本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , A, \5 O% F9 p/ e1 J/ F+ f: X( Q l/ Y% |( A3 g+ R( M( h8 q 转帖 9 e6 J! ]" D7 I6 L W" ~. C1. 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) " M# R2 N9 N3 |9 t2 ]& _% S) ]2 T4 c/ D1 A8 a: 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) 2 |* P+ H; Y4 [+ o3 s ; Z, `% c6 Y! w/ x: R: ^/ Z" K- jThree 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。)% t; o6 t2 R A u8 \
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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)1 d- {$ d+ D; }5 _/ o: D( X
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The 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?)/ v+ J! b2 d B) {# [- c" V
0 L; x3 u* P5 dI 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。)- J k6 B" k4 d$ u" D
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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)% ?5 ?+ i( n3 s% d3 O! i
, ?" P7 Q" W) X+ V! C+ fWe 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!) . k$ Y- u1 B, ]3 _+ ^- `9 D: a4 W5 p) Y: ]2 m+ E$ |/ U
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)' |; `! M. G. m0 ^, s
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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。)2 S: {; p" D1 f4 M6 _
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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?)9 K4 W) j$ _. s4 \# }
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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! / i d' X8 d, O; y- y 0 N1 Q% G( w6 \* Z# c- ?* o0 y3 `4 k7 g: U T9 Q& }1 X, X. ^ 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。 ' J3 B& o" e7 J/ g . U$ e$ F0 K6 \# M3 S& N; p5 @例如: - v8 F; d2 x9 Y! j/ M $ E T _. p/ f2 Z& zAt 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) 2 ?, j6 N/ k* b3 s3 z6 h 1 R$ Y) E4 L( Z9 k3 P3 Q. pDespite 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) 5 C7 B+ \9 l. _- m* ?; _8 } ' e: U, J" _9 w: d3 T# D' o, O( ]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) ; d5 V$ a& [3 w 9 f/ D6 }, U0 n, ?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)% Q" a1 V. A% O! Y) }& `
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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)) Y! T8 q( S1 H. P1 |, M
% L, q+ l/ ~9 N" |4 k" {' n) [' NShe 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) ) ^+ w2 u/ O5 J' l: n1 J 4 u" _) C# }+ UI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) * a, M& k5 L1 M2 E% ] , }3 D5 ?* A2 s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: 5 [" J* Q/ Q; ~ 6 d8 v" Y& S: D# ^* a5 t, P( c/ 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。) 2 [7 z+ u9 J {* C+ y" l 5 g& K- q5 ?% cThe 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.) 0 I" Z( { i! _- A* ^9 g; _- _! s* C' p4 d2 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。) 7 s' b* J) Z5 B& @6 _" y& p5 t7 _) k& a+ L5 q: \' e; N) `) i
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) ! s: n1 I) ~8 J$ @2 x" l2 o# L7 L$ ? . ^8 l) t" O' \0 aWe 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) 8 y) p Y$ c" T) i4 R( ]2 p : M, ^! x2 q1 e* L& `0 j" Y" ~$ MEnclosed (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)8 y" i; p3 e1 i# L4 I/ r0 L% _
6 j7 {. S* L) V+ v$ I1 |5 ~$ S- x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.)9 Z" i8 |! i* z! }! Y% D
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' E6 _( E) m; E- I7 s) J+ P + r& q% X0 M3 k M3 @! |6 a& \; ? $ g8 Y& R; v( T E) n5 h# s3.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 [: f/ n9 O' r3 K# O# k" E j& I% v6 Z1 A例如:+ p' o7 y, {6 F; R( r5 w
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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)- L% P* l0 k% V0 R A# {9 r: j
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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) - j1 p3 U: r, r1 g" l* ~6 g , m+ G$ X/ n* S4 O$ l. bThis 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)6 Q+ t) F; v1 O \
/ F- u: ^ D2 h% A( JHe (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。)$ x& |% k, j0 D! ]) n c8 b0 D# U3 O
' \, L1 P5 P' g9 I% B% S/ T% z5 @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。)6 b) x }, q# N
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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) 1 a' D. @) T$ E% G s: W3 \7 B- I; U4 Q: e& m9 i- X/ p+ Z$ B; j- a
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) , d* c" ]) C+ ]! m1 @& t4 _% w0 v/ r v
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。)! J6 C% ~% [% T( L" x
4 s! X7 ]& ~6 X" O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。2 P3 b# I- x9 Y/ J
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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:+ F3 D" T5 S$ m& y4 Z4 h0 U7 l
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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;. }4 h- A" u2 r; |$ V6 [. C
1 W9 L1 R/ i- L5 f: l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;# p# Y' |5 T/ J) T7 D' [ X
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 t r ?- a) {$ B' K! e$ c: k 8 F7 J% M" t4 S0 |对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ' r9 @+ @* C' k" P; ]. U* E' m! r8 E9 T' N1 p
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:/ K' g( p& h1 q. _
: m! z+ i0 R3 s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)。! M6 K4 a$ c9 o | Z
* l- S& }- `$ @$ ]; `" |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)。6 `1 v% \0 G( E. S7 f6 J