本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ; e, I6 F( q( r" `) ?9 p* h3 p' e+ i" K9 z4 ~2 i 转帖+ X9 F2 q1 J" s! e
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) 0 o, K1 G+ [( G( n9 `3 f& Q* ~+ a. j3 Q; R% x1 o8 K- ~4 C' ^
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, z2 S" ]4 o$ V" q% V0 ?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 i" n$ y; t: T. N7 G5 S4 K# }, @4 }% `) l1 L0 f
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。) H b d6 F+ K$ P; z# T0 v; C+ R1 S# H. q Q
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 T+ a( A+ h4 ^/ |$ W S& K/ Q: ]& H2 }% t+ Q6 h3 S
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! R5 ~4 X: ~ K4 ?! L f, M $ K& u3 d9 X, g9 eI 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 y. R/ ]) l+ q6 d. e/ S / c6 ]+ [3 F* g" r7 y2 }3 c4 ^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). e% V' K9 T( Y: L
0 j* ~2 ]' U% e2 |. r. J% yWe 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!) ' j, E* ]4 ]/ W6 R8 T 6 A. V: S' P" r9 GThe 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)! p9 |, }- ]! D; W
- k8 n+ f1 X2 I7 v& B+ ?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。) , f" S8 t! R8 W $ z6 w& o5 {3 X& ~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?)' u) _. I5 t/ c% ]+ y- D9 w \
1 F; {" x$ `) w1 v* S* 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! $ J2 R3 F, @! K4 K7 H7 X$ e6 ?" J/ m) [
) c+ b* D" W6 P2. 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。 2 @$ H5 U+ D3 [) q1 t- G; N4 m 5 m, v5 ?" T3 R F* f1 ]2 B4 z例如:9 E. [3 e) j3 q. ^
* _+ d; B+ n2 ~4 s% N* i) w. SAt 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)" L# i5 p- H, b) i5 S
8 j( a* [; g, Y6 A8 g, aDespite 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)3 B) h4 C; r" }* u; F: [1 T
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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) : T! U! t" E% t: ~' k$ Q, o [' I$ E* G* x# R; y/ B9 z
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)" g, @, ^1 I% K$ ~/ `
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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) , i0 K: w$ z# r% L% c6 [ " q9 ]$ C% U4 F0 z5 P2 |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) 9 p4 l1 i1 S! Y: z/ K) g $ [" U8 b1 E: O" L7 jI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 8 N" h4 S7 f7 @: L0 Y, l' l: E) c; B5 w% w- Y( a
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: ; X2 w5 J! u% y& m& h8 x9 K4 w m0 C, F6 q X/ n
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。) 6 Y& A1 d! K/ X, z, ^ 5 c: W, S: C. XThe 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.)* v& S# a% I; `7 m
% T5 W6 D9 m* V5 q+ h$ AHe 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 `9 P* \/ m# B5 E6 W* z! 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) ) b/ A: j- C* x+ p+ \) W! U' k2 q' Y1 w( C @7 e
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 Y# l; r7 J- V3 {$ L! @1 E( j
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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) , I- i% @" _8 M, D. D! `' ?' p : t0 h4 g+ Q& D, d) i, @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.): G8 c3 P4 q5 e- c
; ^# R# L& f2 ~. |# F此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 o3 m' Y. A9 H* @. H/ d
/ X' C( g. i8 b4 b1 p0 q6 z' F) t7 f 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」。 3 S, y* D1 N; g8 Z( Y- F6 i( g. b) `' B7 S: R' z
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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) 7 O( N* P* ~( F G, F; |3 s$ ]$ J0 l1 n, ~0 I
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)$ D1 u m; V0 @* _2 c F
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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) # x( ?. d, W; ^7 p R3 v* B( V5 ]5 i " Z0 Q4 N: d, `: b. ?2 k: s- x' PHe (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。): E+ I, h, ~$ \9 v$ U' v& d
; G5 y! ], c% AMany 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。). P/ ^: ^+ l/ W
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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) 8 z& J# U W3 g7 X * D' A( q/ J* J0 C2 @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) & A( ?/ j2 ^7 R B " [. o& h3 y7 v$ l- l1 q4 YStewardesses 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。)% t5 P( r* J: C5 y* f1 A