本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 e& R T" h7 T" p; C) C) U3 x* |* Y3 Y) a: Q 转帖9 l8 |$ p/ T4 t
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)% m4 _: q+ l& d
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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)- j0 s7 J0 B) j# }5 w9 j& y/ S$ t. [+ N) ^
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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。)! N" h$ A7 R7 {5 c* B/ Z9 _* U
9 e! V- }4 c, n$ a" t3 D7 e2 {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) ; ]2 o F* |" K2 g1 G$ i 7 q, ^* M5 u8 `# o$ TThe 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 G- D. O) O8 z# N
0 p7 h* L) W3 f7 @; 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。)0 p9 N$ b8 F, `# E, Y0 T
2 Z7 n" Z: d( S3 QMr. 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) $ y, X8 S& T- S1 x2 h# Q2 Z 3 t( q$ c& ?$ n$ m2 ]& cWe 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!) 7 G. \1 v# @+ B* Q! s& v4 U% P6 _' K& s9 a+ ]: S5 Y6 U
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) 8 M/ ~, N) R5 I( z- { R, N ^5 n6 W3 ^* AWe 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。)! \* Y+ y5 Y( N5 z' S
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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?)1 _/ C4 N% `( I: W: b6 r6 n
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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! % b- L" [( ~* _) H$ s6 K2 S# [9 y3 ?9 z& U/ G! k1 n9 k
0 W! w" p3 z* F- d) x2 f- C 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。+ n* l7 m0 Z6 _8 Z
4 R5 j3 F! @4 ]: A+ S8 a例如:; E4 u: j: K- K+ \) ?, a% Y
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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)7 y% t( G( W f; p0 g
2 ]' @& L! B2 d4 L5 G- w' o7 {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)% q. R3 k3 M$ d% K
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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)6 l9 Z! S0 R) \8 y
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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) , X2 |; C! {5 G- m( X! X3 G 0 ` O' y' g6 \% ?' ZIn 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 M, G. |, C/ Y, ?5 x) W. T
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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)+ F S X: B2 d) X! o
5 e0 W% Z: l" n' t6 G3 qI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ! I+ \0 w3 C7 L+ x0 ?- c6 m 6 l5 |) h2 x) j; r$ b+ w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:# r! [( e- `- |% X- l4 M: O# Q
8 m I5 G1 i% b$ QThe 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, M" [4 b2 I4 a3 i
$ k* V3 r' k# tThe 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.) / B. v! @. W. F& k4 J3 Y2 w5 I J; R
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。) 3 A( `! U b6 V/ h( W' r$ M% o8 d. d& d& o! D' V: m
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) 6 q9 |0 K, k6 [1 p ( L1 y6 N A0 {4 J4 q- V3 X/ cWe 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)/ ?$ E# S5 p1 P, i
- v7 J& T, L j( f: ?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$ O% V5 }5 ]; ^- ~# B
4 x3 z2 y3 l$ L F. {& |* T) b+ }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.)- R4 L! G' A5 s0 f6 O& r. y B
0 A' M C6 Y$ Q1 f3 c1 H此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' \" T+ p I/ e M0 [& J/ o: o3 N* I8 M" Q2 T& x1 F
' h( J0 R4 T0 ]) x4 m* v# P8 B- O3.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」。 6 r; j) u' [( h" J- O5 P3 W, T# [: T$ L/ Q6 g% }
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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) R8 F8 s: I/ ^: {/ W
# N0 i2 f$ H" k( w) @9 B# G' H9 _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) 9 M# X4 `* L6 V. O/ n5 d3 U" r6 w# S. d9 e
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)/ R2 g. ~- ^2 g% ~# o! U2 h5 G
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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。) 9 X$ Y t+ J3 d, ]* ~ 5 s5 ]5 [& U; i, o, @1 c7 K% NMany 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。)5 L+ r7 k- ~% o* [: u- j
" l. l0 J; D7 }" r: q2 `; P8 i E: bPolicemen (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) 5 Z, \5 t* B7 _3 |' U2 J2 G7 y ' @6 d: K0 m' n( I* CCongressmen (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) $ ^8 o3 U9 K! ] 1 y* s! r* E+ k& eStewardesses 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。) ' O% K7 L: F C5 H. q/ S 9 }* L7 s4 ^2 h9 L z1 F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。; Z: p8 @7 v1 V9 v! ]1 E