本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 I! p7 M9 u, M' n* _6 s* S- E ) e5 R9 |) w8 [- d) g$ R转帖0 z7 E9 T2 S B, `% L
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) & m0 q" \4 J) g* a : d8 H; S! H E+ }9 S" q3 \3 a例如: : Z+ m: G+ e( x T! Y $ \: _% ?) H9 w0 Z9 L+ JMany 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 q9 c. u; K* N& T; ^
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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。)4 p$ i4 G" V8 R( E. W7 _. r8 C
7 ^# W4 ~& {1 y$ `% W, FThis 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); R7 a" M2 L* g9 J
2 c5 R, g6 J1 _2 xThe 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 V& Q, ^+ ]. x X8 w2 z, y6 u& u/ B3 f5 x1 @! c4 Z. s
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 d6 h* {7 @ y9 Y6 \ 1 C" d+ I9 B5 o/ M" KMr. 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) ! }' Q$ c$ d3 | v6 E( f+ n " v' y8 M: P7 t& ~$ V. pWe 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!)$ K3 O v* `( Y
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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)/ c8 t" s# {2 n
% }, i+ ^$ c) ]# J ~& qWe 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。)" A8 j* _* U: X3 G! F. d" p
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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?)$ }! e1 t3 l# T! s1 L6 f
y2 m% ^) x5 N$ }! S' U8 q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!/ W" l) f8 C3 ]' |# @9 V$ ?
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# ]1 V( j( ]) E- V+ V, o2. 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 {1 P& ~, i: s: u f
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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) [8 k: X/ |6 x4 B5 I
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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)$ H/ U# I4 X! A# B- o6 W
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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)5 C8 [: _0 D& U* z
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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) + i$ o) l7 c1 S ; j: p0 B. D y- r$ D7 W" aIn 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)! U5 b8 s0 J1 a) b
6 H% f" ]6 R. ?5 zShe 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) 3 J2 Y- H5 o+ C5 I1 n _# e* d1 z$ \) O* |; q
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 9 u7 K8 s% R- T. p: I9 z4 G& J' K7 d: ?/ v: A% k3 E8 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 a7 [# [7 q( r 2 Q- x" J+ {6 f6 E, y2 V5 iThe 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。) 1 ^- B6 o& d4 t . D; \8 X+ d4 |4 w. @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.) ) u% Z( }/ f5 M. G# l6 ?/ e' `/ f; [4 C% l) [
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。)' }' O* s! x/ Y; a# N) p6 }0 P" k0 E
. _4 Q& A$ ~) {# xHe 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) " B5 X2 F* Z% y% x. ]5 d! o/ _6 _: W
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); N- e9 y2 {2 C* _5 H& v6 l
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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) / {% K- `: }% r$ i: m9 v! u + v, r) S3 {4 N H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.)0 U+ Y2 s3 r4 h3 Z0 t. V3 m
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 _- H3 y4 r5 y" G6 A* k: E, a9 Q: H5 Q
5 E1 _7 x, @+ N5 H u- p6 ^) Q& B- Q8 ^; m$ n9 G: U2 C 3.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」。 * N: H2 m' W6 U 5 H+ Y8 P1 R) b1 D3 a例如: # ]' ]* Q+ j' W2 E3 I/ m; F# b. \. q( w
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): ^1 ^ ^3 J1 K; z
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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) 8 \) G E' H- O0 Z1 |# \) ^. k/ X, G
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)5 T2 j7 F- m/ w: }5 _
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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。). r+ j3 _8 p9 @, j2 |* ]
' B9 s& V- |! c' ~9 ~ _* kMany 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 y1 n% d; w& D* f5 _5 W' e; h* P, j' C/ e, |
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)' U7 v) W; W. G) I
2 R' {/ T/ v }+ V# pCongressmen (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)' B8 O- t; K& b& n9 E& Z: v h# ~
`$ x, E6 \7 UStewardesses 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。) * w* u- g0 }! F5 ?% R, ~ - d$ ~% q6 J- L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。( g" v; N* x7 T& |+ p2 d6 I
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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:" F7 [) J3 h/ N! |) @( Z
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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; 2 Z3 R, t, M# z* [- S; \' M& ]/ o6 T$ B4 ^ I5 N: q
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;) Z9 A+ `$ {) g( @3 a
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! t4 d. J$ y8 P8 R7 |+ R9 F: v
, u9 J- z; d2 Y7 m; o. s对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;/ j6 m. M" s: \( x# w
+ r# i. D/ E" v: |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: 5 _- O8 \: E- @8 w E; U( {5 o; N6 S \. Q& `$ N
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)。 0 t7 o* B! F! ]9 ?- D+ C# W7 T( k9 @, a [& V: Z
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)。2 j& {+ q5 _8 @. v6 i6 i- l