本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 o, Q5 `' A% M4 P . Z& A7 u9 n. ?* j. u转帖2 A$ G5 j H+ s4 n( [+ C- R
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)( T$ B9 i/ k8 E2 Z, ]
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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) 4 \# V' B4 i4 n) \3 ]& @; L4 d9 U. f/ o6 n6 f! J
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。)& g' N6 d6 X7 S* b9 B. l
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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) 0 L7 Q" F& t* y1 ^- r( y+ I 8 W- B& l: }1 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?) % y0 b D7 p) Q . `% c+ p+ c" j0 y/ a; o. P7 F& hI 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。)/ D ~0 }, n% G4 Q
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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)# [' B8 j, t) \8 |# A+ J. Q8 f
1 ~: o1 i: U% j' BWe 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!) 2 r# t3 u u1 C' t y$ t w: b6 }7 E( }/ ?( O) w( Q
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 W) \; m. _! k) H/ M' J; r 6 t- S& ` h2 ?& TWe 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。) ) f$ |* O8 A5 J, k# x$ g 6 x6 e; f4 r' Y1 d1 R' ` T. B# 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 O l/ j( ^$ w4 W+ R; J
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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 H. `9 }" B/ H' N4 T, p, X2 }% @8 x& w% Y/ \; A, J
8 u5 ` B! u7 ]+ K 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。 5 O G% v' L6 f / W) t. F4 j# D4 b" m例如: 3 @+ `7 I8 X0 { c' B. H3 h5 d+ T+ W5 ~, o/ y
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)3 K* f8 [& @4 D( x" z& F
2 g0 r) v. e; E* hDespite 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)$ Q9 m5 M# T6 [& v9 E9 H
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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) 4 g8 ~" Z: O$ y2 F# q! c( k1 z+ f% t8 _3 K
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) ) I# J3 q( O& p3 ]/ S. P% G# l2 k% P) O& Y5 i' v3 S) s
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)% w! M# Z/ Q+ ^/ y/ v5 Y
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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) 1 h$ g0 o ]% [8 v% ?# M0 H5 a8 ?, i1 i. m* y4 R
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 k4 q/ `: G5 k, H$ r) Y
b6 {6 @8 G7 o! L4 v" p j8 E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:2 L% X+ a+ ~8 ?: o) U. R; F
0 q4 I p$ r. v. v; R" ?, r6 F" {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。) 1 i" e% y: q% Y- Q+ } ' J$ L. b6 G: z" i3 P& `0 ~/ ?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.)8 X0 ?# B8 A! R' Y7 U
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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。)# i4 E C- ]5 m9 L! { }. B
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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 ?( ~- b- ~& R, b6 y9 M
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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) 3 F, i; E: U: _4 P6 V) N2 d . t$ @2 Z6 T- ~* C9 i6 OEnclosed (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) 1 t8 L; v$ q' o' @; x8 |' p; A* ?. d) n9 R
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, _- A. c2 G8 ~1 N5 c ! Y) s& I1 _% L4 H1 Y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ) Y. T( V2 U+ m- ?0 V: q- E Z5 [# P$ ~* Z# q% l" p3 q
& C5 K: z8 S- }2 p7 \9 M3 v, Z 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」。1 N$ l; n$ e! P. f# e d v% j3 ?" G9 |
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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 I9 h1 w' D3 k3 x3 k E 6 |4 H5 n; x ^2 r/ w0 rManpower 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 V# R7 g6 |1 _9 q- w9 c/ I/ ~
& g) I9 o8 s- Z+ g% HThis 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) & z i! b( m% R P# c. |6 W+ F% X T; ^' s' j7 |8 `
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。) ( w: F1 t7 M& Y7 J' w $ p/ \$ M2 m# ]! J+ r8 mMany 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。)$ r- J9 E, s( z$ r( p" k! y
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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) 8 W( H8 L# r1 w. J" U( [. d+ N6 H3 b: q, u- e
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)$ k5 S) N4 d$ o
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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。)1 q) I9 P1 S$ Y; e' Q/ O! _0 G5 i
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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。# R( D/ h6 z3 g. W! s
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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: , j+ v( M p; r; I9 H5 B6 L & K0 y$ |( B+ ^3 ?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;- S4 g4 q- L$ f3 P
{) v9 w$ R4 _' t$ y9 c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;* F- w6 ^+ q# ^& m
. p9 o9 U4 L9 }对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; l; s7 @" _! }0 H, n- y" b& f2 D. S
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) ]7 l. y. `5 j- V' q
5 M2 w6 ? v5 E' k; x* X0 M8 J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:, e/ k/ E1 e6 z2 o
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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)。 ( e5 J& c) W! N0 h8 `# }# p" t1 `6 a " J; \ g; S* y7 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)。& U1 {8 G+ T" D6 T6 P