本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . S7 a; O- w/ m) N* q8 J8 H4 J" v+ u) U! F 转帖" n0 P& a& g' `1 a* |% c
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) 2 h' |' s$ g; B# n% P & [# p) _4 ?/ x例如: $ s- T/ T$ I8 C + G1 p! e4 h qMany 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)8 `/ n( b/ S* }4 b9 H$ D1 ]6 {) O
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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。) * m- G8 ^1 L" f% d 9 C5 f" z! Y+ J5 gThis 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) ! C2 U2 N4 o9 }" O: d ) I/ G1 M! i; F6 e$ XThe 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?)0 N( O4 L, Y" e9 u
9 P" Q) t$ Y p4 s/ |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。) ; M1 [8 ~0 K. o( Y& [ s2 ?9 O. Y$ X9 Z9 J; v, F1 `6 ^6 F0 F) q7 {/ \
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) % c( U& G6 c' J2 ~% P. C : l+ o9 Y* @. zWe 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!); T0 Y. \) B$ x8 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)7 G& e8 k& O% t" |9 t
4 \* ?) Z: s: Y6 G. ]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。)+ A2 d/ J9 K1 d- f8 S, H
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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?) . q/ z5 K. ~; w/ i. J ; u3 f, a3 o9 @2 I5 d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 R" O3 k* }6 C0 M
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5 b) O/ e% U# O+ j2. 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。 ' i+ R: z- H3 }% W k. T9 I* f: d; O4 ]( n( n' ~0 I
例如:1 ]. l4 E9 k* Z4 x! Z
* _$ \/ q- e4 c# Q8 e# T# ]/ ^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)6 J9 m- A4 o' }
+ c$ r; w% ^, P& Y6 r1 L7 EDespite 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 O7 K R8 D' Y; w. L, w' y( b7 F5 L( O
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)% B5 E- p, ^' h6 [) s6 u6 c7 u. e/ @
. U# v% R8 r* e7 ^2 QHe 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) . K+ u+ L. a. @0 `) K" O! a0 [1 |6 v) U& z6 m: R; N8 o+ r! P
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)& N0 W; V, a! o- @7 w0 R" R M
0 V4 P+ c0 r! g% wShe 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)* K; a( t9 V9 p9 q: B
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : q: A+ D) ]/ p6 `+ A4 v! k+ i4 T$ 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:# F' u8 O7 b( P2 K& f7 k' q
R7 Y/ I' m+ R' N* tThe 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。)$ ]1 X; D5 |0 T& M
9 D; F0 v( d9 Z: k- _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.)% o. z9 j; H) d( Z( ?. x
) W; K! o& ~* N) v* R' X& yHe 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。)) `0 v/ e' \; m' A* R U
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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) 1 v" t* E, M+ U' ]! Y( [* e8 i5 w 5 W5 E5 T- L$ q4 U( uWe 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)% g; s% X4 I. t/ N1 z9 h) B- c
: E3 _4 x8 v1 U9 C B# pEnclosed (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)8 a1 M& l" \" P/ S' u4 s% E" M9 z
- F h9 x; p J* N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.)& m# ]1 |! d, q2 I
8 e# {# \- I1 n' E& t+ s此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- @+ o+ Z2 N" b
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* g8 b" Q( p2 |- P t! j+ _2 u3.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」。" F D8 u+ [/ J& ~- B* ?
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例如: * f) o0 }2 p! { P: W+ ?- _ , j0 `7 @3 \& ]% 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)- F, C2 Y0 q% J: c4 u/ A& Z5 }! l( D
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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)( B; f2 @* C. V1 c" h9 K
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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) ( k* }3 \, v3 u E) L. }1 {% V/ B5 U8 g/ E% V' Y6 C4 D7 a
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。) $ W$ I3 x* p( i) l7 E. _$ z# f; L4 t1 S5 _# @& }: L
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。) % O) F8 ~& r) P1 H6 h; e3 d% h2 R7 I- x+ w
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) 1 ^% k2 e( J M2 x' w9 r, f& o1 b" l! b1 m" F, ?- L F
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) : R% N# s5 W& \, ?5 k/ Y3 }, \$ V& u' b" U& N* \1 U
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。)" A4 T6 \* Z; `" |' c$ \1 X
, i5 G% o! X5 a( b' b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。7 k7 E) C& |3 ^2 f8 K; V
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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:& h1 k( {: r8 w3 B
& x- n2 V: f: g7 i: 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; $ `; |. N% c/ d$ i( ?: Q/ i& O1 o6 e4 ~9 u' Q: v: P \, B( s
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;+ [4 V( F1 O& H" d' X0 X