本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , I. J; J( E7 o: c, E; G( ~1 P9 _# T3 y2 b 转帖 4 i- }$ `6 n: o1. 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)9 l. Q5 o& ]% f6 E
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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) 2 @4 {6 U/ s& W: y$ W/ h# G* b6 y/ ^& m1 p' X% U
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。). h6 X8 f. N: q: N2 A
# s4 A8 Y: l& s, o* {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)8 v% O9 ?" x* ^1 B, H; H
7 e" N- c. m& BThe 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?) ( _( E7 o+ Y" e7 i& s, ]) \3 v$ C; V! ~, k4 d
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。) * r# F! j5 l4 @ 0 u: w& T8 U- ~' VMr. 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) @2 r! D- n3 c9 v9 U( B# K2 M" u" F6 a$ `9 l
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!) 3 k! z3 r( S# g7 u R/ H* U# L8 D 9 h: q0 B' _( H& o4 M) ^: oThe 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)2 ~, [3 L" r8 I b( I7 d
+ c! T' S m& T0 h7 \2 P6 ^. RWe 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。) ' K5 V8 \% p2 E1 |; q p* g ) x6 b' M7 w6 {$ {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?)0 F# X: l6 [9 _( ?) [
( e$ R5 o3 G6 Z# L" Z1 I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! + X4 `! H/ ?3 D# ^& | % Y. A/ x! m ]5 V" G+ i1 d 8 p' A5 q3 ~' G( r' A2. 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。 7 \; m9 t$ M7 ^. d* Z 1 m1 e" F% r' b. J! ?* X, w% I例如:* y C1 Z& Z$ _# w" U/ T
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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) ( S( i( S* ]3 V7 H2 ~* n 3 o5 s& x% t; |- h yDespite 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, O( j- v. v) A# z5 C ' g: E- C- I# `, A8 w! a& [; L/ @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 K* ^, K6 q Q( m0 Y% T8 H0 e
; J0 Y% C3 m9 C4 ~6 vHe 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) F7 x. D9 Q" Z$ m - N4 Q" r, ` Y, _! HIn 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) 9 D% K* M. A7 K - {& B' E! J2 O' jShe 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)! k0 l# V! D* K# h5 O, |
' @/ T; |9 Q7 A/ C5 j6 TI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 0 ^. y- Y% R( I! U, u, }) L4 c! x& K1 h" }6 ]1 o: V% r
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:$ z4 P! n! _( y: A. v0 S; u
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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。) , n. q" K I7 l8 l4 g. O2 |0 _9 M6 C
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.) 2 I1 j& v& v v0 F! B, } g. J( Z2 [
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。) 0 k( }9 m& w$ }. |4 G9 `3 q6 c j0 o3 _' m# `# H3 g& B
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) d# L# H: C9 v$ O
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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)- C5 b( {& t1 J
% O j$ K0 K9 d3 a# `' ?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) 6 d( Q( t8 L3 ]. A6 K1 d2 A' r. _; Z 0 @) a/ d; ?/ g$ t# H4 V- E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.) % f* Z* p) r: K- w0 k$ h8 Y, ~7 R7 o) J: x
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- q! j, r9 q7 J6 c
) D* z2 Y! A# J8 j: ~1 ~ $ C( j. g$ Z0 B, s, x3.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 I* l8 ~' l+ Q+ Z/ ~. S
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例如: # j* A" S j3 w _" e+ v6 E $ `/ A" G# c& j# L: ~# AMankind 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) 8 |; a) a, V* B0 p' E/ I, W0 P7 y8 F) f& k+ C/ B% G9 F: ]( G7 C
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)# L6 ^$ C- K O0 v0 n, F& O
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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) ' p' P. _! G1 M% K: j( y, B( u- m! X7 x
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。) " P c2 G% f0 M Y7 R# |( d2 F6 j4 _0 ^% ]" i* z5 a
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。)( _: C. t* r7 q+ H# Z
# _! ?& f/ Y9 W/ v& b" J; iPolicemen (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)$ y: m9 n9 N- K; d9 S1 w# T
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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) # P% X# ~: }- C. p6 M$ f/ Y7 O1 F ; D. {: |& Q! `) i" m0 F XStewardesses 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。) ; h' B4 ~$ y2 F" g G6 l1 r" l: E; p9 n5 y
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。. }/ ]" M F1 ~3 o1 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:( K. s0 e r# L) p+ N