本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - m4 O( c% b' |1 P6 @5 i) T9 {0 z" a) d# m5 g: v 转帖7 h3 h8 W, _' s$ m3 R+ j+ U) `
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)/ H6 G2 K7 W4 q$ r) z) S* ~4 L; S6 s- j
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例如: # B9 P5 O) K* ~; ~7 U , Y) n4 J" h: K% J& D. hMany 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) : }. h- Y! G" q$ P0 }3 b+ J' x6 } / ?* ?1 h C4 ]- R8 zThree 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。)5 [) p4 @1 d' d/ a
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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)( k* E6 U3 }8 |3 K! I2 O& V) m8 y
' w- s# e- ^$ u, oThe 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?)" j' t! ^) c5 X6 ?" i
# r. ?! m5 V4 [0 B: Y+ ~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。); I- q% |: t8 ^! A3 m
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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 J( U1 Q2 H" F7 q; r( @( B' T) L1 o. f* [+ `
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 q/ Z5 R+ Z' q0 Z, ]& a" f7 @( M, ~# K& O( r9 ]9 x
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) * w) m. W- W8 _" O# C+ d. m/ l) P 6 ~% s+ |5 `/ ?3 I" E' M' [$ D% NWe 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。)0 I- b4 l$ _' j: W. [1 S/ m
# f) a( g5 M- ~( N2 N4 s4 iPlease 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?) 2 m# u' w8 u% u; b4 H o+ u9 h3 D& t% p! M
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!$ A( C" r. W) I& y
4 Z# q. j9 [/ d1 K3 A9 l W # K; H) B' P e2. 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。! O1 p) N/ m3 t b# O0 F" ~
; S, ]/ S1 _) P2 V例如: $ X! D- q+ C+ C. x 6 p: {/ X0 X9 y2 d( 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) , a+ }* D' d8 W' T0 W4 l- m( q( g7 v# s! H: C$ m4 K
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) & Q) l$ o9 X- L# O3 T& A1 q. Q% @& N- O+ g( c: t
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)9 q: _8 Y! I& T5 I
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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) # D- L, }/ d! e. r, Q( { E) F. w # C% O _8 w; w, q+ NIn 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)! ]3 S( f9 v6 J4 {! E
$ t% k+ [1 W9 w, y" oShe 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)* A0 U2 W# z' X& S( o
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) Y" H; w' V" X( `. g- p: y H( ?4 {( m* A8 l K0 X8 f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: 5 t# V7 F: v3 B, g2 r6 s& T( k& H3 W2 }+ i4 ~& f! ~
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。)* Y5 @+ _/ _' ] T9 T+ A
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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.) ' b E% x+ k7 k; \9 l0 f1 o/ _1 x$ [5 {; A) k) I
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。) " S/ l( T7 b1 z' ?3 `% h8 o s3 X5 ^) Q% g( g$ X3 y9 ^
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) 5 C7 c0 O0 F# ^% H& b1 h0 h8 i' i6 @* s4 B! ]% n" c
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) 9 V9 ~4 o, ~/ k : h0 F1 f# T9 W; k$ [' XEnclosed (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) + e9 i/ v$ x# ~$ V1 h! `/ M 0 L$ a/ k$ v4 z7 M: Z+ f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.) + k, e& h( O+ G% h- N- j- ?" I9 X9 G
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! b& }6 s9 a2 w$ U% w' Q
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7 [) z/ h, ]& n8 A% l 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」。 , E2 Z" s/ J, }: S$ P% B/ ~5 H7 o( j ! O ~ Z$ y5 l$ \例如: ; @ K3 j( @) Y7 E+ L + p( P0 o% b4 d/ A% CMankind 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) + _3 P" i$ [; T* N* z z/ t1 {' H2 T3 w8 B2 GManpower 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) ! e7 j, S- I1 `1 X( @* @! a8 D- {) v, b1 p; k7 R
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) 4 y0 A, _( v! \) J! H5 x P7 h4 E: `3 x4 k7 A' m6 V
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。)( j+ K( f! s2 O7 y/ S9 K
; l, n# x% e' x# y8 T5 VMany 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。): T6 v3 p) H" K$ z
: W: G7 J6 C( 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) / g7 r1 ]; U- R7 j! C- G. y4 m& [1 z) H
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) 2 ?; z4 O, H: Z # l+ N3 B6 \6 ^1 @+ EStewardesses 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。) m+ r* q8 M1 C% C + ]2 b9 S, `+ _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。/ w. r" y0 y! E" ]6 W! ]
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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:8 i% d/ U3 S S2 S6 ?5 Q
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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;$ B" J+ }7 S H% T
2 p+ G; d6 @1 i9 P- J7 m/ m* h. H) q' R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;2 h* t$ H5 t% x/ j" ^& ]( } C
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( V# l S: |4 L5 f( M6 e' N6 K: f' r' @$ c
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;+ F3 T2 e- u4 c X4 l
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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:, ~! s9 R% w6 ~# _5 g+ C7 ^
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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)。. P# J1 N7 j$ G0 A8 a1 j
. d3 u7 x- ?0 G3 f; K6 |; {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)。 1 ^' r. d4 [2 b# K) v