本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 X0 x" `0 U' r1 R3 k/ Y: E2 U: r. n- K1 G4 C* A 转帖 6 O) _* y9 q* [- y: h- t# B# t1. 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)! W# h' u( X% O6 `3 j+ O
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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) 1 ~0 P6 r1 \' J/ N# {+ C% z- [* A( N9 F7 h/ v9 ?
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。)2 @: b) R9 c1 U
& i$ z% U" l- J# \7 RThis 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 G4 [6 L4 R5 ~* C3 Z, c
( I; M0 J- u) e Q- V6 ]. rThe 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& U5 O8 k4 Q0 s
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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。)1 c2 ^( z3 g- p; M# m+ l
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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) " s! K# w' @% W% P8 S3 i3 S8 o9 k( w( ]9 v% H; \
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!)$ ~- Y1 Y0 ]9 D" G5 l0 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)8 r' o5 y% S+ A
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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。) , Y4 J7 R" H6 Q! @1 N& G/ z/ ^ . ^5 ^' c% i2 k/ h4 _: ^) 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?) & n9 X1 f, T1 @" I1 e8 _ 6 C- w8 w- j1 Y# [4 @4 Z& a9 r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!$ D. Z! e$ } w' J
/ p6 b! n( e" s+ s4 g& m' S. q! @- i) b8 ^3 ? 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。: ?) _" t, @& Z1 T" V
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例如:7 f7 w" x* B4 x: m; C
5 D3 y$ a3 W1 vAt 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) & d# t2 `+ t$ \; I $ H- i" P' `, O" P! E1 W# W) \9 _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)7 b3 Z8 l- B/ S7 S4 u9 \) u
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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)/ _. O1 `, G T
1 d- X$ H2 b9 KHe 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) ; M' Y# }& K; s0 K+ F: {3 v3 |) `) Q0 \% J- {
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) H$ ~8 B" e# m0 [$ K! Q $ _; D Q! I- KShe 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), r- l W3 \6 g0 a, v1 [5 \$ ~$ i
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 P) R( F) m( x! A" O
8 E- A! t3 H. X a* v! g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:) m* @: x+ X) [8 m D
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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。)4 {' _8 G- Y# Y; n) v/ x p0 ^
+ S5 U. q: W2 N4 ^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.) 3 |% q5 g. Y X& ^: l' |: \" Z, A 1 T( i. n, @6 fHe 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。)) Y8 b+ U4 J3 o& l' h( g( G! O
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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)2 _ q$ e1 b4 i" F6 Q- c
4 i' g+ L9 N1 h. Q0 UWe 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) t& N/ z8 G/ s% ^; x C1 U* Q Z/ [1 ~& e& @: }
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) 5 W/ g/ s/ e* W1 B* ?% U! w ! H# Z1 ~1 O/ h @9 e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.) 3 y! _" ^( M1 g* r4 k. \ , |+ S7 ? L" B2 H+ d" R此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& Y$ @. Y+ `' g% o+ f8 }
1 u2 Z. }( a* r0 C! ]% S7 s 0 q) w7 L$ y, O# h; c2 x3.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」。7 b1 G# h$ K, T8 g2 r+ y5 \
0 S" P7 [: C) C, y; _7 g例如: 0 S$ q& i: B( h/ } 7 G; ?2 z: _" Z, R' H! `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) - @. o3 R, B1 [6 U& Y6 w' ?: U8 T& E, O2 V% W
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) 4 l& s# {5 y/ d% l- n# P6 z . I/ Q8 Z4 s$ x7 b& R; y2 s9 _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) , V Z$ t7 U2 r# o* `5 P2 T% }# s 1 G0 r3 T3 k7 ?' R$ FHe (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。) ; O! H0 g: q7 b X }" w ' P# {& S8 y. ^6 _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。) ; d3 B0 H/ \! r, O1 D0 ` ) Q4 c1 p) e, hPolicemen (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) - E: b* b! ~+ L8 @$ x) n- _) U6 J- e4 ~6 t6 _
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 g& W2 v9 j1 @* D% i/ K+ v( e
7 e" N# K0 ?8 D* d6 u& D$ U. F9 p! MStewardesses 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。) , `' |2 v7 Q% t H2 E& c- m/ | k9 i P
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。& E: a- S: o, X9 M" A& M" H
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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:( [0 l0 e- o! G" d9 C+ L' K
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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; - u8 A! o$ B/ [ # q- H5 L0 E$ O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;& `, j) C/ b+ n
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. _ j1 J5 s" `& a7 v6 p, _$ i" g% W
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;" I. Z% D$ X( j! z
9 q" S3 h$ \' G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: 7 }$ z0 H, z, S/ j" ?5 k 0 {: V3 @5 M/ X5 T' f5 B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)。+ B9 X7 E9 n, w
4 g) w u* b% w) m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)。) I$ y& ]7 ^- p3 M1 L