本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : k6 m7 P5 z4 y' E* i/ ? ! A' I0 P. O T0 K转帖- }1 ^2 ]4 S2 @' i; m
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 ]8 `% @! B! f5 u . {0 u* F% @9 c' P; T7 n) k- e. `0 c8 [例如: / W) w+ r( W* a0 W, y ! ]( V5 T1 `. E, I9 n9 X% V% }$ 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) # |3 |: l. G4 E4 a6 \# O* w: w- l3 Y8 B; i, `& o' `3 B, K
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。) : [- d& i, t, [/ Q4 C/ F, w1 M- ?" f* w! P) k
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) & l& S* A, r4 H. X. h2 S* ?( a & J6 {& T" @* F- JThe 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?)( @: k/ a' c. h5 N9 K
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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。)' e1 N+ n" l; `4 i$ D! q
1 ~. b7 {6 k- }% W/ s1 O% RMr. 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) 5 U) V: G- M' C8 X. ]; q) L* s" U" \& Q: T5 f# e
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!) ' U, l" ^* w( h; P* I q% q S % j' R) F' a' U$ C' Y3 wThe 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)1 s( ~. |, p& ?+ S+ s- j3 {
; g. R% o5 e4 p* X5 d! q0 pWe 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。) 4 N% u6 x/ }$ w1 [/ t: q; i* \: m# q' |4 q
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?) 0 Y, v1 _" T: C. d8 F' i+ x1 V4 z9 v* R- ~& `5 V! n/ e- L: j, N
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! ( T4 k$ Z k1 ?" j+ |, a5 @1 v0 J) e2 U# B
/ ` X# J' Y8 x+ g! r R2. 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。+ y+ R4 S, f4 X, W3 x8 S
1 x M& ~. _+ j" a0 R4 J例如:, {; @4 a: ]" F% y* y
8 S. N7 H, [# i7 EAt 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)% X+ V2 ~$ j- n; J) @& Q7 l0 G
0 }* e' r' L# W& oDespite 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) + C e$ A: Y( D" Z( N% q, k/ _) y4 f5 s) C; o* l# }
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) / ^: T, a6 J" W6 U6 k' P* c/ [8 A& \3 \) S/ O. w+ x2 m
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) 3 k; k. p8 {5 l9 h3 Q" M2 n4 Y+ b& b
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)$ J/ ~. J: f* S. O8 w+ {
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She 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) 0 D5 Y7 r$ p; ?5 X4 F% h 7 d Y+ A, h* t2 d6 SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 4 w) p* v( v) V; u 6 B3 G. q) K/ P" Q; W$ w, ?9 T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: 9 s: X- Q7 l3 ?9 u; w8 ]; ~ ) g1 O7 u% S- \/ n* z$ YThe 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。)' y6 O' p M f" G
3 s. a: e/ o# O2 fThe 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.)8 n0 `( l9 G7 N h9 s% a4 I
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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。) ) L! D. G) p+ |8 d/ R6 _ I9 [ A0 }) z" ?) THe 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) 8 N4 X3 `+ V* g- r H i+ ]3 |8 j/ @7 S& [# `: {& D" _/ s
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)( q5 Y w4 Z, K: t5 P; ?9 m
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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) , j; J) H# ?2 T : r+ J: N7 j; W! P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.) ) V% h! F5 I2 M% o& U2 ]0 e( a" ]2 [# p' s7 B' V/ f3 a
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , w. I' w3 E8 G6 X- r1 Y. ?3 m( \* h% \
) h( C$ a; Y1 W( P4 s5 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」。* }3 T# O/ t) [3 B. o: m8 C* Z
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例如:( j! i& j$ f( M, {7 ^: h3 H! j
C0 x9 b8 R$ Z LMankind 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)) q4 ~1 L# ]$ i% s) Z4 h- [4 I, I
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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) 5 U) U; X% c( E * b" @+ Q; P, i/ pThis 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)0 E6 Q& H& g; m1 U D n
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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。) ; P/ x$ l5 @3 z) B# K3 O8 X% ~) G; o; ~9 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。)7 K1 F7 y& h8 i& V
' `* K4 b! n/ MPolicemen (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) 4 d0 g2 B, y3 g0 Z. Q6 ~4 P7 B% I0 J. z. W; N5 g3 ?1 t1 ]
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) 9 s a7 d: f7 W3 t0 ?% E Z7 w3 H' \; j+ F# @. C( i( l( A4 AStewardesses 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。) 8 L9 J# O; } v, t# g3 Q, x) j, j8 B. k8 A" L0 n
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。! M0 ]: K/ V. l' _8 e7 v* J
( y( ~3 @# e9 G s u! y! H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:5 F6 w, f' d& t( U6 w3 [8 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;* M# ]1 a5 H4 K
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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; " P& t2 {$ J: n) I$ X) y* X9 R ( s* P- U1 A5 e( t1 S对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; h, Q& N7 i( Z P% {; L
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;* `' [$ R9 s. E' @% `: r7 J
" k. \5 g1 P6 s, u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:4 G, X% V8 N! {5 G0 C% D8 R
5 n$ o" ?* u1 R9 |8 \. Y X$ l$ [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)。5 a! b& _! f6 Y
( P. i8 u) i6 ^) B" |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)。& m+ \* C5 Y0 K5 u