本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) c1 O, l0 c, T, b3 p b! I
U2 e9 V" T( A' A* O转帖+ {( C) j! H8 G( }# C
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)+ e2 y" E) i% A6 ~$ \" @7 R
% I0 f; b$ E1 ~$ a9 }, X4 v- F, Q
例如:! E, ?+ x% V( S0 D N, T+ H
! w C1 |8 p9 k+ iMany 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)4 M2 ^+ W- u% L; B2 C7 v; y
! x, {& p3 r. e- {. g4 |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 y" |) C/ ]9 G0 I, _' e
1 S1 H9 o2 J& e% T8 i' V; S
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)6 y3 K5 f% n+ A% V4 y
3 ^9 i9 e0 Y1 t. Q$ S9 F3 P7 V* M
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?)1 O7 M8 H; ~4 t }" c: I! M: T* I
7 w( b. Z% q3 s5 `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 P& M7 R; s1 _9 B& a % R9 F; @3 e0 y9 e- v8 K/ P+ XMr. 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" U6 ^: Z: ]0 e9 B$ \+ l4 {# e% A/ j" W5 h
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!) . U7 T% M/ y0 [" B; f: s- I% k9 J
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) 9 X7 `" x# f9 F1 P8 W p ! T0 J% N. d3 O+ k9 ~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。)4 l) _! R% ]2 ?; s5 }# F8 o
& f& R! S, a2 h
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?)# F+ M' }2 q* s, }7 a
7 Z* _ L/ F }& U
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!# l5 V$ Q8 Y0 m9 y
7 H0 S1 _9 j4 S2 ~; u
8 A( m% Q6 h0 S& I( d D, z# C2. 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。 ) C; m' W b, P% u& y- w8 {3 F1 G+ W5 _* o0 u+ Z+ K Q
例如: ) D% f# w4 o, a, f+ T ( h3 t# h3 q* m VAt 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) ) w% N$ t& I6 M3 X M + @! g9 R: J! @' p& m+ a BDespite 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)+ {/ V4 L3 p. W% R: H
. q" L" b0 _! Z* a9 xI 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) + a6 y5 c3 y3 b8 ?. `+ C: P; `3 W - d7 W+ I2 H0 l/ j8 }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) 3 O. N0 s t! B$ O' ]' s' G : @; |2 K, {( s0 |" B7 `! wIn 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) ) M9 T/ j4 P+ f/ x+ ]6 l8 Y& u5 c! h
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)0 K/ g) r. \$ K4 g* v
) Y# ~" D/ \; \
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " E. b5 `0 w' c4 Q 4 m' Z4 D1 f |4 `0 h. v7 s7 j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: ) o7 o- F3 G* z9 N# M3 H4 o + K, ~# {( [9 l& aThe 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。) 0 Z% U' w" V2 d* } 9 y& J/ Y2 T, d9 a5 yThe 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.) t' C- K% N( h% x7 R: U6 j, z0 D9 w7 W% Z7 n9 w
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。)* Q: T% f! W6 ]8 A6 u
% I; F9 s! x1 o& U& J
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) ! L$ \9 r6 V9 I1 p! `+ `3 S" @( Q& T3 d+ U0 g
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) 8 r' { ^" I; a+ } ! N* u1 `1 S' I4 s f6 `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)1 s3 z+ p$ H. M+ H9 R4 K
* T4 q0 z1 r: N% p# n
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.)" a, u% I* c$ o4 Y
' o: P4 i0 X; S: P
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 9 g, ~2 |6 T7 b. x u * Y8 l7 `- O9 }0 r# P4 p- E7 W% f. C. ~& O: h; d3 a! l 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」。8 O' A/ j" x. m) ]1 |
( [7 }# z1 E- ~9 y
例如:2 c3 ?/ G2 |2 \3 B( `
( [& s2 D0 T9 v9 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 S8 Q" e6 V1 Z( {& r8 D e6 O. E% t' @) S! V: \" Z* W
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) 5 j* r6 L9 F8 f. ] } 8 ~, a+ g; o& y/ [% s. G% GThis 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) ( ~$ ~, W& C2 `! R% q y) ~" Y0 {* g. S' L! F) ^
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。) ) }8 L3 z* t( M% c' Z% f, w. T+ e7 H( h
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。) * U7 k% N' E, m& l6 B' u- J) J% _, F/ q* Q9 @( S+ \0 R, Z
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)" l0 g* N6 W/ N* e# H; y
6 i7 K9 h9 I9 }1 E, s7 X' R9 hCongressmen (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)2 F( U4 e, S# y1 {# T- p5 W
$ M, c+ c* ^7 l8 D
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。) 5 s9 D% _8 U; Y; E) K& y4 E1 _/ o * m4 T- T6 X0 T9 ]0 p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。 ( A- _% g3 a# R0 s" L4 |+ L! {! I# N3 T7 A+ s& J
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: * x4 j: @& N1 e# j; j " z% d/ [7 H+ n. G4 Z9 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; / o: r4 }7 A+ Q' S7 \" N3 b & O; u `/ ^( U" B& K, o7 }' w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;2 M) L4 z; P3 n7 e. U8 O) t- L" S
' O4 k6 q% S$ a& e对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 S: M0 E: ^' K4 C- Y 2 X1 C9 _1 N+ c: V: j对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;$ S- ?9 n6 _) u
8 w6 x) L1 W3 W/ Z% Z# ^. d
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: 4 v. ^* H# [' O3 \ ) K9 W) B" G; v5 f! m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)。 : N3 L" d0 C* p' i! a9 b# O( o ! | f1 @- f& H4 |6 `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)。 0 `6 r% s) p* y% M