本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 e! L, h4 V: o4 y9 t/ G1 g( y' e; G4 @- X0 ^$ i( n( h 转帖 0 ?6 u% U+ t w) U# A1. 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); Y* y3 w4 I; ?/ N
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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)3 }8 J" g1 ~+ ^) K
2 v5 Y" c* E. HThree 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。) + p- R4 r7 i# j! N* {4 E ! R; n& t# Y4 ?3 }: ZThis 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) ( v" z1 Q; p4 `9 B8 w9 B p# | |6 H. aThe 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?) m2 O+ b0 g) @# S- j0 C2 w" ~ + l6 O9 F% H ?' zI 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。) ]" o, b' S9 ~ ~" K7 k
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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). d7 Q: T- x k! X4 q9 D3 p
* z) n: A, x1 v) f% W, lWe 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!)% _& h c8 ^" z- g
! X0 g8 n. t, {( u$ RThe 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); ^! a, x7 n2 o: I+ x# w
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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。) 9 U* Z( |" k$ Y. e$ o4 j : O: l ~) `" G2 S( I/ L; WPlease 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?) : k! F* C8 k( Q$ R9 w; D l% F5 o+ g: r: _# ?8 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! ; `4 h; } V! J$ e' a7 d 8 g9 w9 M6 _% Q, x! Y# p1 ^- ]8 s6 N7 j. a/ K) q" s" 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。 : o2 b" x. e3 n & f f( r% a$ [ Q! K5 J: I7 Y例如:8 R* m3 \; f3 F7 T" _5 R9 d) y
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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) / q9 [2 R9 h0 Y1 l . O2 c) G3 j4 i$ `1 J1 P& 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) 1 U9 N/ i' s/ U% ~" a/ ^" l( x* l: e7 A4 s8 m
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) 6 I, ~; D" k7 o# U6 ~. B8 ~0 e/ R( o
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) 6 W [( W" {) F4 `) m- o4 o' k% {3 z5 o 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)& h1 |2 x4 k4 ~8 J' h6 B
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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) 5 q$ q! M$ W4 b+ j$ J- W" t2 [- Y* q( F1 u4 {+ w9 h! y& O8 y
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' f" p# _! a/ t N9 z1 q9 r) V9 b# r7 o, x& \+ T7 V4 T1 p
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: 5 X! R' F L% C, i D) ?9 A3 g3 r8 g
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。) ' V7 w2 `% F; C2 s1 k/ t! Z) O5 }6 D( Q5 }- u8 S
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 l. j' A7 U: k3 x- D% s
: T7 i0 _% z# _+ ?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。) ; r& v: C k3 q" E: ?# F! @/ |5 ?# F4 E* M' x! ~
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) : O$ |- H0 q z( V: B2 U( T9 P, f: X8 z4 o$ E: d
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) : i' K, j) P5 P" O: D m ! w, p3 H8 f0 uEnclosed (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) 1 F% ^9 L2 W, O# S! b 3 }, `* |3 H0 S3 R+ Y# @) y: v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.)! O3 D0 U8 K# J8 A \; e+ e2 [5 M
1 W) f, A) @1 B$ I5 h此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。3 P; w, q' ~6 x
B, m/ J% m7 u5 u2 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)9 C1 K+ E- E+ X/ w" y7 S) i
1 ]) L7 Q. p* s, p- l) 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) # J8 F- R/ P" v3 }2 r* a. Q8 e2 _( z) n* b6 O
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)* T9 `. L6 K3 E
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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。)8 d0 |% N6 `8 u# V9 { S; b
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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。) 1 b9 O- \: X$ } G# d d, H% v4 w- F; n/ V3 W# C0 H
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) ) N- v% [, v' }* @9 l K % G9 A, P7 {* C$ a+ r0 t' mCongressmen (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) . K2 O# _4 y0 E4 m# [- I8 E4 F9 q/ w' N0 `
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。) # [3 h7 @7 _6 D& _$ K$ N6 P, |9 p" r' E7 L N4 v7 H* F! s
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。 + o' u. Y8 e2 U$ e7 W- w+ ]" l; B* @; p; b; ?7 i( }; f9 o U7 H' `2 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:. f- X6 ?6 X7 r. x8 a
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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; " q& l. l5 G. m/ n8 o+ f& H) o2 b6 y1 c/ K6 N G# _4 G& L: k3 e
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; 9 b" L' a& r( N+ s4 z: m) [9 |, X b6 T4 d0 M" M. T' W( V
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;8 z x- Q% [% G* ]7 U
- |# L8 n8 a& g. [对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;* q# F: j7 o8 h( \2 G
; e: Z6 v) s4 ^7 I' U# l- c8 M. x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:6 V+ H, p; H" ]9 p F5 n
3 o7 I+ \) E9 C/ B( v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)。 . L$ q) h# w, w: m8 ?( k 8 `! V: w0 C1 Q5 ?. q0 i, U! D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)。- z) q6 u! o, S+ H+ a7 b) _