本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 }3 k+ e0 e5 q! c2 k X
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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) & ]8 {0 f9 H' U9 a. C/ {+ R , ]3 M/ O$ {7 H/ T例如: " z% h" Y; R2 t+ B1 F1 _1 v! ? % A2 s. c, V3 N# Y) m$ |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), c; x* z3 q9 M9 {& R4 Z5 O
2 ?" @( D! ^/ 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 `7 r8 T! H2 P, C0 T
) ?$ B p! V8 W& L4 H# W u* Q$ UThis 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) # k+ n" Y1 G0 a( S/ P . U, Y: b$ _9 Z& H/ V7 O9 OThe 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?)9 q c7 ]9 s, `$ S, J
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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。)# T3 k/ R t0 I9 t9 X
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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)* K. ` I- R2 i/ x; O a' K
8 ?% Z; X4 M' I; I1 d0 SWe 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!) ' o5 i: f9 T: W/ H$ ] / M5 I" ?; I0 \3 }* }4 j! g7 dThe 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)" g& z0 D7 E1 p% X5 ^
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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。) $ u/ S: J0 r4 S) ~8 }; h, [ . k1 D$ p" e) B* |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?) H6 J: C9 z" {; c' B
, J* E7 r1 T" \, r& k1 T" [1 H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 s* Q. D1 F
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$ b! C; S: q2 G/ _" Y 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。 # g9 H8 M! u* ]. V+ z. U; S, q( H. _/ B1 _
例如:; ^1 c ?8 v9 t% Y# ?5 `" K3 g. l, F
- p# C P* U' zAt 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)8 U* D! q! F% z# Y3 c) A. n \" N
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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)) i4 u9 N( m9 ~2 H
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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)# E1 H) n9 S5 M2 U4 j1 P
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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). J3 [/ z2 Z% @8 C! W a
A; `9 M# I$ u" C' D+ q, H/ BIn 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) : I6 r1 U* Z R. u- e8 t: r9 |' F: r$ U: P/ k3 b
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) 2 M1 B$ w, L. z0 e0 {/ \1 V 1 ]' {4 T, H& M. c9 L2 T; e6 N/ }I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 {$ j5 i2 L- S/ P
: D: Q% Y, [6 k- l: v5 o7 }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: $ I- R; H% h# h. _/ H& f1 r" i3 E2 Z2 [9 h) w9 I; u5 I/ M
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。) # r0 r8 {4 r- s- E& @9 g4 U( S6 m( `& Z4 s' 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.)/ p1 Y9 X; k1 M, z0 S6 p7 e. a+ x
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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。), b: w: v, _ D2 J
- p# F6 }. F; ~/ _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)! t U! H S. _5 L7 }
, e0 o1 A2 r0 s0 g j. AWe 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 o3 J* P z0 t% B
8 r5 n$ K: w1 x/ V! p% N b! U+ ~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); H& |1 Q$ X8 o, F- q: z! V7 A, a
b9 X# M6 ~% C9 M+ v/ X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.)$ K" c2 l% W. n: e
: a2 e- ~# f" s8 S4 }5 ^0 i此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。% m) q5 H! I4 e( C
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7 n' X- ^/ W! p; R: x* a7 }7 L) kMankind 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)0 y$ D* o8 ^( U9 ]+ o
" Y9 V3 x' Y9 uManpower 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)6 v4 o1 s7 l9 `9 }$ p5 m' a
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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) . T! d( S p: a' l/ T, g* M) R8 u; S; b8 E
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。) & E/ v1 [( B9 }# N! X# X. ^# ^* D V) D9 n3 Q
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。)$ A9 z# k$ Q& r% W0 m! B
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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) + j/ N( q% q$ i5 @+ q4 z/ o$ ]# z# q; \2 O) ^7 `) a& p
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)9 ?7 I# m% @+ N3 \0 \
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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。) D F. w. M$ a9 U
. D: ^ k% W+ I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。 + j n9 H6 R! U& L, I8 d+ R# Z9 ^5 j
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 H; ?4 W. D: C$ e! d4 n% ~ V+ X5 q4 g
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;8 v) o: L2 L- H- U+ p# [& G
G" k2 L' b, R: \4 x$ L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; }0 m+ A" F- [+ f# h1 r 7 D( R* M! g2 J1 S' X- `: @. T' |对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! h- I. h( M: W* w
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; # Q2 |8 t2 R6 ^. i* j6 E ) Q7 O) m1 s; k$ a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:& u8 L' F# e9 j5 B+ _& Y3 I
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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)。 t; \9 s+ D$ b- i6 d! M+ h8 ^+ H# R$ U
' @3 f( o1 v* _* E* s* f4 x4 {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)。 5 R. @3 S9 R7 f8 X. A