本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 q) h; P9 l! L/ G- q7 C
X; F( {7 n9 n( Q9 z$ b 转帖 . f* i P) V H& a1. 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), ^4 E0 O \' @. H5 @- e
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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)3 a8 \9 L. o; r9 C
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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。) & |3 Q' c6 O8 F9 K% K4 E# _8 T1 p. p: n. c. X2 l3 `
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)8 T* O |& F! q0 V7 i" s$ ]. R) r
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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?) : w" s( w. s+ w. ? ( @. c$ y. m7 F7 d/ `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 ]5 J8 i, h2 @) y5 m : _- t+ s* P; hMr. 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)$ K4 x6 m# [, n
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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!)! }8 Q2 A% z* @. g
; D0 ?* j) L+ g- k2 a, O+ WThe 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) " l. M( l% K7 K# k9 z* \* b& g& b1 j! w! ]
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。) * D9 }) _; ?; ~# h/ l' |: e' F% ^9 k* P
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?)) _. g) f/ Q7 M9 U* e) i/ D
' X6 m& g0 g. |/ k4 p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!" ?& k" l+ ]: [- b% \
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% \4 P. f" v5 X+ M7 S/ a( c2 v 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。 1 S% f$ [* C, U9 B/ B" V5 B8 R O4 z: s* [- w3 T
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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); Q0 I5 u g8 M+ l+ s
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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 i; o$ @# v" [ D; X1 h; R! @2 O1 n4 w; E
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) ( i! D- [( [: l1 h1 h A$ [' @/ ? + e) w# k/ T9 }: K0 k) S* zHe 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) ! p* Z$ L& G: s( |7 T$ Y & k7 |( x, P p# TIn 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)9 _+ q- | f4 ~. ~) M% F/ ~
3 J+ l. v, Y: ~0 \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)5 g6 Y( h6 R% e% f1 a
2 l6 H. ~- U9 }$ o3 V4 EI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) / q& Q* U5 i, W/ F7 [; T5 ~# f$ ]
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: $ D( V8 p6 z1 r6 |. Y+ e; g1 y+ r# X$ q. l* m
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。) + U. ?9 L" H. F ) A; W- x4 U& nThe 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.) " W4 Q; j1 n* d9 _- h ! d8 o P7 W+ A$ X# ` C" eHe 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。) 8 u. m' V% _/ }. B7 B/ Y- _4 p* |3 R4 V4 c' O4 z. P
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) + o: F9 [- o1 O$ C' h+ R; K/ }# e2 L% z5 g/ W# ~9 V" s- c
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) % Z9 e- z% @- N& H& m( }( z1 d O' N" g
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)8 G" @) i& L Z2 j* ?2 k7 S7 x- v% I
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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.)6 E" t" G! o# Q) k; ]8 j
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 $ J1 V6 n7 s! m; S! I) {4 k8 ~ ' V& O* s% }- o }" \ e S: `) x `' ^. u) u5 `- q3.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」。 % U# V% n, m" F" k" i+ ^ - B. t0 j3 R8 q7 M例如: 8 C* z2 {2 f# ?/ @+ S& C2 T ! c, P. Q5 h7 g) [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 b: M' V" u2 ~/ o2 b6 T
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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)9 w+ r; r- c. w1 v0 G) V
- a8 Q. X2 w6 B" B y4 cThis 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)8 ?3 W; T6 U7 _
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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。) " B9 S0 I! n- v& U7 @% K ; g* f, J9 }4 v8 z- i; r( ZMany 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。)8 n2 a1 l) v8 \# X( j- Y( ^
x' L2 @2 e# E2 T$ @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). O2 k" w1 r, D3 |! c: Z1 W
. {- X/ R. R6 @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)+ C, I- Z- u9 d2 C9 I) C# \
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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。)- e7 O) N! M3 \
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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。 9 x5 e4 h* T q& d+ _( W$ D$ t! r6 z: ]% f
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: ) Q5 {5 i' w# Q5 E6 z 0 L r2 ]. K$ ~7 Q/ `" ]; 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; / d, }+ x8 y- v, J% q& O $ J# R+ g% K: o) `1 q# u* O, 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;; O+ J+ A2 i0 t N
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;, J @1 p* D0 L& m6 R! i a
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;8 \ i+ y7 ~& t, J4 `, `
! H! I+ ^# c# f- E, k/ K2 E' {! C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:! D9 y e. C$ W; G' b; V* j
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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)。 * B2 x. b- _1 \0 h7 c7 `' C0 N2 m( _6 M9 N
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)。 $ r' q8 G0 `5 f( c- a; ]