本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 ~; U' U- p# u
0 W+ [9 S7 L' U& o1 }7 r% k 转帖* Y* I8 [, j/ h5 P
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) ' u( ^+ {* Q# O& g ) I0 \! ]; w4 e5 X" e例如: V2 I/ s# m" k- T) T+ o5 _ 1 c: i1 k# w8 H+ zMany 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 Q" c2 |; n q; a, V) Z 7 ]" Q1 a% Z/ u8 pThree 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。)! }$ V: w! n9 o: N& a& V# [# z- U! C
! O% l d# j* t8 J5 NThis 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) 5 e! W) {0 P6 Y9 O% O, Q* Z & T! ?+ Q. D* j% |. UThe 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?) & W+ q* w) S" N* \) V ( x) j) ?) R iI 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。) : q0 z2 u, d' M+ E! {! @ 3 K7 c9 W! m% ] f lMr. 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) / P- s$ e5 x% t% T8 x9 i! C q! m% ]1 ]7 }! 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!)0 ^9 Y- b. w! B
+ `6 k% G6 Y7 HThe 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)# c! Q9 p$ c2 Y& u o" r
1 s# V- l: t" ?4 s3 J9 {( T4 a
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。)- S* G6 |6 C9 L: Z! l4 o( b$ [
F, ~! | @7 H3 R2 M9 ~4 k2 GPlease 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?) 7 \, Y a- N& X, \7 Q1 Y; d( }' j- S! b7 e
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!1 @8 d$ f1 m! R5 g
: F5 ~- M$ p( e6 c! p& K
+ g9 V5 c7 b j, ]6 L 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。0 x) w5 j# a9 d5 k0 s" |8 Z
+ N$ ? M! Q/ \0 O* Y例如: _2 `- K; A) l$ h1 U5 [
2 U- @3 S. R) a- Z9 |/ U) }
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). X5 b0 \: I7 B9 U) q2 F
+ Y9 h2 ~ u& |( c
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)+ N" ~+ u* r2 m! x0 O% t
) f: {/ {- F6 ^* V HI 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)% D6 ~. j! q( M/ F
" h. Z }4 R8 j1 v9 HHe 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) & r4 d8 X$ O. n/ H4 M/ N ) c* _* R, z) h; R" S- y7 Q& t0 XIn 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) : [7 I' n' w7 a6 m) ]8 S7 e9 O, M& J4 ^# }& c1 f5 `. ^
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)# i8 [& B) `& d+ P& g/ z0 X6 D
# |# f/ I, Y- g4 ?6 z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 r0 x& `; i) O; t6 I( n) u/ i" r% d2 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: ; K) G F r9 {! S; a ! S4 t$ D- |! O$ Q# zThe 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。)- j7 ]. [4 C7 J9 s3 [. x
8 e0 [* w h/ L9 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.)9 N/ S; i) _: M9 a
/ |& D- A, t0 e5 WHe 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。). b$ s+ M: w( P9 C" G6 W5 k0 J0 z( V
" z$ W% n" Z' [# R5 L
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)8 x$ w! E, G# i% K% b
) v3 N# T) ^' _9 W
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)% A; @1 b0 T. R2 y
! q/ h9 l3 K) j h% b" ]0 [; J
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) # X r% Y3 @; x+ Q( S * H$ X/ B& X2 v t4 Q4 T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.)2 }$ g5 P' H ?
- L; q/ s6 _' u, r此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ; n) Q2 v* S; g+ l0 q; n* u6 }( h8 k6 ~+ C7 F: C0 F9 \8 i
8 G- G7 _, L( @& ~6 g `$ H9 s3 |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) + [3 N. M0 R- p6 r' g6 h% F$ l3 ?# ~9 q* e* T: r8 S
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) 8 [: ^4 P3 B% X: o6 O3 e' i0 O. b& Y2 V
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) ( r5 s' c- ^6 o2 k( e ^$ m( P+ j" \- U0 _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。) & U' }$ U( J6 n* I# w9 P f( \. [/ K( O$ Z8 h. x/ ^8 A( s
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。) % o+ i7 M$ R- W# R; r( B% n u; F/ L6 u$ k2 T) ^4 M' I. Y Z
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)& P: N* d0 k8 d- W* e
! U' L. N; T$ Z: c
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)0 Q: H* [/ x' [; `2 O5 N/ |
3 ]6 T0 H1 Q" l. nStewardesses 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。)% ]& w; ?. D8 q6 H
0 w/ A, C' R' 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。 + V/ V4 G. Q& _" ^; a7 p- J2 z5 p, x
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:9 K- ?6 ^' A9 Q v7 _" X% i
0 c; `8 s& q. @$ a; I, 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;/ B6 Z: a& A, \7 r0 i
6 V) t: |4 `9 }5 J" A! N: V
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;/ r* m; ?. T! X) j$ Z# Q; _
: k3 O1 L H! c0 Z8 Q对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;( D% N. }/ y- s# c' Y9 g e