本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' E3 E* f9 h4 n0 S4 t, X ^( ]6 o
$ ^2 i# C+ O0 W" S; v% k 转帖 : x) y" j5 q- Q) l9 k1. 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 M4 `4 V- u* ^5 ~2 l5 ^8 m) U/ O& W5 n2 j
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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)+ [1 v4 }; @- Q& u: [
; a5 `2 ~/ c1 X. p4 SThree 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。) . d. |, A8 Y, R5 ~6 N4 a # c ]8 }' U+ B" rThis 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 Z! D: T7 o% h$ B, k 8 a5 T! Z- l4 r# h9 k8 _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?)2 M& W' j6 g* ~4 i
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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。)$ V) `' e L/ v3 x
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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) ; d! g K' J6 }7 I8 G5 t- p- q: ^; y9 K7 [+ T% A
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!) ! S4 @6 c6 r! C7 P" v7 q$ k1 K7 {. b% @2 b- [) i
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) & L- F+ J1 I$ K7 B. Z3 V( ^* W* G- ~) ?
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。); L( S8 c2 }) L& d
) c4 B# R( I1 J$ zPlease 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?); L) p1 e/ _% C7 r0 z& X( E8 X
3 S; A5 A( l3 j* \' F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! 6 f( {+ ?, V x8 w* X& t$ Z4 G 8 S$ ?7 h& J: X8 `6 J 1 R: p& o! f; m8 D2. 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。 ( U, M. V+ ?& M( W7 l# }0 }( ]# d7 s; h% u$ Q( L3 \8 p
例如: + ~8 i, D, _5 N. _* ^/ A* S& n6 I
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)( I/ r, \- ]; |4 p# d* L) D; A
1 f- Y: k+ E1 L! I$ sDespite 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) ; z# o0 I V- t, Y; A3 Q5 r1 y- d, c9 `7 |
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)/ w" p' ~* U! e6 I" ~8 A% @+ Q: i
8 k, g1 i* l* }, IHe 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)/ K% t% U! ?4 Q2 ]* c9 e4 O! L
) g ?2 \0 g4 y+ ?- IIn 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)4 k3 y2 Z u* b/ Z
. p4 V+ |9 L' X8 c/ 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)- q: x4 n5 @( ]: X8 N. E' X* V, M l
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 d# t* |5 J$ P9 L: w! l
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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: : m" X3 w V) F , k/ O x8 F2 E, E! ~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。) 6 o9 t! S9 k; s, `: `; j7 `2 a1 s1 a$ A- U. v4 X
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.) 4 M3 c) p$ A; G5 A; A( x1 }2 Y0 \7 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。) 2 E# ^: V7 X" \$ a8 V ) v9 z+ E% s$ b O$ z6 ^% u% zHe 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) z% a5 Y3 t9 ~' K
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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 V" V& b+ _+ C
( _ Q: K7 ^4 {1 h. x3 |# R$ KEnclosed (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+ c3 g2 ?: K
i6 X7 [( T; k, T: L% z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 _( q( ~- b" {. ]$ a) ~* h5 w$ h: j' ]6 v
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ s' A; X6 M4 F/ y( ?3 \
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. Z* m' }' o8 g3 l% A3.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」。' {: K) m* g+ T
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7 J$ E8 ]* E0 y9 g9 L. `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)& Y' F2 j# c* |8 h' l" F7 J0 ?
, \) w/ q G# h: J" H8 F! FManpower 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)- }; T& N6 }8 H6 }: X8 M# H
+ X: b3 U# L9 w7 z, q4 jThis 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) " N; x9 e) X9 s! _7 D0 \0 W7 Z6 l/ ^ 2 I1 a% ]+ M8 I5 _$ m0 c4 W" I$ C. ]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。)6 @; a( j* Q8 v8 w5 b
* d$ x- c- h2 b0 ?, b; h& _8 z2 UMany 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。)# X$ y l9 e, t; B- j
+ @# a* i7 S5 UPolicemen (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$ j1 ?& N8 }1 @: A' u1 q; W w7 h$ P' K" f5 f
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): E: e3 A; [4 W; C2 `! H7 y6 h* Z
0 _* Y# z& d Y9 G- Y: eStewardesses 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。)4 p: G# Y4 r6 C6 `' j, [- {) _
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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。% i# M* K$ L' A) G, A$ y( J: ?
" \' {+ \9 |* l' W5 {0 b: H/ ]; |+ y) }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: 3 |6 D- M% M. E1 o& P" t' f+ j7 @& u
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;( z( S) N1 j4 e( E. Z. V% w
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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; ) [ D0 a+ x6 V7 Z4 H( D, U# Y0 S- C9 ~* M# q- P
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 6 p' Y3 j) t" k7 d' @7 J4 U; r. h& y# G$ W# e$ _1 ^5 r" d
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; # q) F/ d& e+ b! T- v: t4 V1 z& N/ F& r1 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: 9 m0 ? p, ]: l+ n0 P+ v 1 B" k+ O' B) 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)。 " }4 M4 H+ [2 F& r1 N, Y / w1 Y* B+ M1 k( y 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)。: `5 t8 K" c) F o