0 [. S& n- G+ o4 e2 [9 e转帖 / S; ^- u# K- S6 R9 p: X* S1. 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- ~/ o8 }( p6 ~2 ?# G m5 K: Y5 c* p1 u1 m) O6 l% g% b
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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)6 Z$ |+ D! K% D- F3 L! | }- T7 i a
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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。) ( f6 H; ~0 i) `4 B: V" s$ h' R 4 f6 |- l$ z& S) }4 vThis 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) 3 R! X+ C' b' b7 z; V' e+ |" N+ Z6 ?7 a a
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?) 8 u H4 b3 T4 o h6 n+ f( C' C# U( j5 V! U( 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。)# ` I c, u: t: l! H
- _( d8 h* x% x; lMr. 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) ( M% u, C2 u1 d0 u! N. h G8 d1 N 8 Q3 |9 D1 K$ K ~; TWe 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!)" _$ I4 Q3 B" e: t" C3 _
$ D7 R! B7 S. M- M5 `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)- J9 G5 e1 b+ B h% d+ s L' b. ?/ K
! }6 [" M0 Y9 M& {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。)8 g% x- x. d G1 ^7 ^4 z& N
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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?) . Y/ L2 U5 r0 F& J 9 I$ G0 e( X p* c3 t! j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!4 X+ w6 K% p. i4 S
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) A. |$ W. B$ i 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 E4 ?8 c7 X2 S$ W/ H* k6 D- b. N: d # r. U5 O. Y2 t" C例如: 1 F. r; @9 o% @; U" z% G9 o2 N& K' Q0 } y) j1 p7 h% ^- N2 r6 X' _/ E) V
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)- r( [" _1 Q; @+ R, u' B
: b2 x1 @" C1 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)$ ^8 g J4 P7 [- ~3 V; j
1 i/ P8 d1 y( W Y9 lI 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). | {" m3 s! N: A& f- L
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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) 9 W6 n/ L2 {0 v, L- P* B2 i6 U8 q 8 l$ D+ C! z9 p4 qIn 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)+ g4 f- T. C4 z$ h3 m
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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) 3 e/ T$ }% p6 q0 R- R" n; i* ~3 o. `% i7 {# C" x: k
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)" |& g* @( `" Z/ j5 D' p" e
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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: # k7 _" E$ q/ d# q0 P- ` 8 Z- v! k7 ~+ X$ s4 |( G7 `& ^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。)2 [2 X6 \3 D7 l& A2 S8 B! X
0 V1 J& {5 {* M) E3 Y: _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 n* \. [2 k' p: N" k1 D9 x
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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。) , z% A: E2 T8 i! c# V* Y- J) l( m5 C/ {+ Q: E8 t+ A* Z
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) ; ]8 f) }. Y% ]! J5 e" x ) r1 Y7 D( u5 x" pWe 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)/ }$ c$ _/ ?8 o' _
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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)7 }/ O) G& A! `
' ^/ g' @: Q- d2 [( W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.) + y' l: X! V( r( t* C# [/ b A) w5 \7 k- J/ a! n5 V3 e
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。. o! H% H$ n9 ~+ A! E& J
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- y. n7 d9 l- y# c* r) k3.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」。 $ O5 S; ?% V- I9 R9 C6 Z7 G `2 I8 c7 W4 p. q
例如:" D; [' z/ t7 {7 K
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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) 6 S+ B$ Y5 V8 M, ?) g9 N! V- l. q6 \% I, O; z% k% n' o3 s
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) & S1 I: V' c, J' g2 a% z- l( l9 D+ U$ @ j0 s: L
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)1 A2 T- A, [8 I* i! }! y0 ~7 A
) o8 W' J5 y% N7 D5 g# IHe (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。) d3 q& I, M; N6 g: u5 l: A" d+ X) B! ~
+ I' F! o* e2 K1 r( U( W PMany 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。) : K7 b; f. o# @( v & W' p( H2 M! l( 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)2 L: R6 F4 t, i5 d6 [- H# |
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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) 0 x/ Q! I! S* \7 b- x- g! m) O, {9 }% P* x
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。) # ~" F# q. `) A# A % q( g& s+ Z% f; ^ I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。- f9 j; U; ?7 e8 {: ?
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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:& l9 ], O" [6 p; K( l5 e+ S
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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; 1 x5 _2 Y7 B& { S3 { ) N# k, f$ B5 k1 q7 u, V8 i$ V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 C% g5 k4 }8 e: u2 f# c
7 O l" n/ { O对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; / F+ S |4 T" J* V/ [9 c' w) J% s( j' m% Z% X' D
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; % ~ U) D6 i* b; [. W3 M( ]! x" i1 R4 X. v7 ]! _3 L
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:! F: o1 k! p3 T1 _& X
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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)。# p2 Q! I( E2 o6 P+ t) T
- L6 ^8 ]: W3 p: v7 O- {; v7 V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)。 9 {! l/ H, p% i3 D% P+ `