本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , |* y9 t- J6 I7 A, n/ o5 r, i( z5 P4 R P, ^) u 转帖 5 R# y/ @! P% @2 O2 G+ F1. 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)* E! ^/ g/ T9 s, U& t9 y
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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) 5 D# P) a" G" l$ \1 [% _( N9 r: b" s# a8 r+ [/ S( e3 ?9 r |# F
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。) % m6 s% s" Z y: T# v8 ~; y& E4 W / u; m, H& W; o# IThis 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) O4 }) m& A* M, J& c3 z ) q: Y; I% K3 Z" k/ I) g; gThe 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?) : z8 J4 O G( E7 F 8 f# a# o4 J0 c+ {4 @& M( N4 T8 uI 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。) / |/ L' }+ B. w ) d0 a4 A/ ]4 b( \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)2 G9 b% k; S% n% {8 Z7 f1 V! n
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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!): D- q( Y( U# r# N$ ^1 D
: F- o2 i9 e4 B" g I* r7 o9 W" D2 }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)" T, h$ q. {+ |8 i5 h
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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。)9 j( O% u( U' Z3 R1 v( g2 I) Y
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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?) 8 c# }/ H/ ]& Z: L; R; ]# v1 F% ^3 M5 c
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! 7 x9 X( i$ B& a% Z$ J4 s+ C+ H% w' `6 O0 t( M4 Z" k( R7 {4 x, ~
2 r& [3 z+ _( f( Z. e2. 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。 ! ?3 x7 Z- K# z) g4 D( X 0 A. _5 _; _6 D; ~' W! X例如: 9 X+ u$ V: w2 p2 I: [- |9 Z" H3 C , n+ B; j: l6 D" ~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) + W L" @, h7 B/ S1 F% j9 K. W: @/ m, [0 M. M8 l1 B
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) ) V. V" k0 f2 v$ }* q# U' ~7 ]6 Z% l. I/ d
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 J( c8 V- X, ^; g: t: v$ 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) B+ G5 l' E) a; h% b7 g: K+ u1 v2 j& N# V6 R
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), e, s6 o( n$ \$ _4 }# W: J
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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) 7 v0 N. d3 G6 ^8 n) D5 `3 y+ \1 y 3 x6 C% L1 w7 u+ n! M- d' }1 _I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)( P* D+ T0 k$ h8 K4 A/ M
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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: ' T- l& s2 g4 @2 n. O 3 ?# U h/ r! XThe 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。)! a' v* z5 o( P; B7 m
/ H1 W% s1 M* b/ b/ v) C6 m: |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.)* W$ B9 p$ u- I8 t! t- d
9 G. I6 Y- ?2 X0 P$ I3 ~8 c- EHe 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。)) T: M* g' U7 F5 }! o
( b& B5 C4 O( {7 VHe 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) 7 I3 }: R8 `- J# X7 P. x9 B2 r7 w2 w! j. U8 m0 Q( d
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) # h7 Z6 Z$ Y2 X. n & G: o u2 Q" _# J mEnclosed (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) Q8 w) s6 c) i8 C1 Q; t! Y, ~7 Z% W1 _; C
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.) 8 L. U, J- h* p8 ? " N( p" y' @$ K3 D% ?此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 n: C6 a# D( y5 G+ M' D$ Q! l: r
& e0 x0 j) B _0 }4 t3 v- P; v. C9 }! s 3.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」。 1 `5 H; n9 W0 G [8 x; |* f3 Y8 b8 ^( i
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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) i2 Y6 ?' l2 p% i+ p
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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) + v6 K2 t9 Q U" q! O 2 N% B6 j- H, r$ _6 H( }1 eThis 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)+ R8 v, j3 U+ s- j+ q" b8 c4 o
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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。)) n4 |4 f0 d! d
/ Z) K1 N* d; f' AMany 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。)$ P! z6 I( M) ]. }; R
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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) N' Q" W! u: Q6 P" o4 Q
8 V& s' I. @& t6 Q& e- K* LCongressmen (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) 6 _! |8 | I s. H2 E' d+ ^2 I+ H* n! N
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。) . |1 w9 Z8 X& ?7 i- ]* z " d; a! J' U* _! }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。 p" q( N$ j. t, o- Y* t 8 ]/ a& N7 ]; D+ C2 Q8 R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: & l, Q4 r( h: X0 T4 g! z t# b% X2 g$ F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; 9 f" S0 q, G5 P1 E0 a# S3 u' K/ P0 [" m/ ]3 s6 ^, {
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;) S7 d: m _+ \( P
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & Q0 N# m/ Q- n7 k, d Q1 s! N" s" w4 c对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ; c$ o2 g9 D" a2 M0 s7 W- N 1 ~( d6 Q! X* d) J$ f* d+ j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: $ v" j( L* p; b5 D! y' f+ |- V. w. x8 q/ B) a2 s3 n+ N! o
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)。 ! _# ^3 ]5 m$ h1 p( O! w / m" u& |, X' Z& @$ R& s2 Y0 W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 }5 N8 }% {7 n& `