本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " E: \, v7 M' Y/ I! i7 o ~7 F; d
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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)7 ]3 j) B. E% x) S% i
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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) ! c+ f4 s8 d @$ m& [* G5 c2 i1 @ / |. Q1 T9 i$ K4 A8 E% I: g! KThree 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。) 9 H) }) o, {& b! ?. }) I s/ |, ]$ |) ]1 W7 ]8 N: Z& I- ?7 J8 P
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 Y3 ~% G; n" R0 H2 x9 J. L) A; J. _
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?) m+ e" J6 P# ]# Y( B! e
7 ^6 P1 N4 q( GI 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。) % l. t4 h0 `5 i / A5 l+ e" O9 S' @% W6 h- x# iMr. 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); w- Y" G! `9 U0 m4 h0 D- t0 i$ |
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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!)6 w4 F; K& {. U m, p
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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 @8 R7 g# r4 L* w. _7 f1 \
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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。) . c/ n. W- k3 d' x) e9 R4 g. p3 u; U( u- x+ Y
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?) " _" d3 M. E% {5 D7 D6 t1 O7 a + T7 h( v7 I3 P$ W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! ' h( a9 N# M; y# l+ Z2 j9 y. |# A9 @9 o1 \' n% |* j% @
* t8 t+ _% T* b5 T 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。 . @# S' m, U, z$ [/ f3 K4 \/ A) z' ?6 j- D+ |
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9 V- F) m) ~* L. @# a5 c" }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)- t4 a. D3 b: g+ l
% j" V! |' Q" `/ @7 ?6 a, CDespite 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) / f" e0 U7 w/ ]+ V! k4 s4 C$ n+ D; q; M# y
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) q9 S" Q# p2 e; ?. T % Z+ ?( E! N* HHe 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) 1 N+ ^0 d l+ s+ v$ q* o 6 F! G) K) \4 y; ?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) ' w5 {8 M' ?- f6 z 5 `* y5 i- _5 n- n3 xShe 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) + m( \/ ~6 K! z4 x) Z . s5 B. Y2 f' M- J& b3 `4 Y uI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 w, w9 o D+ t, }7 \: l, k0 ^
5 s4 f5 ?: i- Q# H; {: c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: |: r) i: P: R* `# l
, t! x' j7 j/ y7 s: E$ f/ v) s2 @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。) 2 B- d8 H& V6 E D8 {; s' @( M$ `, { + @% ^$ n% [6 a# G" jThe 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.) : u- O9 X+ e+ E$ L& b, V- t, U0 B$ T- _; ]% J
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。)% M; }" N: h n1 l# f4 U
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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) ; C% T% |( Y; s: {* x# o: S' E4 W r
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) ) u0 m o% {0 h9 s+ H* Q9 ?; S) h : G$ h9 H5 j& i6 N1 y; ~5 dEnclosed (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) 0 e. e% C2 I+ ]+ i * }' G) U; [8 {/ w" y8 E G U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 g, Y6 S# t+ q6 L1 t' P) s6 G' t. V) r, S
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 `( T- A+ `" j3 P3 a) V. {9 c. Y3 n
3 K+ i- J! z! U4 p! UMankind 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)5 X! }4 X9 D3 x9 a6 M4 n$ V, 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) ! D9 V) M6 ~$ R7 O6 ~4 J( O6 M- x1 o) q
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) 1 q% l' W8 S7 _7 u* m$ g' `. X1 p
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。)& f4 B/ [* _( {
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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。). B8 T8 u$ Z8 F
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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), `% [! I4 F6 ~) b0 O
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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) 1 Y7 U' A# D3 v( I& u7 | & x5 k7 ?0 u( A" c! f- i; w4 r, cStewardesses 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。) : ]6 |5 |+ d+ O2 B# Q* ` & y6 y5 n% F/ H+ r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。( z6 Z, c1 J& ]7 x- }; J2 U
" L. d2 ?6 Q) i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* f) v/ M, v+ e
+ r; A# ?% r; M/ H* t9 ?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; / w0 K( \" [' ?# t3 T4 P. i % L9 w X. L( r) N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;1 g6 A) d, i* g' h8 n. ], L0 o, j
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;* ?# c1 h+ k' m" o. {5 n
; d2 n: `: L# q对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; - e- a0 e ^; m 6 z, m! ^1 a; y4 A+ @0 \/ z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:# L8 U) I1 R2 z
; D$ d' Q5 @" M# g- p) 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)。 % J1 ]6 X5 J) B% H9 w6 c ) W6 H! l& a, e" e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)。8 F8 \. X3 r( R0 S0 }" \# a