本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' ^& u, V8 L- K) A! R* Z6 w+ | 7 q+ v. u, C8 \# X5 T转帖 0 D! Z/ ^; l( a1. 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). i# Z. c& ?8 b4 r" i. i% T, k
' ?* ?% t8 z7 W) _0 u1 ^0 {/ |例如: ! T$ ] l W! a Y' Q $ Y; h" e5 Y' h* m+ ?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) 5 {! n/ u& l4 A( m L1 ^ J2 b C) W9 o* ?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。)2 g7 q. K: o9 C4 q
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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)* i1 [) [% v( T% M t, \0 w
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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?)# Q# ]6 {) L. `1 m+ K( ^6 O
6 f% L+ n- `% W9 oI 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。) & F' ]6 l* l0 q4 f4 n ; o/ w/ y8 Q: {$ V! v; V6 aMr. 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) 0 C2 Q! {, u% m( h5 m. J5 n e5 A5 d$ A( X
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!)4 s3 h% g2 B0 i# F' b( M0 \
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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)4 \3 `+ A5 G7 v3 Z" S
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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 z k3 P: h8 D) A
3 X( ?$ n7 d9 e l, X" h* t3 _* bPlease 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?)7 L. M% M7 C+ @) c
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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!3 y, @& c( d* {: S8 X
- C$ y2 e4 p6 T6 w$ c/ a% m; g p4 B1 ^) K F. T8 ~. h 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。 ( g' W$ g8 j- d D- X. {) Z* l2 M# ^* r
例如: 8 P/ u- W2 v7 R6 {$ h* D / l+ j% j% d& _ i4 g$ ?& sAt 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) , \" q5 U7 q8 w& r0 { r3 V) K & C, [; [+ Q: r& u9 PDespite 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)" w+ P6 d( d9 ?" [- `9 Q+ V% m
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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)) B( s7 f- H7 V
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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) 8 p0 x8 R- w+ t7 }. F1 x/ i1 ]- s% \! n
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) " p6 A) m! K/ L6 G2 s) Y! t 7 J3 [9 `4 G- ^9 d3 m& SShe 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)/ J1 m' r7 v& H$ a7 q6 U
0 r5 e w% w6 q& c2 K* PI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)1 L& v4 F! a+ z9 @
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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: - z: e3 ~ j' O ( w& ~ z9 g. p0 x AThe 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。) 2 E7 G n: Z) s% e D) [3 Y, m. }( ? : C. \+ f6 t& B+ r* IThe 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.) 5 ~2 s4 k. b; i# ?; c4 U , o& u2 h |0 ^! z M* ^( yHe 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。) ! e/ @: X/ Z/ _* m& |9 u . B0 G" m" ]/ U# V4 G% z+ m' UHe 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) 0 J* F0 ^) G+ [* P: P# w: t S, {5 l8 g2 Z. p8 N
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) . W: A1 [: T+ z# x+ R/ r1 x6 A& @$ C5 W
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) ' B; H# K' F. f) } / _' c2 B4 s$ K1 l* I3 b$ B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.) 5 l$ ]. F% ~) P- Y: P w$ A1 d' F+ y# X4 ]' T. x此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 3 i2 X' ]4 j6 {, m ' ~: k' ]0 I; q% g. d ! R$ S! T: a/ F2 C3.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」。8 W3 X5 u* X* H* T
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例如:5 U+ P0 b3 l& Z h- B0 D
+ ?1 `' |( j4 f: ^# S; o. }! b3 _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) / d+ N9 w! k$ y7 T- S) j2 I6 a: z 1 {3 X+ l+ z; yManpower 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)! F$ Y& ^/ k& F8 @
) ~6 k: a+ I# `5 XThis 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) : t3 r7 @0 |9 t! H+ Y- S! S- M( H/ f, L
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。) 2 C& k/ g/ O9 L' n' h1 _' f- |" K( j4 i+ X4 z0 k2 S1 R1 P* `
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。)! E y+ C9 e! \/ n
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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)% Q; p+ |6 X7 \2 `0 v" l
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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)6 ^& Y, U. |. @! S! t8 S
9 r' ?: J" r! |, BStewardesses 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 y+ Z, N* |
' `. `3 E: l# 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。 5 Z3 g5 S7 v: a5 j) R, |& B* n6 h " v& l' N9 R p. d9 ?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: V/ \) Y. A6 D/ s . b9 A2 b' ?7 [+ T! P4 n5 [6 d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;/ ~1 D; r- l+ w, Y' T- g( b7 t5 O0 d
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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;" Y6 Q+ ]/ L5 s) E5 k* y$ p
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;1 p& S: V% |. r8 f5 Y1 B q. ]# x
5 z8 n7 n V7 i; S对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 1 z. `: J- k: x* ~8 Q; R" Q; U , L3 j4 n4 `- j- W( w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:5 U# I1 @9 W( d# [
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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)。+ [# L2 Q# z7 ^1 o) _! H
# t: g% Z" {0 p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)。6 L$ j4 H" }/ A; g0 s! g! C