本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : [" \7 G- @. Q) {8 m2 \" i, J
; A3 W8 a! a* g转帖2 H2 P( J, e2 }' B
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) 4 q( t0 K f( J5 g( N* U+ ^$ @2 m8 U$ i5 m) S
例如:$ C1 U. M% W W/ Y$ s. y! W( v8 b
& A$ i5 W H0 ^# Y+ F& F
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) 0 k5 E6 N2 L- W8 Z/ w) |8 [! w, r u" r' B7 q) N
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。) 4 x2 }- i8 y9 q9 L/ l' i! g6 N0 f5 K 0 R( f8 j! h, t) U% _& QThis 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 j8 b( y2 l$ ?3 g$ ^
+ D! ?( s+ k7 m0 i8 |1 b* [6 X2 |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?)$ ?) s; C+ q0 p+ ?' d
% s& F1 _- U7 ^! V
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。)- s3 N& i% |3 B/ P2 l7 x# Y ?
. Q* L8 I% c* vMr. 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)6 L! Q! G8 _* c" }
9 J' k1 T* _4 x* |, {" b5 g9 w/ KWe 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!) , C$ u0 t, C( h8 q6 y , y5 L$ @! q8 g! g$ yThe 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) " U, h" R$ ?& S$ `" Q , `* X, D6 \7 b/ \; \* K% jWe 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。) & ]/ e5 m) i0 J( j- v" Q1 N k7 e' z! s. o1 d. ~# J; d" ]3 P$ k1 Q
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?) $ w+ p9 l; z% w' {1 _ ! i# S1 ^: t" H7 l$ U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 v5 W, u3 ^ j% `
8 a! m. s$ X$ N# J$ f/ l5 j
& n, p5 U4 `! I* E; Z3 l 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。 7 r1 b+ g) C0 b- K$ y ' V O# c' U" \5 L0 S例如:$ ]6 P5 S5 K% h/ W) K
. k& [$ @' U- j" q6 WAt 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) & Y/ Z1 V# b( o$ V' J0 H$ h! [& {3 H$ J
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) 4 s& C( ~& ~! W+ ~ / q" A0 x! Q& gI 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) 8 m0 z4 h2 `, T; e- J, }: ^9 @, F' E9 B3 _) f( k) 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) 0 q7 X6 m3 ~6 y9 b) A1 I: z* q6 _9 P2 ]0 O: x! R" k0 e9 _ k
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)7 g$ [3 A" L! c d) D2 ?! O
! ]! p' o$ O# P/ H0 {+ QShe 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) ! Z0 `/ ~% `( v1 G! @! Z# |8 P3 m( @3 Q) S3 X
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ V4 u! D& {9 T U! \2 e2 j
* g6 o& M2 _0 ^2 k8 |: C
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: 9 f% C j' Z, X e8 ^3 B0 w1 Q Y+ w; m# u$ }0 U c9 }+ f- H
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。) 9 c9 N4 f# O. f# W' `* k) E; r& k$ g) H
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.)3 s- X5 T9 [( c) D$ x' l$ U
2 W# J: Q: v! h' G0 kHe 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。), o% ]% t' G3 {& u
" g( @5 Y3 Z6 g) `+ f, s* 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)$ I1 }0 X' D! y) e' [
: g6 R/ l P% f! q: Q2 F: W
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) 0 a! ] K* _+ f. I- P : S" F4 r$ z" C$ b# QEnclosed (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) 5 q# L3 L8 r1 K) q' V6 {. f# Z7 M 8 j" v$ G0 f( Q8 O& [ e0 D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.)6 N* i2 X- c) x% x3 ^8 ?/ u+ v$ Y [
5 V: \7 D4 G) y! I3 Q/ q
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。0 t; S1 v7 H% G
- `) V: i: l% t( V2 Z' g$ q1 s0 t4 j 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」。 + J1 Y" h l$ L K7 v$ `+ e5 Z5 I# H/ s8 e( K6 F. q9 R/ T
例如:' v, d8 z1 t2 v, [+ G |
/ U2 w) ~* X" d d' k/ 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) / {8 C" e1 {" Y$ E3 ? * ~. u0 q- m4 i% rManpower 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) , ~0 S+ b$ X ]7 b! L, C " Q0 x8 w6 H! ?% wThis 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 e* o, Z; c5 L- q6 F( E
, A- T1 J, M0 w* [
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。) 6 H: z$ d8 _0 X* k! O1 X# E 1 T# U7 Y/ X7 l$ @! 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。) 2 v" E& Q5 X% i7 L+ i8 _ n. o$ h" {
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)5 N( a( v% i- q+ I2 M4 F
" F. J4 d. i% V
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) ) L: r4 V) Q2 O7 D7 j! h2 P' r/ }6 e* Z7 I" l' y
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。)/ v6 j$ c" K+ j7 G' B! M
* z/ c3 J9 h- X" ?. q2 x' K
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。 , Y C5 ?! l3 `" A& I* `/ J9 h+ l, P% h1 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: , ^$ S0 a6 p, W6 d+ l9 D: m# n8 g- L, b# d& y8 D `9 A# \
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;* j; x; N: d3 i
7 S: h3 ^6 n5 W. F: D
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;7 B) b7 o) t# Y3 T5 N4 n% b4 D