本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 A, q b! v' P# ~/ ? z1 W
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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) " E: p, Y* ?( m8 @% [/ h4 I- E6 X, l; g! @3 s0 o. F
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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) * M% d3 l! S7 t/ M; ~9 x8 } 5 i8 z2 {1 L- }0 m, VThree 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 `# x0 a" D& \* O' i
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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)' B5 n5 o& g6 n% N
7 i! M, ]3 O( zThe 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?) . J F$ A3 ]6 i" [5 e0 `1 e' ?' P& R Z! q$ X5 c; n% _1 `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。)9 Q8 t* U5 ?% P8 {$ w
: d0 K" C/ ]7 l7 I# a% MMr. 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) , c) n5 b% {& l1 B0 C& q9 ^( C$ L/ c8 d1 }& {. e5 ~
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!)7 |: A s2 k1 F) W
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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) 2 h9 z2 I0 x6 X5 k( O 4 e& J5 N( Q5 L5 o2 ~4 T$ 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。) 7 H4 k; G" R* {, } w m% d2 V( K# w% v* e* z- e
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?)/ n7 }0 v! S2 C$ r8 k4 X' Q5 Q( g
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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!- U. r) x) u; B8 s; c
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& U3 B$ y+ T) ~& V" |, y 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。 ; x& M, J, m4 j2 N7 t8 d6 }! S0 k4 Y9 Q' j; ]3 y
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$ A* L! E& N6 s9 @3 DAt 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 z6 `9 p7 U5 J X
( z) D4 g( w+ ?/ ]3 b# kDespite 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 }- q- u( x( j
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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)& S( o* s- t; D( }
6 [1 z9 D; y dHe 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) , z( p" d) h' U0 b q% Y) d( r0 Z' i; B u; C8 J! l- f& l
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)" ~" Y1 [, C5 e5 { @
' w1 y) s' `* J5 \4 }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)' d0 V9 k+ d, r! N
; I2 g. t0 W6 ]' j" o# PI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 r$ ~! h6 s" \% ]9 ^: y+ d+ l
3 E. ^, ~7 k3 O+ `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:/ z9 m: Y. ]8 R' F: ?/ r0 v- G
! d! L: B7 c4 kThe 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。)- u7 x( p4 [) x3 N5 b e$ d- j
2 u+ y# p5 G! {- _( n$ c g' {1 mThe 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.) 2 ~/ \4 U& I& t/ w8 _3 L. ?% I4 @" v+ r% g( _. D, j% W
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。)) ^1 ?& H: f4 j7 A$ U
3 ]' ^ K# @# ` ?4 WHe 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)# Y, e w5 S7 N
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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) 3 [: r2 p; p6 s$ ?4 z1 @" r; N8 Z A7 b; G) }; m# F
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) * r) `0 w2 _- d) \+ l& Y# W5 m( | * e" ^3 w) Z" X2 d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.)1 G8 F: V" N' g0 O' T
: F. [$ f u. e2 y此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 y- ^' r' X7 _, h M+ y1 E . Q4 E6 t/ F, T* n8 n; K2 c( P) r& C9 u/ P 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」。' ~5 z9 p. |2 I; V! D
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例如: # s U! o+ }' t+ W7 G& Q ( e# j; Q1 Y. X5 hMankind 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) ; i2 k3 K8 \. U" ~* k, |( N- P , g7 T8 O2 K) D) I( m! Q, L. `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) $ W# b( V" {4 U, n# r) L6 p 7 F7 U& ~! J6 qThis 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) 7 K; ~7 G; R& D6 @' j 9 \* y; G4 q& K7 C S4 NHe (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。) 3 D; I" r9 a/ w7 l8 v# L( m4 @6 g( D( [! b" S) p" `& U
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。) / N, s1 h! G: N7 b $ {5 [$ U: u) V* O. Q% Y* }5 c, [* GPolicemen (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)3 I# P8 n6 O+ L' u4 J0 B( ?
7 ^- g, x. X( _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)" V) ~9 f' Q* n& t+ Z3 C( `; I7 E5 O
5 f- w' p" w! i- g% g8 Z+ R; v$ GStewardesses 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。), c8 \$ v- B+ z5 {# j; S! S6 e
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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。 8 X0 K$ c2 y' A- Q6 `, j$ W# @+ {: x, W4 I0 K
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:/ N- _. V6 k. G* M" 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;- N$ Q* g0 x j% s$ r9 o
\& ~9 O H" o5 r6 j3 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;3 D# s$ ?0 t: C" M1 n" i) v# T
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; `! ~9 z7 u0 T( k
, ^! R# E0 g4 v6 A) Y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: 0 K6 s" ^' Y# e . ^5 ~; I6 L" O0 \' z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)。5 K k" z1 o: R
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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)。- i: v* H' p2 E, J* `( X