本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 l% ?. F, A, v4 [3 o# y4 c- x. R - d# V/ y2 z4 }" y0 i& a1 Q0 i转帖+ ^$ M$ t) r/ L. z
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): T5 L6 s3 N' E/ ]* v4 r
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例如: 5 \' q/ E" B* v6 q5 t y# G 3 O6 k+ g5 `/ ^3 H# LMany 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) " d9 c2 `3 f: |/ B8 v 6 b) }# V# M3 [- q3 r% o) SThree 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。). c0 {4 Q# f' [' [
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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)' I6 q1 n8 I5 e, A: ]6 O7 S
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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?) E5 g0 C9 |7 F" R& F/ Q
, y p4 n0 e9 M+ v* c6 }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。) 9 m s0 }" O8 E' |- x$ m& j 7 E4 w, F3 L0 Z- a' d. `- o- AMr. 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)8 [9 J2 x2 D9 X1 `
3 w! J4 x$ O* ^0 VWe 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!) + I" j2 \! r7 q" B5 |' N: p( b5 Q! V- K' j4 a9 U9 \
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)$ K% {% c& d9 ~5 m4 J1 [
/ B. K# y! { V7 hWe 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。)% d, T" t E J. t2 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?)' }' h' ^8 y5 {. s
7 D( {+ A; k0 V9 l2 z5 z! x: M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!1 w& j: p& c; q
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; r- d3 _9 e+ ^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。# Y0 T, f! U- O% d
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例如: 4 V: b$ q0 e$ b/ m$ }" f7 P ! ]& |, u) ~* C* z2 y6 |: RAt 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 S0 D ]" x$ [& Z5 A. x
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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) , i7 d% N& G( I# a, q; T 9 Y5 {* d" r. T3 b" oI 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)* T! `) c; N) R
- ^/ \+ T% A/ y! @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) . `+ E0 P B/ c1 Y) J/ V- l+ D ! |( T- C! o( \6 B. c: |4 w$ h) 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 Q" {7 U9 O. d: g# v' q" \
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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)% [. X! n4 P# _& X4 ?
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)6 D. a5 x) p9 B: m! b+ G
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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:$ U/ M9 W" [" ^2 }1 `
, i$ i4 y |( j- R( Y' U' LThe 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 h& x" g; C" v2 U 1 W! j7 [& H; j$ k5 ~7 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.)% C! D, P2 U: T
$ ]) i; R2 e6 [) g/ J% THe 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。)9 L; R5 O5 s; A1 ]: E, ?! o" E
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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)7 Y7 [% b j) m8 \; R' v
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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) \3 j( |; W, }- Z4 Y9 f" a/ w3 Q. J) U* I* H# O/ P0 F5 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)2 i0 O% E' t% Y
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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.)$ a r) `3 d+ S W8 v
4 c9 v. h. ]+ V& X此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# g+ C, u( a$ i- i
! R2 z& n/ M5 r9 } / |1 c1 {. L9 z" X$ d/ z1 L+ Y3.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」。/ s" y, q7 P* J& s4 y0 b
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例如: % u1 f1 z0 J- V : J( \( K! Y* G pMankind 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) 5 f0 ?! T0 ]4 P) \' I- J; p0 L1 n* P G7 @
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) * j* z0 O, z. f4 _: q9 ^+ l7 `+ [( y
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 Q, a6 E; }3 o, y0 t* S7 Z6 a# ]; H' P! R Y1 S7 j& R
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。) + g+ }! H5 x' O' q& d( B$ |4 g1 N5 u8 Q; x/ A* K
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。) [1 G% H1 z# A5 i2 o
- n; P3 P- _+ A/ 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)6 \7 G H' Y1 U& _1 j
, G, g! j$ q, w# w- N N4 XCongressmen (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)' v8 t5 s( l# a% m1 A. K9 B
K# D/ P m% `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。) ; K* d+ I& k8 U2 F& @; W$ n % o4 A4 J2 T7 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。 4 c; [+ }9 m# b+ U3 @, z8 x/ r4 m1 E2 j* j" ]9 l- l+ `* B0 W! O
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: 8 S9 h8 p7 j* @) I& c / T Q/ w* y/ n+ i7 z5 w! w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; p B" I2 f- R2 X4 U# P' C- G8 p' A+ [( Y h
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;: ^# L; c# d4 u" ]3 I$ V% x
0 z2 J9 g: u d. k) \% {0 ?对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;6 K, e8 g( f. f
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; + N3 U* |0 I6 m! L$ t9 K ; p4 H5 g8 o2 u% ~: y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: 9 o( M" a% ]$ |5 i9 x: X) r; T; ~& W, L/ e4 ^
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)。 4 ]2 Y' P0 J4 E7 Z( ^! h' i" E% x' I6 v n8 c. ~. V. d- B
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)。 : H |4 x/ H' Q. p" w: c