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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) ) n" z1 p1 F- m- o t2 y* a 3 b1 {9 n+ c) \9 i& n5 w例如:* [. g5 b2 e, E {7 J( K/ @7 g
. t/ _2 F/ i( oMany 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 r1 Z( v) D, z/ m, B( X ~7 x* X* D" k& k
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。) . [( i9 o5 ]2 m- [- F 8 X7 V! w5 i# O1 o& k+ eThis 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) ) F: n+ [+ a$ i( K% `5 V$ r- ^, F
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?)$ `5 _" p8 D0 z; {
" o" }; K. `- Q# y6 w, \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 d5 C# j7 n! Q1 a3 U
' w. e; j0 j5 _+ |) j. E7 wMr. 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)4 T6 S! A8 }% h
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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!) % C/ }8 Q& g1 [6 r ' |- `6 m; j5 h7 yThe 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) % N1 t! i; k/ ~2 |9 x- _( F a9 `0 o1 y6 u5 X8 x
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。) . g2 H' Q2 M% o& z* h* Q$ d% O0 U! }! j% p
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?) + T+ _- J! t( ?! M1 P; [( r& s3 `# N4 z' i4 Q
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! ! B- m9 l2 d9 ?3 h$ _$ E" K1 m9 O. }, V5 l) H y) \% S* A
\! ^/ }& N+ E; d' }: o2. 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。 ' [- Q u0 H0 w& |6 s , v8 _. I/ C$ ~8 C* q例如:: r9 }6 X5 @6 r" t' y f, _
' R& z, _6 b) \( k8 r2 cAt this point in time, we should pull together for our goal. (现在我们应该为我们的目标团结一致)(如果说:Now, we should pull......更简单。因为 at this point in time = now) 2 ^% z; t# _1 C ; D/ g( R) k2 {4 x/ w" i) w( q# e4 iDespite the fact that my English is not very good, I am not discouraged. (虽然我的英语不好,但我不灰心。) (如果说:Although my English is not...... 就更简短。因为despite the fact tha t= although = Though) , v$ o& G _% p( |6 o, z, d( V! \) U
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)# P+ {$ X* A( A+ y* Q
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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& H/ y N) e- p1 d7 i+ j
) R; W, J8 V7 y! A7 J# V8 P. A, MIn 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)* e" s1 z! v; a
* J4 q1 s) | y: UShe 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) 0 c" E, f" p: S7 \/ A w: z8 W u0 E" z7 ^. n6 v
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)& r7 z8 ~2 e8 y) o( S h
/ [. |6 y% F, W- N1 ^9 L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:9 j: d5 G" [6 Y, n
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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。)3 [( j/ }6 Y4 f: Q3 g8 X* I; y
- T/ x+ F& [' R' T# ]7 b5 dThe 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.)3 K; D( \. q$ x
) Q# _) z0 K7 A2 `. q# QHe 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。)( I/ ~7 x0 F! M% f# N; }4 x
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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) r0 Z6 P4 [# [; ]
% E5 A. L! l! o6 [+ Z0 ?2 }5 dWe 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) # ?5 _. Q% v1 h- u' N. `2 ^ 3 U6 d: r7 R1 f$ h _6 rEnclosed (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) : R! i5 ^1 ], @$ u1 n7 Q% t% k: w2 k) o
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.) ! o8 n. J0 O( n/ ~ : \( B. X* \, S- I+ L此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。4 A* X* H! Y3 O7 G; Y5 ^; {
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% X* b. j" W- O/ 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」。8 Q' V6 U9 ?% s
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A- E) e# A8 ]( `# OMankind 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)5 }2 ~3 `# |' C$ y
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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). x# i1 d. ]) a
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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)2 r1 O0 ?- d( E! r' U
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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。) h' o2 i' C; f$ J& h% S
( p1 i: M D3 \5 JMany 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。)( m& M' m. G& l/ d& Y3 Y: Q3 k
; ]7 ~4 \! b5 FPolicemen (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)% s$ G! o) {1 w% m; S
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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) + i! v3 G1 r# z3 X5 u2 L0 O, b; j
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。) ; ~8 U( F& v' W# M, r ) n! s2 K, \+ ~% }& P) P. o1 ^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。 : F3 F @. v( r1 T5 W1 r . e+ Z1 z: m6 Y; D8 B1 |; q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:7 ?. X; L: z/ m# \
7 ~0 [; v( I* `0 l2 b) i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;5 P) l$ J" f1 ^0 d$ S; o
3 o% i0 f$ { \ P0 ?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;1 r) W. V: P6 `& I! b2 Z0 |' y0 S
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;- [ k( p$ Y, J4 X1 V