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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) $ H {, z/ Q, D* z/ P t$ X) N/ @" r, [
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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)9 X! g' E- ^" ` o& ~3 ^9 A
4 Y/ t6 q7 K. W0 ]2 W! @" JThree 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。) ' E8 Y/ I6 G+ _) o7 [9 V' ]7 e( d, F [
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) 5 G6 P; `2 p$ o0 z0 W# a 0 y6 i, W$ ?" a/ s3 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?)8 D7 y- n. z& I
( f3 Z8 T# J( O! P/ z7 ~" [2 NI 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。) 7 ]. ]$ c1 u; b0 T. N6 f8 M8 y, A8 m) ~0 _, h) u& q! R' y8 m+ s
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) % B' t5 X& H& T * c) B- w! P* \0 d& ?- 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!): i& } M7 O& h# S' a1 ?' W) r5 b% b
( i. f/ o' }# `+ r( U3 {( ^1 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)( |/ |6 s/ T* \# R
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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。)% y% e* u8 L$ p/ Y* F! z3 F9 }
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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?) , S4 \* f; e( `0 `# C, a8 w9 } ' M" ]5 a0 ]. `/ @- t) m4 W0 f- m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! # r/ C" \ q8 }* Q8 M4 G- _1 ^7 t 5 Y: v* C, a) q4 C0 [; \8 s3 x# c* R8 b5 j 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。 ' S+ A1 ?' @) |+ t5 f ' p0 }9 n, L" t1 U" n, p/ D例如: X: Y' Y' Z. N2 R/ P, X
1 P2 ^4 W; F) Q( b) GAt 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)1 Q1 _- b$ O. v m' f
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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)# f m. g5 j: X% H/ k v% i' T& N
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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)( H6 S3 a I% [$ \1 ^' Q+ l! U
3 K3 e l+ L+ s/ OHe 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)2 `" X! F o* D9 H0 m( L2 q
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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)/ v6 ?9 J1 e# ^) U
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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) . j/ H1 C* C6 l( T& m% D0 e* G5 C) q, h' x. X1 L
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 m& s, D" K4 O9 c/ y , F" c( s" n; E* q4 {, l* K4 k- z% B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: 0 y6 y' v4 k2 H2 S + _3 S U! ` ]' I* P- v: \1 l: _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。) $ q% u: e$ [) v+ s } ; F2 j5 N! S) _2 ?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.) w% n' k/ |; [ p. M, F5 ]
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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 n2 |& x, @" d/ h
0 r8 e; _6 Z. I: V3 @- h. y. K, F; h3 yHe 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) - g* S. ?( ^7 k2 M & r/ {6 F. L1 i6 Y/ vWe 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) + s) b6 X, {3 c- s v, V, } n0 i$ i. V& S- `7 I
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) ! f. q! P- V+ {$ w/ z5 i5 k7 z' S! H) 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.) - b: _( [$ ^9 v6 z - B% ?$ u; U& U1 O4 H# h此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 3 c+ g" \6 R9 O" ~6 Z- l7 ]1 g4 g* e
4 J7 @9 @& M1 {0 W8 A+ [4 [* a3.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」。 , m6 g! }6 w. E, s 8 M; `5 f' U9 X! R% s; S例如: $ `0 }6 l, `9 ~9 w' p0 Z" I d/ s" W6 n& n: E# ]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) . @8 C( s6 ^+ ?: r2 m. v$ [ * r5 ~- `8 l( pManpower 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) 9 r# L6 ?/ K, m8 c6 x) ` 7 \1 {# h8 |' ^3 |3 _: pThis 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) . [- Q& j9 V1 [& a$ _. V" ]% {" n% b- 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。) - y8 y" z, @/ b6 p. E/ v* j0 n& Q% e; b+ i7 T5 D
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。)* {* U8 B& X' r' c% H
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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) + B& z' {/ T; j; |) E) T( m8 S% F! ]! L
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) / e) x3 v% U+ h% f% }$ v4 O- n& C9 u$ t
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。) % P6 h& `: V( a, Q$ N& f3 {3 W# V* _
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。- V; ]) ~# I- y$ p
# X! S- J; W$ N+ d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: # F" }' Y) R2 z* G7 C. t' D( c1 Z3 ?; l4 h( ]2 p) G ]9 c) F
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;: M1 Y! x! f( r/ d) f
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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; , h, f: H* R- N% Q2 a & i0 D1 E/ a3 k3 S7 E3 q% M对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 Y( @* v# |5 `' Y" ?; a- Q8 R O8 r
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;5 e. \0 }0 n' f* A& b) K" ~
w' @3 {: N5 N0 W6 R, ~) m& u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: 4 M, F3 ~8 @" d2 H) w/ h2 [* H) e; w. Q
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)。+ @( ^% E% M) ^9 z& y
0 ?4 e/ F5 w, N0 b6 q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)。 8 S+ g( ?' I0 Z; U$ @: J) M, j