本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 & N" M1 b9 S% V$ @- h$ O6 {" k+ r9 K5 A$ k' Y 转帖' ~7 Y. ?- V' ]0 R. x! [
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)8 v/ s- I: O, z7 M- M+ Z% ]
% s, T5 m) j4 ~7 k' r例如:" }. H5 x' `" z5 R6 H6 Z+ i
- a; N7 L4 O0 Y, \4 S
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)8 |1 K' Y( z1 m# W$ S1 y
9 M. H! V5 e, R& u) R- kThree 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。) 3 j# X1 r: L3 `3 ^( ~+ ] 8 m4 u& Z5 a2 {! {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) ' L8 O; W+ F, S8 R: ~* l1 [, Y {: ?7 j& q0 o6 D- Z% s
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?) 1 N& z4 u; H j+ X( q5 V; Z$ ^: x" x& T7 Z% d) Q/ I/ v
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。)0 x* D7 i, X, ]" x+ h. w" e6 {
* H$ o( M" s* M2 k: H3 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), J0 M* r3 d" f6 `& _ z3 `
! J/ j3 s' q1 h, c
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!) 8 x' ^* V# R% x0 l/ {$ o! L3 s4 S5 u! O8 ?# F6 F# N. \
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) ! [9 j9 i* ~( d; q8 T; Z0 Z " z4 V) e# N+ e2 M; FWe 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 c$ b' H* O+ M. ]! l. | 7 B% y& L" M9 z! W. |. P' ?! rPlease 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?)5 u: w+ P% G0 _ q- W
7 K1 ]# i& W! u( v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!- K6 B0 Z' }$ @ j% t9 [
2 ^8 R4 O) K% j8 {$ ^9 ^3 ]% X
/ D# {2 V; \2 G2. 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。 ) u' ~+ u7 \, P* h; K4 @ 5 {0 D% O* y }7 G3 ? r: _例如:' }& q4 i* I. m# v4 X! U
" r- N$ S* t- L$ ^7 i) Z7 wAt 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) 9 k! L2 B) b& n7 g! `3 k) N) b2 B + d" B' q6 ?, H, q3 P# E9 t! FDespite 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) . K, \0 g& F3 y/ G* } / H* M& o$ Z g7 AI 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)# w, o; G; z, \
( ^9 Z$ W+ s; PHe 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) / G: G" D* Q$ H Z& R9 Z U4 t6 w9 M( X p
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), `! F4 L: ]6 N T9 b' \; f5 ?$ y0 V
; L+ i# c- x$ pShe 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): f6 j2 ^6 O1 r. O. n
" M4 X9 x. m5 a+ }. k: ~6 gI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ @: u- a" S. ~! O
' j, e) k/ ]' y& 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:# ^ E2 u( z4 H; B5 }8 A* z3 D
( {" _2 `& G+ I# |9 L1 DThe 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。) * R, P) S; V9 ^$ _- f2 o. J1 |/ y' Y( a( y7 r4 J" i! K* v
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.) {4 ]' u9 ^; Z) I0 {9 F7 U
" S$ Z# D9 s3 Q0 T7 c$ P$ B1 q
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。) % e h6 @9 C0 C, o) z& S0 C- k7 T: h1 r ]; C4 w8 s t
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)+ j2 |3 D% a0 G. q
# v/ O, r' t( p& 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)0 f. d9 M" K0 x& W3 d. b2 u
/ G6 {1 h% a0 @1 p0 H
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)' l, D G- i" U. B) |
: b& k' n8 h& ?6 W4 G7 ?. 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.)& J: X% [; G1 L
' D2 Z8 Y B8 T+ ]此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。6 _5 z) Y4 g5 n" V3 b' L
5 Z' f3 r! s/ @6 r& A ! R8 r! C( w; q5 [+ @" e# C. M3.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」。' [7 l0 `/ l* `# A1 ^# D
' `3 N9 H9 q! D例如: V3 z& y* U6 I
( L) i' m0 J |( WMankind 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)- e9 W" r' r# t
% I e1 t0 d, G# u4 u/ U. V; 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) i* h* S% b6 i2 M' _- i2 X' ]5 U 9 S! @6 \- M! Z6 vThis 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) * d+ A/ }! g2 }: i! h; V& L- 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。) 3 @! a& K9 s- ?! e7 N5 a 3 i' x; k% a) eMany 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 f) o) U$ ?8 t 3 q% v0 H1 o& b* o# kPolicemen (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)/ f" L6 F s. p y$ ?# e
0 z+ ^* U% K. L/ ^' \2 T, T A
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) ' @2 d# R) d n, g9 H + \& f3 j' @5 T2 qStewardesses 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。) # s% t: M6 S& W' A3 `# _0 F0 y& n" c- m1 N1 U2 q! }5 b& f/ B
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。, {# N4 l3 t1 V' i! \) N
6 ^6 {+ n. Q) x" {% @; Z; 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:, r: u$ E" X0 w2 n
: q' C& u+ D& V& {" r
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;3 F |2 ]# g; [6 N7 h
8 _5 L) f9 i7 ~8 X2 c; ?' q, y
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; S1 v, I+ G9 u, `) Y: {8 X
' M v- e- n7 q$ U对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; + d8 `# s( V# e7 ~# i8 ~6 B* D+ e" F M# v l, t
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 7 L0 p, s! F/ a; w) k L+ I + D d2 I5 s2 |' {) g [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:+ A4 e" p. A- ~0 h7 Y
m* Q; f2 N$ D/ V; D
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)。0 d* i5 r) M6 ~7 I7 C: K7 f
5 I+ W/ T- M E; [+ l
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)。, Y7 ?) ^7 i' m$ @