本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 c% q$ I; N! q( _4 u- u
; j5 |. k8 q1 V转帖 ( B9 b3 u; r. d6 D9 f1 `" H1. 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)8 _% W1 O, }) ~6 ?: J* N
8 h! c3 ]8 `, v: w5 q6 d1 A# i& p' H例如: 0 J$ o6 j# r6 u2 D t* a; E9 \0 ], o" l" {( r* FMany 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 S9 @1 m6 C! _2 _0 E4 G2 D9 S) I9 @' S
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。) 2 D$ i. s- S: Y {! F0 |# m5 v, d# h. V% }( ?
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)* B+ h( w- h% E' l" W3 S1 {
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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?): e V5 M$ W+ i) g9 l( m2 e
; I N2 l, F" 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。)! {1 U5 g) Z8 h( s5 Y
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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) % t$ b+ `2 d, ^& m8 _) n 8 i! f* z/ i" y) A4 B0 Y* B# C$ [- P- }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!)6 c+ r4 E; Z$ t! q1 S* H" ~, R
% K6 O; d0 W. i6 H. [4 |$ c. o4 x" aThe 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)! j; P. D4 r4 C0 m8 s; K v
2 v# |: D: f4 gWe 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。)! y$ a/ Z T, p: x( m# f+ }% g
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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?) 0 [. v/ r, i" M0 o9 P1 A i' ^9 N. P% q3 o& T
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! 1 q# x8 Q2 Q3 I g " {+ O$ s- F) ]2 T g' k6 n ' _6 Q4 \3 ^ Z8 U; q* I: w8 u2. 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。 & L \9 O* W$ i) J9 [& h z# o& R- M- X% y' z* r
例如: * j% O1 g8 @, U# a/ w& {" r4 D" t( b5 f0 x( M& Q. L: M
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)4 Y2 H. T7 v3 h1 r, Q1 L6 c7 K) s5 {
3 I; u+ V" _! m& y4 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)" \, u! ?5 h. a( I" Z9 t; ?8 v+ g
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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) : A' R/ K( {" o' K) V3 y" p4 _2 K2 E0 N, T3 i
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)" y0 ?: r1 {, F! N# m* F5 _- @: t
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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) , ?6 D7 C7 z, t. X7 h " p" f7 _& a7 ^* u& U4 ]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) , a# o7 a$ H6 l+ n# |* `0 b# p# f2 q* ]" w2 C8 J* b
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + }. N0 I3 ?" Y8 T; a8 [; C1 q. a0 g; }6 w% v: 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:& L; F- { K" Z; K7 k1 P
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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。) {5 Q$ c" T2 R* b3 V1 j
- w9 h% a0 I5 V% b/ gThe 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.)5 N( \# O2 x6 W" _" ^7 ~
1 [" y+ T2 F$ ?0 K7 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。) 5 X k& B6 X0 ]- i2 D% P+ K& D0 V! O) p0 `
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 |4 ]+ z: O7 L( X
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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)/ @& I* s1 O* V. N: U0 B
8 d0 R! G' ]2 r- v; M: g1 VEnclosed (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) ' i# O9 X- }# G) ?( H7 A6 _: e% A# Y ^6 d+ r# p6 E8 e' o1 R9 `
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 B* k* N0 x4 E% Y
/ J I/ |/ W5 V此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " D* C0 ~; C2 Y2 I/ X8 L% w- T9 y, H" H2 j5 X6 \' C' S# T
& O9 }3 [3 n7 j4 R* B# I2 |5 w" m 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」。 9 G8 q$ O5 N* c + b4 `+ \$ C3 E! A4 a例如:/ k; i! Q- F2 z1 p
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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) : z* Y+ ]/ H0 \6 D8 o6 Y% u : S; ~0 o9 n; S( H3 s8 f% BManpower 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). I1 S' D5 L2 |5 H) G9 J$ {
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This 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) + t6 Q' i1 s6 i2 o5 _( Z& M5 X8 K' {! R2 P w" Y
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。) " N. D2 F3 s, x- ~& D7 u* n- H* g5 [: M4 U1 S+ A
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 l$ u+ p+ ]% Y- D' g& M. ~* i- \# ]2 H! z; t& {% a4 S! |
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)4 u1 L. D3 k! z
! Y; S2 L" A, @: c2 lCongressmen (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)9 o+ @ B) H; _& G5 P8 L% w7 Z* V" Z: @
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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。) 7 [9 X2 x# `, H' ^& v- S- x$ y 6 A6 B9 d! `" s& m3 p8 k. 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。- `# F. ?: u) y$ v" z. {, i
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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: , n8 n, b. P3 h q+ z: [$ V; T6 {8 V0 Y: M2 y7 S' j1 p' c
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;( K9 S3 v2 g8 u X" F( ~ y
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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;: ~! o0 K. n2 u& k8 j& q# Z) I
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; + P @9 g# g% j6 s0 @- r. h& b+ Y- n! r# J- W
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: t; S- f( q3 [& \- f A
9 D1 d( ^; g8 U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:5 ~3 @6 D5 C0 U8 R" n
6 W- A, o7 g+ h* \) `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)。" o5 T$ N5 o1 o7 K( k! M
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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)。 ' t" Z0 T! K& O