本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . _1 b+ V2 N8 H* Z' o( O
4 }, K2 `, F$ @4 B4 p! s; S转帖 ; P" y. @' V9 x2 U! h/ {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) & u& I% Q+ W( o1 {* z" g" n: \) P/ u# o& D
例如: % W1 g6 \( y: X9 d+ L 2 }( N% u- F7 Q) V8 X& o: d& I) ^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) ) T( V& k: {( {* l V! k( z ' E( N! F. B" V4 N! q3 W* OThree 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。) ( y8 t6 L; U8 ?! |2 x " k$ g% S2 [9 A1 Y/ K2 r' _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)' x' l& ` q+ p' H+ J
8 o3 y9 R1 z' m) M3 E" DThe 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?) 0 x* q. h; Y c9 T$ f0 i* d `. n( B0 m5 \! F. C
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。)' R8 @, d; x h
8 s$ u9 n/ ?; G+ k- m3 B8 b2 jMr. 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)3 _+ P- K4 B) B! i5 q1 ?# d/ |! T/ e7 V
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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!) - h7 o5 h5 z: n7 m0 W8 b* l9 }' @ N6 D0 `( b) z
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) ; q a3 H. o+ A `4 z5 \ # f& {- y2 Z- A& f. g; AWe 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。)- d: j% q* P+ S3 t2 {# O- G2 @
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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?), x V8 i4 i% _2 R
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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!' w3 m1 S! J8 K5 N" p2 k; L) f
* ]) B' g# r. u% A3 Y3 `5 \ m 4 m4 G+ O: }, p! k2 V0 q% x# G4 n2. 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。8 F( U: |; l, I8 o; t5 f# l7 ]
% _# V; @6 m3 n- e9 k例如: + T8 A2 q) z8 f. X& q) F! M2 b5 z3 E2 ]3 F) U' t
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) # ^& h( @; ~1 d& ~, V: k6 A! F' S4 |
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) 9 D. c5 y: M, {, X- @& F1 A; r2 h! l- q: x5 K. F$ Q; a, N
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)- Q/ I) x8 ]* e; \! O. D* L
# ~9 _2 n! v' vHe 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/ }0 I; Z7 |
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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) 2 R) \7 z& G' p, P2 J 8 K' A* @6 m9 ?2 y4 f+ {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) ! H7 I+ _* k4 z 2 s" h2 K5 \1 f. B n& y/ P; MI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( g: l8 n) S* n2 C! Z, Y% l % d+ q2 ~1 Z( ^" e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:9 _2 _4 X: @3 s& A; o
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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。) 1 e# b# o0 }8 u/ w5 R # p- ^/ n+ D" L% D: h# K LThe 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.) / D8 ^1 w9 ~2 `+ W g: h9 {/ ?" Q
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。) / b; h4 z) {" e7 h; z) ^, U) l2 A6 u9 o - J" C# c3 q1 q' R7 _2 PHe 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) . ^; [* c# r4 ~( _7 X6 G# K1 s- H& @; D/ K( d, l' Q4 V
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)$ F3 ^8 U& m0 c" j" l: V8 y' V
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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) % w* f* @2 R2 @) N2 F 3 S$ {4 [2 _7 i+ s- P" A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.) ) k9 T0 S2 L6 R0 r! J+ L6 \) u7 H! F, J( N
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。) P8 ~9 i/ v9 h: M: C& W
: }+ R/ Y; n7 B t. Q$ }! I; O; i7 C % k1 B$ U5 L) C3 O5 R' `8 F% K1 d3.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」。5 c. [. E- q, ^2 Y' d
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例如: 9 y% O. C$ \2 g: e- d; f0 `' R2 v' R8 V' a
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) + H, n( E5 @, k# t- D: C, ^0 G* u) V/ J I' x
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) 0 X5 H: @" Y' [; G9 \ % ]' o! U& L6 L" j( {, P+ U0 K; Z% VThis 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); t7 ^' }- g* s1 K }# ^3 j/ n+ x
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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。)! Z, ?% h$ z; c( s
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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。) ) D8 i4 X' l# X; p Q+ E ! [0 `, c) y2 B5 `# iPolicemen (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) : W% [' n: t2 j7 [7 W ! d* n- H- G* ]7 o% z! rCongressmen (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)* J/ ]9 d$ U2 y) J( e& e- I* N
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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 p# }) ?! {, Q& v' n: F S9 G - l- ]0 [" {# g7 W: Q, t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。6 _# C% c. R' i8 O3 [- G1 Q% _
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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: + x+ F8 K& a5 S6 A: Z. L3 k) b+ A 5 S) k7 Z0 l( [2 @/ \6 q% w/ Y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; ; l9 y5 g y" A. K% v4 Z $ l3 Y- W! b2 d+ F7 f5 t, T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) g" u$ P$ m# a1 p* E. N2 r # l: C3 [9 s8 j2 O; J对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 9 S4 c# M7 f$ Z+ Q2 \ 3 b$ z% a, u8 |5 [2 d9 L对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 v) D: n1 N3 W9 W& \3 g ! k) L- ]0 I7 @: j/ l8 ^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: + m8 ?0 O4 U) x3 e* o$ A( I5 c! v) Q( F% I2 y
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)。 % h% H3 l* ^& ]# g2 a! L6 J0 g : ^$ [( F1 C/ r0 q9 O& v6 J {2 v, }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)。 ! |$ [* a% O) e