本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 & [- a3 Y2 v7 U3 J, J* h
+ c: [' w+ j' M# d$ v! u Z D; e转帖 & W1 P* l6 ]" u, y2 k1. 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) & i: N: v2 e9 k) ]) |( \& D! _- t$ a 6 x4 J: V) y" ^例如: 7 R4 Z* k6 K/ N8 B0 |. R9 s3 f8 s 3 t: Z/ ? V+ MMany 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) 5 i, t: w+ V ]2 | w * @ w' d: s$ D# K& z. B- IThree 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。) ' c: g% E8 b2 O; u/ x% v% ^ F* H, |, k9 k
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)# V8 k: j+ i, n; B* j
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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?)9 v5 ?1 S# C4 C% c# t# p* k4 K$ A
4 T* c* g( e4 `5 {4 {( a; EI 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。)1 q; U M, \; }/ @
7 P' G, l! x; d, B% y! E, P1 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) 1 _) q f8 F" e$ }- o7 f' R + b. p( ?; U9 V+ c3 ~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!) 9 w$ M6 O; T2 W8 o" P; @% @, m1 _# I% F6 N# j n- c$ ]
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)' z$ j; I5 g( g& Y/ J" A
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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。) ) J0 [2 p2 I { M% z3 \1 q: x2 ]+ D4 m
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 d9 H: ^9 S& O
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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! ( Z3 N% i5 N8 S2 D/ X% J4 n1 O7 R0 \3 [8 ?2 _! I
. C' W" w, F! J1 m d 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。 8 C& N5 I {% m( e6 H: M* l+ V * M7 a$ I, w( Z2 `5 Y( i1 i* P0 T例如:3 A0 q4 n7 U/ b9 s6 ]( x, |% t0 g' p
3 K! Y t" v4 M, n8 _+ Z+ A7 tAt 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)+ h/ @; n5 I$ T6 }
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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) + F2 R: }) i' N/ M# N5 a ?7 X5 t. }7 ~9 x
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) $ n( ]4 W! ^ X! Q# ^" |0 X# S( ~- ~ 4 }. _' w, T9 `1 w _+ t& a4 z4 MHe 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) & G5 O0 _( v$ \7 f; U0 i2 D8 f1 D' k+ [, o4 \- _
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)7 h* X+ q* O% w* E% x! U2 A: l" [
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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)+ ]0 F( N- {/ c/ L) n4 S
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)6 q, b% Z, f: Z6 k; t7 `# v
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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 f% Y+ b' ]/ j% v* _! A& [: I. ^* }% N# M6 L, { W
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。)+ f9 X6 E' M7 z) H8 M
0 ?% S4 z3 c; M5 ]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.)6 k( @3 J$ S2 L
% u. U0 V* n- ]: `; nHe 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。) , K+ H( p* [5 S( `* g9 K5 t5 J# D7 Q3 k7 f- P$ ], n/ [/ v
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# S1 C4 ?. ]" h+ _1 Y# ?. M) G* D
( R9 b: {5 l4 r2 ]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) 5 I3 }* o6 t: q b T, s' M9 B, W) ]$ s2 X5 o
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) % u. r! g/ C+ C5 f9 Q( H K4 X. o' C9 T) U2 ?$ U2 T3 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.) 7 V# o+ d0 E( p* W/ G' X; W6 |8 A. w6 e7 o
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 R" `7 }& @5 `( H* J, i/ f" e1 y) W3 g- F/ J
* \% N+ W' p1 q. y0 g/ N; U3.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」。 ' `7 j g" S' n - g( R$ ?6 }7 F例如: 5 F7 }6 J% i4 b! q+ @& L v) ]% a7 e
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); N7 X5 ^! |. B) i
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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)) N& q. `3 `- z# H7 P7 Q w
4 D5 W, W. i d$ W+ e w) fThis 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)5 a- Y8 K6 I9 T3 @' B2 r4 w
& b9 [# L# e3 t0 JHe (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。) 6 e! u: [/ H* i% v b, w* f3 o& g& J% ?) q; P$ c
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。)' {* I3 P% q. `; j5 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) ) C i. Z! p& d1 k6 G, t {: H0 s$ M 2 H; g" i0 t: H) D K# wCongressmen (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) / A: c3 N* x. @! c( C" V6 P 7 G. i8 E. L0 n" T: fStewardesses 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。)) P. h6 f: t: [( f
5 k5 Q% M- o3 \$ }0 `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。" P4 }7 V( S- l" [2 l1 `
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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:' W& h" \# E% B# C% ~
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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; ; d, ]+ t+ v* F( f. _) {/ W- d4 K
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; % Z1 X! P3 M6 J( [# M: `4 c; Q" d! q/ t* ~
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ; _1 v( Q. Q7 v5 m$ U$ p+ p1 r2 E5 g
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;% h0 n" ^5 A8 q. H$ I
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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: 5 T0 R: P# B$ `' M' c0 R0 F. }4 d3 f# ~& B6 ?9 K' 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)。 1 y+ [, ]' X2 L/ k" T) ~' f. p " b( C8 {, i' G% r d4 i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)。 & O" y) _1 x) U8 F, S2 X