本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' G1 t5 i+ n+ q; u& x5 V I5 Z( s$ n) e, n8 n6 K 转帖$ B, F y6 H& B% k6 z: q
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): J: _5 W$ d! n5 W
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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) - D7 t, d& W1 m! \* B3 ?# z, G $ s" x$ M7 T5 U+ r. |/ yThree 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。) ; p' N u; r0 ~$ ^2 S! z + s3 ]3 V5 ^' O8 xThis 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) + Z r* I1 o( V7 {8 Q; Y. ]1 F0 ^7 \, c# p: o: i" 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?)0 F5 I) P/ U( G$ p
0 Z& N2 |+ m3 }, @/ \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 i. ? @& u0 ]5 d
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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) 6 j* r# y$ s& E# n. C6 A0 @$ c2 j7 `! E# L; l* D
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!) / W% w% ^9 ]4 Z; s0 ], b- h `& y 7 h6 V+ W9 G; m2 z) P; b% ]& PThe 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)+ ]7 r2 {. w7 d6 v3 n: g1 o- E
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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。)$ l! J. n8 c, E7 i2 C
u: e4 L4 }" j. _1 Z2 X' ePlease 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?)- E) L# S8 y: y
% U, @% s1 Z) R, M+ Y6 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! & n3 \" }7 ^+ D! m9 s1 M% R, v/ ^* U; B- F! F1 G
_$ d/ q. z" x 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+ u% x: g2 ?" I% } 4 d! M" B5 E# ?5 x* W8 [例如:* M- Q+ W& a) r! J" e3 m1 U$ e1 B
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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)0 C! u' ]- u* O6 W6 j* e" b0 c n( I
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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). S* v7 d# G. Z9 p# X
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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) ! N' d1 u: b$ O. }9 T1 M2 W7 i/ A* U8 m" w, A% R
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)9 G% F& D0 H; M- Q
/ U+ h# `- o3 \( V h# 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)2 D3 [& F# o9 D9 g* b. o; S. E6 n5 @
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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) 3 ~% F9 s& M9 B0 n; j 6 m! U. m1 z- j4 m8 k1 ?I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + v$ Z8 @ V: q8 N! N* N / \4 e; j8 @6 C4 ?/ z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: 1 r6 f# P$ u+ Q% V# z2 L ( y# v N& k; w" s1 f/ rThe 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。)" [& K+ Q `# D6 b$ n5 g
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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.) 7 n8 L& k& \& P$ Z7 I( S, _+ E5 N/ c6 w9 {
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。)/ U6 H* U; [4 K
+ B, p5 z! | OHe 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) * y5 G# D; k4 ^; {/ W p" q) l. q h; O4 KWe 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) * J5 w" j: t/ i% u3 W, p6 [4 W* I. K5 g \# A7 Y
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) 6 p* `: S+ v* Y7 N3 X6 O" Y. I& S* s( G% j) _9 b% P, v
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.) $ ^# S1 S. ~9 F , e7 w) J. z# Z) p4 S$ i此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 _- j0 M1 Q) j: F: e# X+ K
" y/ j( T# @! d ` t; y+ c' c. ^+ K/ `4 b% c 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」。+ O; v6 _5 d' I- }3 ]
2 L: q% x$ a& G0 b) V例如:: ~6 s( Y6 i) U T
& i8 ]2 j) `( R0 P5 \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) + _ L9 E. Z, ?4 K) l5 g( e0 }% v- N2 a# y- ]$ S7 A/ @" O
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)7 B) n3 q. r7 S
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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). v6 j8 k8 `5 l. ~3 {7 N1 q
' ?8 c$ k* x; b* VHe (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$ N3 b8 i4 v% l1 H4 k1 H0 Y& L1 g9 j. k
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。) " ^0 M4 n c& ~( `+ @* p" f . M& X! ~# d4 W) ePolicemen (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) V+ O8 p9 l J1 S* B5 c ! ^" |5 P7 V( f7 S' @5 ` pCongressmen (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) $ A8 A t0 f: b6 _1 |. ]$ r' S5 f4 H, a9 F9 ^: H
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。) . ?# u/ V n) F . P" c9 x9 _) x1 y: V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。, w5 @0 a x$ r( y: f* [0 o! V
$ |7 d9 b; @6 f1 S" E& g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;7 }+ H: B0 S, u( \; F( N6 w5 u, A. ^
+ M! e% D l6 s- ?$ k `* r. ?0 g8 h对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 X/ A+ p1 b* ~. U) I, T0 q% i9 \+ a4 I0 H" N' d& {! B4 F# g0 {
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;& w) D0 q, v2 ?- \! S- w
8 \* B. p; [% K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:$ V, a# N' S$ o7 ?
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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)。3 n9 N3 P& K/ k
5 B& w" K! j" @1 U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)。 p4 m; }% M) Z; i3 q# h0 t