本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % k; b; X$ P. r& M# D0 N9 e! j: y 7 Z' A! X5 l5 y4 f转帖 6 v; f% M0 S9 E7 |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) 2 @& o$ B a, i. b. g& l % |2 r, y P$ a" k: E8 F5 S例如: " s) p' _1 a" @5 m. w) w0 U/ Q' `# Q9 d
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) : f% R" P6 K: T. H; x" b, t7 m+ P, L7 R: r
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。) ! Z& u+ G$ x+ o2 o ' l5 j0 A! {4 i: _: ?. h: Q% 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) ' w6 j& ^2 [4 g5 _ % p, W+ G* E, m, q& ?# ]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?) / a! |% X3 b5 U0 z3 C; c+ O3 I " f# K# ^3 ?) T3 q/ [$ o# w4 A' fI 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。)! J# e; x5 J- I- N3 E J J
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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) * w6 W. E. {( e- y3 v% ~- s " i- n, ?3 w3 U. N" G$ aWe 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!) ' S* c) d" G, M) t' ^7 h! f8 S 5 C; m* D8 q. D/ ^' u) l& R, P' s! I) {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) % @5 |( K7 O# x8 D/ H% F3 Q/ M& r6 t
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。) l0 S& O8 z& \0 Q" T/ z* G" r ! P+ d) l& M$ `) 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?) $ X# m7 e/ ]( \2 F1 n8 W3 p# V0 T' x1 U @ V" G" K
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! 1 r+ z! l' ?; k9 x. r: C: l; F0 G4 J ~% l$ l; d7 L7 W8 B+ X
6 F; \/ [" g8 h. u 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。* N' B+ T% e/ A: p, \. T
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例如:( J. a: A# O, I
+ C6 \" Z w$ e0 ]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) ' m( L6 X3 c1 ^! |/ X' u( ]7 D# w! e
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)$ ?5 H5 ^8 G/ w. N p m5 q
8 k/ l4 o( s9 p/ u# k3 fI 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) B$ ]& P0 \0 _
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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)( \) V/ d) _$ j1 e
/ X0 @3 \; H0 t0 RIn 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). G9 H _1 ~" z# T& h4 N$ D% c
8 c3 u+ r0 ^. \6 r o0 l m3 UShe 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) 2 ~( W# k4 z0 T* Q/ w . e4 k. B% r( ?# QI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 5 _5 ^& N( q+ J0 ^ V' }/ A" L" T7 ]6 U$ |1 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: + O; j* d& p0 x9 f) _ 6 e3 f5 y9 a, f' T4 J4 _2 fThe 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。)! `7 Z! W! K9 A w2 j& i8 ]
0 U k R- {/ zThe 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.) ' g; I O# I2 _( |& ]3 @- O 9 V4 n; a: a5 r1 JHe 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。) `5 d$ T2 C' h4 X
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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)9 M& c- g/ l9 {# \! |: M
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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)1 ]; h& M9 |( z& g% i J. p+ g$ x
8 k, c8 B- e0 z4 `3 L& G7 m+ a9 gEnclosed (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)( T4 i/ l3 w3 ^% G4 L" f, s
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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.) - d( m; q7 R; C4 U+ s3 M6 \! |! s+ x# M# u6 x
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 v% c9 T! l5 B: B/ A3 d$ O" @4 F6 H4 a) I9 @ I
8 t- J3 p5 T7 s+ s 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」。 1 m( B+ \1 w9 g: G+ c4 F0 N2 E' ?. h* v4 k( \
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2 F S. S1 O- YMankind 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) . I) ~3 e& x9 v# ^. l 9 B# X$ c, S9 ^# w1 U _6 J sManpower 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) 9 j' k% h d! _' ?# B' k3 s: g4 A7 @6 C; j! S y
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)+ E# [$ E& Y! C3 Y* @3 L2 I) b+ I
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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。)( N1 w k9 @' Z8 | A, T' k! \2 g
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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。) 1 w7 _$ U' |0 } " |- S$ w% w% ?! R6 yPolicemen (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) 1 Q8 @' p7 i: g. ? L/ d9 O# N! K9 ~
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) + \! \7 i# x, P( j' |% G8 G9 _' n0 ~, ^9 ^$ B
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。)7 `3 A( v$ K/ G$ D" W( Y! I
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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。6 h Q4 [( r) |; o: h; Q3 l+ m1 ^9 L
5 O6 I6 k) `6 |, |! P' L: i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: E5 `' a. m' U# S( u4 r6 H4 m8 M0 [& Y8 J1 ~ h/ I
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)。& B/ E g' R0 G1 \/ }# O0 [. P
- h2 L7 p: ]7 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)。; G$ ?4 E [# n* U+ a9 W: m: T