本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 N1 y8 \) M) v8 a) O# [
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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) . |1 m! j' P) k6 A) t+ K 7 D( Z% n3 Q6 {6 X/ f8 j9 j例如: ' c: }+ D3 E0 `& D9 v G 5 j) G. a8 d# s* G9 L( NMany 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) 9 R: R' Y. Q$ e+ d1 h3 _* j0 y; [ % o* z" h4 W! _* [' T FThree 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。)! ^3 O/ I m5 m2 f' z* z
3 i7 r3 t# B5 G" z8 @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)7 E, Z8 l7 A4 {1 K: I# L
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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?)2 \: T5 I+ b. [# A! H7 @, ]" q& u
$ j, i9 e; i0 F$ oI 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。)+ F" e" V" `5 N" Y4 R3 v0 |$ n
+ A/ @: y: L$ Z' ]$ yMr. 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) , d' D( ?5 |; t7 z S5 n# L! v% T# q) K' I
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!)1 ~. K* m3 u; K$ A# q; C8 u: B
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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) 0 U$ y* U: z4 A9 {) j A$ h+ Y: Z/ X
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。)6 ]6 k7 H' e Y8 f0 m1 {
0 Z% j7 \7 [2 R5 pPlease 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?), H6 R9 O1 {, |, R9 J" h, j
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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!- F& |' k p7 m2 h5 D. a
0 _( k: ] f' {- M 1 b) r. f, L7 Q A6 X& I2. 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' q! E1 v1 i: x% k( B0 z
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例如: m3 F: s6 E x7 i - N" e3 d- [4 Z* QAt 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)! T: i o8 j# j; d% g. _
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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)* i; f# i. ?$ P5 K+ R; Y) ]+ |) v* k, q
+ s5 A4 y+ M8 T9 aI 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) 3 s+ Y( n: u* m5 d6 a; d* H # V1 h& _) T# s: @8 u* |7 fHe 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)$ V; ?6 ^" F/ e8 p2 R0 g
; k3 v. Y5 Q# U0 XIn 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) 5 q }7 L, P3 \' X, ^ , k W1 v; @& C. T6 z& ~4 ~/ iShe 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) ) s" O7 r E# \3 p* n; q& C: I . n- r' V9 B+ |% A2 x7 I" W" AI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 8 n& ?; } h& h6 j- x4 M: z! I/ M" [% b" H
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:/ v+ r- O/ y' n2 C) @- d8 A
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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。)$ [ C, o, d5 |9 e
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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.)6 ~' Q9 Q9 A0 N# F4 g7 g2 Y, L7 R
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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。) 8 d v* p) D k2 [ 0 Z2 Y6 S1 {+ VHe 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) U6 K: x/ A* x
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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)( A3 a& Z7 |$ H4 p& O5 ^, u4 d
) X4 F! |, ^% S% C* j8 X2 wEnclosed (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)+ M9 e" V$ A/ W, ^5 \
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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.) ) }9 y% `/ C1 L8 P/ S + j7 q! E! k+ v! i此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 + M; }; U! e$ k; |& O0 Z 1 L/ d1 o4 [$ v1 V 3 |8 b' ]/ j1 J4 o s- j' Z3.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」。" y1 {: J+ {6 G& H
( L; |% D4 ]( L; M- B2 C例如:3 t( f9 j f% \
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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) 6 y) I( q: }' G6 |+ x) K c( Q! F / u) E5 g& X5 |) KManpower 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) " h3 c. ]) U; [8 C) z: i8 L3 r) J4 V a D* Z9 P
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) ) w% l3 ^) p- q ; X5 _7 n9 z, n3 B8 [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。): l+ W+ s; A; C) D4 N
) p$ Y4 t8 D3 z2 m, [2 zMany 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; d8 x- s- o
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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) % `: y0 o1 V- [6 a " H8 x' _+ `& `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)- U, W8 @. @# ?" X: `
' _& z8 B2 ` d' K% J2 \2 `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。) 6 N5 @* f# [4 u9 U* K 0 z+ Y6 a( g# g" ?0 d* Y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 n, j# `* J! d) `+ M$ O+ _
( B2 M+ k$ C \4 V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: i, m9 a) r7 j
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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;% `$ e6 Z/ R f9 E6 \
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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 M6 ~9 n2 |: F* Q* E3 I# e5 Y+ a1 j: G( t/ `& J' D+ t$ R
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ; F2 M9 J# x1 x" M i1 i2 I% e5 o 4 b$ T, @5 b0 q% a$ x- \6 {2 `5 L' Z. {对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;1 S* M5 T0 p) \0 S2 k8 n
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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:. w1 M1 Z9 I* c; c2 n! Z9 y
* d9 C9 s0 {) W O- W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)。$ X% H7 m0 R* a7 `, g: ?( G
! d9 c' x1 B. C5 ]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)。9 Y* w+ z" o/ d0 q