& s ; e% C" F5 D4 u, k( x) R% iShe 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) " w# l t2 |- f2 X" Y% x2 k& T4 V2 b1 z' k6 K5 n: N' H0 _5 H
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) & w! C, \! E8 Z8 T5 N* x a% B: y9 q3 x7 l; P& J7 z) Z" l
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:' f& P% T" k3 e/ f! f7 R9 A
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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。) " N% F2 d6 I# {: ]/ U8 c) `0 i9 K# p v( q( o/ s+ c
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.)4 m# H) `; V6 d" C5 |! G+ p
- I4 J) R, T H/ c. C+ r5 THe 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。)) ~, L- P: V7 y M
' B! }- l3 U# l7 M4 B+ W( sHe 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) ) D* n3 Z) B/ f! l8 v# S, p, f* n% q% d- k' R
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" c/ a: g" O' }
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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) ; o! l3 S$ O4 U+ k7 s8 u. u1 e: K2 }, S" F" `0 n
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.) % @* x) s4 {) n, f* e" ]0 a, y. j' N2 i0 B* D/ B" Q
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 b$ M; a& U/ C3 G* ]5 F0 D: c8 o; L! P; u8 H
, j9 ]/ @0 z7 K8 M8 P3.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」。 ! ~. }/ a% y0 R) R/ M + _# \7 B/ Z) z( e例如: + M) v& u0 |3 L* i7 m. W + Q/ J" C: _$ [" Z+ E' wMankind 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) & h' ]+ A, @" w4 J3 j1 P/ N% K$ g4 Q2 H
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)' X, y* }; @. o% Y
2 [$ e t! L0 c; H5 [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)' I, p0 M% i: z" y6 Q
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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。): s8 z! q! d: s0 m x1 ~1 c; w) W
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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。)! F9 c- r. g6 v/ ~
- W4 D; ]6 x1 CPolicemen (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) * m, D& Q7 w: G+ _! w* b0 s* C* U# m. f/ C2 y( I+ t
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) - }* M. K$ a" |( U5 x9 G$ F4 W8 _1 b: V3 @9 V0 o
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。)3 A) T1 A# C! T+ G& H, i# f y8 s V: S
5 z# b$ M6 }; |% \1 W4 \. a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。 - ~0 [- K. G7 A/ e4 ^' I% m- Y$ i. J 3 L) r5 S6 P1 P2 ^/ v( y; B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: , g8 ^" {% \* X2 E- B . C Q) f; L* V- u* T2 E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;& i& m% H6 T% b8 F. ?
, i2 f& G. k6 }6 [" ]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; 3 |* H- G3 s& `; o* e" e7 n3 N0 v- Y8 E( F' W. E. ~& v- |
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% Q4 k+ d: g; _/ g1 Q8 j
* M& M: E- k8 k! }# J对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " ?" w3 b- o4 W" d# A' G3 W- v! O! X4 }) ~" X
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: ^7 B2 ]" a, ^; x3 v. x
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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)。% U, O! i, o* N! d5 `5 d
4 K7 u& ~) j" B. F9 m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)。 7 Z b/ C4 `; E" ]; M1 d$ v$ a