本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " C& l, V) B' L" e# A' v! W# G; m 5 p' a' i2 V. @转帖 G( m" e/ r. {( M0 ^% G O+ A$ G
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)9 D& O J2 x/ ~4 @. f4 k# y( a
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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) J7 L; P: V( B
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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。)$ ?) r9 M% I) e8 @- Q
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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)/ F, ]8 l: t3 Z! U- X7 @- X9 Y5 ^
% e8 ~5 t: G8 [% V+ k3 u- _; ?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?)' }$ Q/ g6 u2 _
/ Z! t( C' p5 C8 B* w6 {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。): _1 d/ G$ f ^) [8 y0 {% m
; Z9 {3 }9 K1 wMr. 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). G# z( Z e7 q2 e V) b( z8 q
) E0 L3 W' {8 wWe 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 S9 J3 e" f' A8 I6 S2 ~
% t' a- q8 u6 q% X; _$ pThe 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) ; t7 J7 L' w. W& u. i [ E& q% X1 r, i- K2 y8 D1 d5 x
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。) " N$ z# F2 u% Y$ _4 m6 ~; r. N4 V. \" _' H6 Y: 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?) 1 e" [$ @+ }$ n+ k3 | : Y# z# c$ M' e6 m Y3 L8 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! + i/ O: {- A1 {$ M$ J [" n , e! k8 y3 r2 ~6 l) \/ n8 i) J1 j. z1 _" @* 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。6 H8 y% ^; {; z% F
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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)& C8 S% q6 Y, }0 y: i6 l. R) L
3 M) L1 P! @/ H) m( h, oDespite 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). M6 V# m* W1 N7 C. z
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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)' b5 o0 m6 f; q5 |/ \
' W- ?4 Y; C: w T; B, q7 N4 uHe 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)+ F7 M5 o5 e% g6 o, G$ g" m2 |1 p
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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)( n! _0 o4 m" h/ X* r2 m
4 |! B' w( f1 ]& P$ f& g& _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) , y& }5 g9 k; S% i7 ]7 K2 z i# t6 e3 ?, KI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) / t/ ^- p$ y4 F $ Z2 @: q/ [! p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: , ^4 D4 n+ R; n; y7 y' I% l7 ]! u/ q f/ y- ?! p. R6 ^
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。)9 O z, L. F7 k" B
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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.)5 r3 S" A, n/ i
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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 @3 I' g0 m. \4 I; b. O/ g3 a: o, }( g3 s) |$ L5 r
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) 6 `/ O$ E# q8 Q* n( v: R! w8 c5 {# P2 j; D+ y' r. a( N3 M
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): J$ K/ f$ ]7 |# l0 z( j# Z! k) |) q
; C& b! c& n9 i/ Y& 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) ' }* D& |# E: w3 g$ i+ }3 J' k" z _; r* g- H7 W
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 }, }9 E+ t$ m9 d* M$ _0 }1 Y4 ?( b
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 R# S5 q" z- O- ?
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7 O2 D" b% p* ?% U$ \) Q) q* g 3.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」。* ]% q3 }+ [3 f+ A3 x$ W' c8 y
6 _8 G# ?* p o% U例如:3 M0 ^$ v& p" f5 H0 m$ G) r/ T) z
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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) 1 ?" ~9 j- l ?+ ~5 R7 U. a! t 7 {* s7 W/ r$ {) q" ^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) * K8 ~6 P$ s9 b8 N3 e# M. K' P1 O0 `6 O1 z u" q3 m
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)5 P7 r [+ \; [7 F" {7 O
6 g) r" y* t3 R. ~/ z0 gHe (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。) 3 R g/ r6 P9 I6 }& g d, i! d& g; F! \6 \ AMany 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。)* D0 x* x6 f3 |" w* w% M
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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) ) l1 n8 D3 p1 s% X, e ; Z" o: _4 Y& c- v0 gCongressmen (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 @4 K: b+ O' N3 _- ~7 H
X8 B S% N6 W) N! n# _9 _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。)6 z5 r( O, B+ m1 y' s4 ]6 y0 N& ]8 n
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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。2 [4 H, Q5 q* v8 @3 C% o
7 k+ j. \/ G3 V' _+ N) R9 R$ V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:$ a0 q6 Q& {+ G# N. p
3 }+ s; Q5 p( o8 e! o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;2 X q. q0 R$ i. F# ?% G$ s7 ?- ?6 v
( Z& V5 W! h9 t: ^9 I" Y* j) i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; - \- G) H d* V; K7 ]4 t 0 ]: i: `9 h( [7 i7 U对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% ~% J8 Q0 w) B) Q7 E4 \( d
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 1 s# m; o! K- `* n, @6 [ t ) ~& B* @7 ?# ?# E, F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:# x% p( ^) j( b8 h/ X9 F
9 l' B* H. h7 r8 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)。 ) P, C+ o# l8 ] 8 S, P. [; ^7 ^& l/ j- ?) d% R- V9 d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)。 , V% \* `+ v7 v+ A, o8 S2 B7 f