本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 W2 f1 z, Z8 d8 u Q
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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) : u' @9 s: P9 Y* {) c% j6 B' F2 t! [. u9 X5 _
例如: ! K+ \0 d0 o: d# e1 d7 E4 n* O8 F + _; G6 D: W% W0 r; dMany 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); Y9 R1 N( X6 ~) \4 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。) ' J s# H9 I$ f0 } 8 _/ d E3 K4 Q- [; z% mThis 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)9 B' L3 o- L& _8 j/ a8 D
; ^* ?; x; d; q4 i3 n+ H$ 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?), `' T% A) P+ k1 [, K% |
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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。) + c3 Q& |3 ~! }2 |5 o& l3 {, g5 C. O J2 Z4 s! Y
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) 8 J. O6 g+ R" I0 p' b ' F2 ?- D/ g' N3 e. {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!)# C6 a- {! h4 V S3 N% }
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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) 6 O' L/ Y0 ~& x3 S# m . ^% t% C; R2 c# H/ T1 Y6 XWe 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。) & U4 [" O4 i9 c2 z+ X z: O: D) Q. L4 i
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?) $ S. }/ z, Y; v9 ~1 g% R- c% C: [9 p: t' q1 i
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!" P* W4 Z( u& h$ `5 p/ l9 _. P
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; i! D% q9 }- b( b+ ?+ u( r2. 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。0 [& b8 h+ m2 X @. k5 U: S
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例如:3 n; ?; \4 z4 k9 Z
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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)0 I0 C2 d8 v: \ `5 l# y- n- c
7 B W: P4 F5 ?( t0 r5 B, a0 IDespite 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) / W N1 R) p: S3 d6 E- p0 B2 A* ], } 4 w) ?! B& t# S3 t4 e+ j; g! ?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); c5 {& C \' l) |5 m; H; a2 J. I5 D
& G# F5 G, q/ c7 e5 h, ?$ a# J& EHe 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)( ~3 e" F7 @7 F/ _" Y3 D# p
0 m! s6 C% l) 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 S$ U- Q9 ?. A* D
6 E( u, s0 n. }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)6 }$ D. n4 j9 ?1 d! Q8 K
8 G1 ^4 G+ [) [4 t) a/ iI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " z4 H* q! m& ]% V 5 l* R5 m& R0 F8 [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:& L" W" }1 o% V. h! `
n' y& \5 T6 X* YThe 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。)) G. r& Q# n- d: F
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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.)7 X! [% c# f/ ]" n8 Q
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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。)+ \6 q2 m7 P+ k
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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)# {& K1 \7 M. i! G5 j0 W
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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) & Z- Y/ f: N( q 6 ~: s* K: k: \' F" y3 k2 O* 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) " C0 g2 I/ R$ ]# W% g+ ~ ) v1 e( q% S9 L$ h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.) , h( }$ N$ E$ d7 B& m5 k: a % l" X5 P4 f# _, C8 }5 R1 ~+ C此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ; A5 ]$ {% ]3 V! g9 f ' D, u- _7 a9 @) J : u0 y E* f ]1 X. N" r+ A; 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」。, y5 e/ {9 p6 T& T1 k
' ]; ~( W( z x; U例如: ) e U0 U; I) T: H4 D; P7 K- t # W4 M' R8 [9 h2 O; I9 V3 m7 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) & m1 Y, ` Z2 ~/ R T 3 p0 ?3 W, V" J2 U/ m' F) b: H/ sManpower 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) 4 n, F3 n/ [0 Y, `" {) b ( ?/ ?! k% I3 y; o1 ZThis 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) # n8 g4 X# j f" S0 g + L. n: T- T& y+ hHe (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。) $ L Y4 W) |5 U( K8 E ! R2 t7 _+ D) S) c, VMany 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。) 8 _0 x2 U/ J* y4 \1 A' H* O! m/ ~* [# O- f$ k8 J% V4 L/ o) }
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) $ x7 S! m1 _# j# g q# ^2 S- ~
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)' w7 t9 o4 h( }- ^. Z. s$ L
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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。)1 p! o3 k$ _- U1 H' d0 f4 x
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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。 5 T& Q: ~7 p& r' K& K' B% P" k8 u0 r4 P; {( C
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: 4 a& u, I8 i/ l% `2 P* A- t ! o0 f3 g) N0 J& W- l$ Q" i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; 4 A. n! N- T5 n8 T3 i! ` 6 U: w3 h5 B A6 u$ {0 B c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;$ ~+ f! ]9 h6 \3 Y' |0 I
8 R# B: x+ I+ D: K2 _9 B对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;9 j! M5 O4 h, t
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - T+ m% y+ W6 i8 d7 G: d/ g1 n 4 o& f' t6 w! e @$ H" z$ i E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:; o! P# u# h% J. G5 J
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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)。4 l' C# e! c' o o5 }: U0 a
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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)。 / [' Z) {6 F( r7 r