本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 l" O: d, r0 ]8 g y( b
& C7 d6 |5 c6 A1 d# O转帖 * Z5 U7 e w6 _( p/ |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)% j5 x; J% O2 N( C) M+ r. d% ^& c
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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) 9 X& ^) N h2 W$ c/ S* F4 ~6 B) U: V. o' ^: O- e
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。) 7 Z Q- w" X: w U5 L. e3 |/ X9 e. e' R( S
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 i/ i3 N: P% v! q
1 n# d2 b5 k/ {! @: m8 YThe 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?) / }; [ Y7 x' V4 g9 d5 W; U5 e4 v! F; [' J- M9 f0 ^% j1 g
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。)* U8 l) f8 G1 _9 M2 m- P7 A2 M# N
" u6 r. W# T8 e& pMr. 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) 7 u6 h# |. P p* l1 W! _$ z3 F8 U/ k( d
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!); K/ N M4 f r# }, p
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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)1 v9 r4 S9 K8 X- o* Z# T
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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。) 1 \1 X. q2 @5 w8 L7 V / @4 I. ~& Z2 f: W, W5 SPlease 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 l+ k( T4 E/ K- {$ w% \* G E6 F! P: N6 Q
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!8 K! f' o* X2 Z5 \! g, Y
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3 H4 w6 X/ Z. h( y2. 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。 ; m8 z1 q3 ?1 j, \) M1 f" k, c- ~! w! \7 h8 n
例如: # ]( R3 L4 S' h: W 4 m+ z" {( B" O8 z) CAt 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) - e+ X \5 y3 h! H3 E9 x! b3 v3 t& i
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) 1 |. z+ o d: J, [; d7 Q( r. v E6 @4 ^% l1 I
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) ( |3 _. P! ~8 K0 e$ y& Y O7 q5 F1 t5 s+ m# k* w+ Z/ m5 k
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)! \" U& z( Z1 @+ J( p. ~% o; R+ ]
+ A; j$ l) e+ v8 G: z; |, xIn 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) f7 Q: N8 X* u# o2 S9 g" c% q c$ Z5 c
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) # D: [2 p" {! B: S# I- H- u - E- V( E! `2 r4 |1 |I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生); [* n7 M k. U+ K' c# ]
4 g4 N0 U. L4 B7 b. m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: " Y( D9 o7 ^; y5 y + D. q+ i8 y0 |9 g" k' s+ s, x' `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。) . y2 \" O+ r- u0 ~5 N& T# y } S
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.)# N8 \3 I' T4 o2 T# V. f; O+ [$ O
% h2 N' o0 z2 ^1 e! pHe 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。)$ N. v8 j* ^- d; y
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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)/ c2 I. u \* }6 i6 M8 ]% s
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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) 9 k( u/ n! Y, t, v, ^) Z, I2 Z7 P6 Y! }7 p
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)3 J' q) w4 u4 @
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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.) . l* a2 G% h! j* q6 z 3 a3 B6 v. L) d0 c" u; O' E此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / P' [. p$ O; k# x8 H 2 R0 S! p4 t) [, | % U1 }, d2 K& i6 O' K, | x$ h9 t& X' J3.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」。 " }3 z' K+ ]5 j7 H& i9 P$ K. @2 r7 f$ K8 z/ H, q
例如: 3 c9 R, b2 n/ J 0 d+ r8 D1 }: g& OMankind 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)1 l* f5 @ ~3 {" O- m! C9 C5 M' n
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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)3 b* u" \' O: L! `. 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)6 m8 q+ y4 e9 d0 q9 K; G" M, S
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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。)1 g' ^5 F& k# f/ |4 T- j! }+ w
' ~1 {2 M6 E( c7 T: v. {5 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。) & w# ~# }# O% K: F4 {8 t c* V1 R; ^+ R4 v' K, x' l
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)0 S9 E8 n/ T) w; W$ z9 M2 C
& t( X4 J: J7 h, d0 r3 I. eCongressmen (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)( N* w# i! B; q, c0 q7 ^& j+ h
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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。) # l" b* m9 w: O/ v$ B5 @2 _4 J+ ]7 [- B9 j o: `$ h
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。 8 j& F& ~9 f- M+ `$ U9 N9 W n9 t% m E% x
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: 7 J/ x0 i/ g3 l5 E V0 q/ w& e; y' N : N @# t4 M- {8 K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; 6 b/ q; z. |+ Q7 R* L3 Y 7 e8 L! J/ V6 j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;+ Y* l4 w; ]( y; I' r" A9 ?2 m
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! @ a0 N' {/ d% e" _4 m8 o) K/ W, H8 C. k: t
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; . V: l$ Y' k3 N) r . \; }$ ^. Z* e2 w: u+ d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: : L2 Q2 Y- a. `0 j$ t ' f( ?7 s$ ]/ @+ v" B3 a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)。 2 G# w O7 `+ Q3 R/ n6 z8 g8 F9 V( N& o. D1 g
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)。 * a/ u5 N5 J* w4 T0 p$ s# u: o0 l