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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) $ L9 D$ u/ X- l* e3 Z3 E- o# O 9 m1 f2 w6 v0 ^$ j1 D. c例如: " N% O E! V5 N t# K0 M3 ?/ d$ T# o
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)7 q. `% k4 C+ V! v; F7 {; k; O
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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。)5 S8 X# w; D% n$ x5 N
8 u* Y2 y& Q' S+ t$ C: F- ?- ^7 S* [0 f% HThis 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) 7 y7 M$ m' Q- X2 ^ / H, L% e! U( o0 R8 Q3 rThe 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?) ) m( Z% m% e" b- P) u + @. h# t7 X/ a% e- j- 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。) ; P. D0 S4 ` \8 L; l5 j; L/ j6 r5 N. m) ]( F% [- P) f
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) , s3 K8 a R" q k( R$ R" Y# B$ w2 P. E# ]/ A% s- TWe 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 Z. c. B v4 j
# R, Y \; e" H9 m+ K, }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。)1 T/ n" Y' o* {$ ^& j% B
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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?)" i3 P$ U" L; ^
$ `: q0 \* v+ [) 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! \$ P! T; l2 k1 j$ L$ k
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, a0 \' P) i' m4 E+ n& V ?* R/ v2. 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。 4 p t" n- Y5 ]8 c3 \4 ^9 D1 R + _9 Z: x5 u$ z: j例如:3 h; m( f0 ~8 A1 l) J- R
1 b" P& k, d4 N! o$ O: U' _, vAt 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) - [- S' n3 }) }/ q6 C- _3 \" w% p( }0 U
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)! d. P+ j- n& \. X% ]
+ [/ ?2 }( Q. m, 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) , z5 {4 {2 u; \$ E" i( u8 [* A8 ^" Y2 c6 u
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)& i0 l" `7 a$ |' `: r
2 P4 U2 O$ v: c6 WIn 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)! y v4 Z6 y; N, O& Y3 ]; o) Z
5 R8 j! F; \8 vShe 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) % t$ ^: X+ \' F$ T 8 k6 P7 R0 u8 r1 r" E& `- wI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # P9 s6 p: v. t/ Y; }# h: Q" s! J8 B4 v' Y8 g
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:7 b$ }* Y8 G9 O; i+ }! B
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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。) : h8 @4 @3 i2 r0 Y% _! G3 \( Q0 r4 P# H2 T
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.) * n) @& T: a7 a/ j3 C $ z7 g# t, G1 W) \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。)! u% g# ^# u$ ?+ w
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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). @4 K% e; w0 v) a, O: y
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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)* L! x7 o6 k( X5 c
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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) T. w. i# T$ `9 R& }; P 3 S% _ y3 |/ C% ^' @2 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.)- i, ~8 E) M6 `& a: f6 r+ W B; J
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。, H k/ s/ v; t8 n* {: o
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) S' \7 o4 n l# H6 n2 B. d3.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」。 : I/ E. O$ h5 g* N( b% s7 b* n5 L# d @+ ~7 Z
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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) 0 D- D+ W. k& `2 d3 M) @ ( K6 b) K# G1 Y& A+ UManpower 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) + G5 q" r/ _: A8 F. b # |4 T, Z, b* H3 NThis 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 U3 P2 M# n8 K& O1 G& C: D1 N9 i! |4 A* ?
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。). S; l4 _ O# n1 \
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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。). T) g" q+ R% X- B8 f- Q
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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' x' e9 H% Z/ t, S U i
0 n( W( h4 H8 i0 F- }. ~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), `* L, K( o* L/ E
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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。) & x0 B: V i$ W+ `6 M5 ?! C5 x ) D4 G0 y) |" ?2 w$ X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。9 y3 |' R2 T6 X
- z6 _+ Z, Y) e' v! K1 z; V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:3 S) X# U V/ `2 c
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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; ' {# k1 }! N) }* E [) f n) n: n4 ~+ s' I* y) Z1 H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;8 B4 L5 K1 N4 q8 j
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; - r- J9 k, K+ O5 ?2 M H7 @6 A9 ?" r3 [& }5 v/ R
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; % t' G8 B1 P0 Q1 H+ k7 y e" e$ |4 V- I! Y* m' m1 @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:6 ^4 }9 ^1 M" b
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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)。 ~. `/ G& ]4 ^: h; }# J6 ?7 ^% t0 S8 g A0 h
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)。 ) j W- Z, t3 K8 g- m8 h# _