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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 Q6 ~' y7 N# a1 O3 D: a$ y
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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)4 _- V( P# |1 r4 q. Z8 I/ q' }
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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。) + m! Y7 k8 L/ |5 }+ W2 D. v 3 b. e* k( L7 X" r6 X) ^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)( i0 M; C' c3 t8 d: |
$ s, R. V' h6 M" a; ^/ q1 W$ }# Y* w9 YThe 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?) ! ]% p* l* D7 f" c$ [3 N$ U 8 L: m& W: x& m0 pI 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。), [; R" f, G+ Y9 S _
1 G' y8 R- L& e* D SMr. 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) : w' \* b# ~- L 6 m$ l& z5 ?9 f8 m& Q# W V: }, \! \ 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!)/ T" d( k. q0 o% v0 B1 {
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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) % |: b* J6 o( o4 ~ O( b/ X6 m* G6 N+ @" b3 v* d
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。)+ ~: ^3 ~) N9 N
" ?3 k3 O" f. J( RPlease 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?)' I% q; c4 e. y' Z
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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! . L0 v7 d! l4 D; c: W1 l 0 d' I: a, h. {1 L 0 r0 }* r& [; G; Q* j2. 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。0 t6 M5 G$ Z( | p% q" W
9 l/ `; r# P, w4 T例如:. G. T. S* e# x4 j. h9 o
$ l/ d9 i4 V$ e+ v% l# D& {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)( u( E% O# D2 d: i
2 [. ]$ n2 V" f' n0 N# q2 ^& H4 gDespite 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) 3 m, x6 b4 ~6 k- g ) ]; D7 q, Z: T. rI 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)4 b1 m+ Q& J6 K8 g, a4 \; q
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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) % W- l% M# {" m. {6 d \ 4 r# ^* U" K9 ]& z D% x4 }2 `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) ! Y ]* e8 x0 x 5 c2 M0 ?4 y5 f! }( g K+ C& p9 eShe 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)% T+ G8 S/ d* L/ r2 t- |
; r) Y9 N" X) n6 G0 J3 hI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 ]- C: N5 i$ }6 D a; J; u : D" p+ |" ?1 J8 c* G' _' Y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: " J: u( i/ `- k8 z' a8 R# z ! `; Z+ c+ |8 e2 D7 @; GThe 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。): b/ M" J1 G, y0 T9 p( f) q
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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.) ( P W+ k7 G' n+ _7 H/ Z0 v0 x \$ c# ]8 D$ ~
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。) . l- n% Y4 o% h8 A% w0 ^. H+ `* E& i8 t- `' K9 g2 J( M
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)" p2 ?+ n% a: A+ ^4 U4 ^8 o
* H! |+ u$ V- y( W8 T* {, nWe 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). x n8 l6 A! }# h. p+ l0 \
" v G5 W5 m2 c6 N- zEnclosed (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) , [9 T* ^; l) |& {0 F- b0 M$ a/ r8 C7 r5 ~' y) v: {- {# ?4 i
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.)4 j: ~0 s% a. X t) k
1 J/ j9 b( v9 P: _0 b此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。) | ?8 c0 ?5 m, [9 y! Q K
" Q4 L. l' H1 m' W8 B7 }% gMankind 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)' e% Z3 F% a$ Z. r9 T0 {
4 {/ F) @% K4 j x R7 }# ~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); ^% C+ K! ^0 }
q7 e0 h6 e' 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) " j5 B9 I% X4 B, z; ]3 X( h+ @" c% ]
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 x4 v8 a; l' }* ?1 [7 d2 e6 [' D/ M( o o. g! I
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。) ) d; f6 d1 v) E& E7 ]7 I % N! T$ v/ d% o9 nPolicemen (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)5 p4 P. `2 {* I; ]2 F/ ^5 z2 ?9 k
9 B( X. B) i+ S, e x+ gCongressmen (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); y- \5 R/ |/ u
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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。) 6 y5 T; `+ o% k; } ^! t5 G; |8 }% F7 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。( |/ h: d3 P# M3 B
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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: * j$ i1 S1 j8 h7 d5 W: ] 5 c) s, K0 a. t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;6 V8 F8 z5 f* _4 h8 X( R, Y
& x* i7 m( \3 s+ @' D, f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; ) a' D; \$ c2 d) Q# R2 B: Q) ?& B: M2 }4 s
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; " t" X) z9 |( V1 T# Q+ L, v+ \ : q0 N9 R( C6 p- j/ h8 Q4 b对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; $ f0 s7 p# T4 l+ ~' I# N$ v! W1 O' C7 J
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: ( |+ ]3 N- d: o+ D4 ]( T / j/ N8 D6 e7 P' L2 H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)。% K0 }# D) A4 @. X9 C9 ?* p
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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)。 ; C9 |$ J# u' v2 }7 |: r; w1 @