本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : D& ]6 ~' s: [) M
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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), R* C8 [0 @3 Z O* V' L
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' s7 I9 r% }# c9 F8 S# O9 XMany 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) & |6 R7 o2 Q$ L! F2 Q6 ]. y/ N9 t- M0 {- O& \4 D" 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。) j( s, G6 Q1 c+ e( o1 X1 \4 o3 f
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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)# k) G+ Q; z( p4 Z% O, j9 Y
! o/ ^9 j) M; u/ w% OThe 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?) ! F U, d/ H g+ J, {' k; l9 [/ r/ B
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。)5 q$ [ L/ Z- P/ \1 V* [7 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) # D0 e, D9 M6 W5 \% Q* g9 q/ v) `/ `' ^7 ~. n5 B! z4 S7 h$ A1 ]
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!) 7 a3 N) F+ K( x) a6 |3 y : T0 B9 r1 ?3 E7 S: 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) ; m2 _. u" d% e) ^5 q0 Y) b) T% n. q) r. x( i! T. o# V" Q" K
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。)/ _0 u! A, l) z3 ?/ D5 j" i/ Z
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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?) : V3 Q+ r' i8 z4 N8 | 3 e9 G. a/ o+ o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! ) h: D1 h. F0 O2 q) k0 S! }0 s8 @& [/ C% U2 D1 m
3 F9 B" O( |; b 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。9 V2 p' v4 y$ ^9 z N: v1 C
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例如:$ w; E+ c/ a& }
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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)2 r/ J! V! m# w6 I8 F, N
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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)- D* M: y4 w* z( s- Y1 i' d
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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) " B( E2 ]# O& ]- P3 t& t8 ] 2 B: C; z: |% J! ^7 K* W5 qHe 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) 7 r4 r4 x8 W2 y- q: ~* B$ B; X2 S) f8 J( v: y" y, r e& ]- ^5 W1 [
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) $ l( J) d! Z5 i3 }4 y- [& J7 d/ {* y I; a0 Y0 k) Z7 c0 |
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) ' k9 V4 Q8 n. ]; E ! q9 j2 `) _; Y. M: X4 w7 MI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # E, v2 j: K8 c& w! r. V0 u2 d. i$ X5 o# Y- j! F0 Y3 N
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: & S& h& K! D' }3 ` $ }6 v. t0 t7 v1 J. n: P2 ^3 ~7 jThe 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 I) o0 ]) a, j2 c" `! E8 k3 D2 V% b( e+ Z, H0 y0 [
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.)& z; d0 d$ O) o: a+ i5 d7 y: i* j
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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。)6 P* u7 o0 y3 Z$ A$ n' W' [
+ v# H4 h0 r# l4 o0 P( p$ s2 G- DHe 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) ( D z6 f" I% c, R d* }* o- v8 S: c) |, x: ]& u3 b# L8 U" n# C' h
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) 7 O6 ~9 Z1 u2 s2 G- c 1 z! _. Z6 y7 u+ {8 Q) Z1 ^* AEnclosed (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) ( y) b/ ]5 x9 D; p& I5 [! N% D4 P* R4 }8 m U+ A
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.) 4 T4 ?) E( F, F# E* x' ^0 G* \ ( _. T& F+ {% j* y& G此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- ]" [- X$ o; R
" u: n. V$ }3 u! k; nMankind 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 m! M' \' Y" d/ ~ " x: D. ~. u4 D9 p% BManpower 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)! Y; ~6 M% @$ Q9 i1 `. V! P
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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)$ y9 t# s& {/ O m* V6 G y
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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。) , f2 J( Y' R! @6 ~/ n- [6 h! h3 Z5 f
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。)! _+ W; V8 Z7 z3 {6 `7 j3 Z6 b; y+ p
. A/ k9 x, {2 c( S( o! d8 MPolicemen (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) $ U6 ~% d3 Z. B. _" @! N" a- Q' m8 T0 ^( y% ~! D+ I1 M! u* m
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)' C% k; ^! z* \/ S) A
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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。) 4 C) n1 P8 W! I2 T- P! b. I+ l9 r' q - B9 `: B7 z0 W- f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。5 R0 _8 A' h5 R; L
! O' u: E4 ]' ?. B+ a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:2 x# B5 X7 X$ |. {# h* w
3 f- P' S! ] u2 ]3 e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;* \" l J4 n# O
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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 L0 M; @' \6 h, ?- B9 j5 C- ~
" N) W7 H4 b# c! [9 m对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , d# ]2 L3 ~, M7 ?5 T. I+ ]2 \ - J4 a I+ ?* r, p# }/ q" Q8 u y; v对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;4 u5 M5 {2 Z0 H& @4 m, E
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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: * B3 M; f3 H W7 R& y$ D* W( r 0 R" b4 t2 i0 Q, L* G- l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)。$ v1 ~1 ?7 m3 J4 e* a# x/ Y c
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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)。 ' g$ g% b5 m* s1 ]/ T0 W0 U( G