本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 c2 E+ l- Y! a$ \: C; h6 J: |4 {3 _6 A 转帖3 b4 K! ?4 C. ^# @: }+ Z% i1 S
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) 7 t0 s e* r$ L* `; Q 4 a9 l+ _$ u' b3 f例如: , `' N E4 e8 b- y9 u' F. B0 ?- ]- F0 e9 x% J( p
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)% A, l- M$ ^; b+ e
0 B- U8 j$ ^9 G) n3 y/ x8 A
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$ J/ x& D- x8 U
: D5 d# O2 F7 a9 W* t0 t3 W0 b8 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) / G: F l& `7 e$ ^; V/ k n5 T `) X7 V% U3 G5 {9 `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?) 8 g) ^% { O: M/ g, u% ^3 H6 D8 `: Q6 Q. e3 G' S; L* ?9 t
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。) 6 ~9 S- I) o9 j! U; u$ L, P1 i/ [. S \( e i
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) ! m& _$ F2 n6 a1 h0 P3 |( c/ T " q/ l5 M2 k8 M& m- rWe 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!); _' H' s" P2 s
8 O* R: u! c9 W% K# T# _% e( T/ l/ 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) 3 c! Q6 Z# Y6 c1 \$ I3 g+ a5 W. Z" J: p F$ ?( ]1 ~
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。) - e* V! I% b$ C6 K, r& C. B) @9 a: z! Z/ A- c. T2 \
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?)* s8 m0 \0 r8 U( ]/ ]; X, N2 U' G
3 ^- R+ ~0 g8 x# j0 Z( b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!7 C, p$ Q6 @% n6 y3 G
$ I3 N- s8 k9 ^! |& {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) 1 x- S' k' v# s! a, E- ]* i! ^2 ]8 i+ P2 [, {* v
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)4 m) s' s+ c- }( X- ?2 k, e
+ h: n: V/ h9 v* Z3 a0 z z
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) . a0 P% F6 P6 x! s2 l% v+ R$ b8 P1 i5 O9 @$ T
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)4 N1 o4 v$ {3 H% [: K: C. O% }
- t# B+ l K( i+ l; j* d
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) & ]' D: S) f* Q6 q. D B1 e$ E3 u) C( N' U) W9 M
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) ; H5 L1 ^% H/ O; R' A : N1 K! d0 `0 l) n h8 p4 {2 DI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 u0 _- ]0 d! H9 B# N8 U9 ~ d* _8 j
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: " r {6 }7 ?7 T! l" W1 Y/ a3 I( y. H4 D3 E+ N
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。) 8 j* n- V% h0 B' O $ h3 C3 u1 r) G* |3 EThe 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.) * j3 U" l/ |" @6 \; X5 I+ s; o+ ^+ i4 V- U) A
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。) # t6 H. X4 m0 ]+ t0 G3 D! J) @% f. U6 h8 v; R* Z
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) 3 a) r. h6 Z" {( O+ u $ m! `# y, `4 E* W" VWe 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) - k+ H# z% _# d; e4 L$ z1 x u: w# ?: D4 F- l( cEnclosed (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): E* Q$ N, g8 ?- h
) I. d% z% d$ e% F: X( n# 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.) $ k# \8 S( D" v) [! l o3 d, Q5 u9 A" i2 ?4 ^4 h
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。. B. v$ t: A% \* R; q: L9 n
( O5 b0 O! Q, u6 _9 h5 i
4 D: q9 t4 W" j" ? Z! l; W, m 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」。$ v$ U H8 T- ?5 O; M& O
) f: s; t8 U H% o( m& W& g例如:5 Q8 E) `0 z* M F: }* c
: z& B$ S. n& z7 U9 a7 k( Y
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)$ O5 Q8 e ]2 ]; E9 o
6 _2 x4 |8 w* N) ~$ hManpower 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)$ |; k! B; g2 k6 d: j
& L7 z8 \/ T f) B& e w. n
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)" a0 Z/ P5 l' K/ x# e
& }/ M* B. L4 T* ?5 |% f
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。) # _ G6 X7 Y. p, L * q2 n$ d# L" v E1 _" GMany 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。) 9 i9 k/ A. z' W( m) i; Y o4 _/ k" O' ~# L+ N7 ]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) 5 V7 h6 N6 q) k% I6 u - w- X1 b6 z$ ^1 XCongressmen (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)) G* e/ G: n3 ~
; X- j4 N% c5 v2 E N
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。), V' X f+ m) l8 @# y* W' v* M/ k2 K
C' x5 m8 m0 u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。 ! I& h9 |& a4 e! @. E' s, c 1 X" U. G- F1 O) @4 G8 w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 J# D3 O o) T; G, d$ B. }( t: h