本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 1 h2 s8 O- c, d' U1 d( a* A' m! z7 Q1 m5 g7 A 转帖 / F: W9 ~$ k& A( _5 s1. 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) & D: w' d3 y) `5 o5 n4 p- I - \7 P ]# o5 c" \+ a例如:- I" `0 E1 L$ N0 Y8 p6 i `
. Q5 [) ^5 Y% k) x/ s" B9 sMany 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) : s+ [( V4 l0 w% r1 e ( E$ |, ~1 B2 l5 e, OThree 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。) : W# o: i) O1 d+ N3 D/ K+ Z" h- n: h3 d: o
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)" p; Y9 e# ?" O) e( F
1 C! L) B- j" u: XThe 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?) 5 @* r% i) b, @4 @) J0 m- t" n6 C/ X6 i* M) `$ p
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。) h2 d% b T! X, V# @$ T( ]8 R
" y! \6 _( A2 e) `. G+ T! E/ 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) R7 @% l" p* r, Z" c, k3 X 0 y( o% R3 V! s9 d/ M2 v* c/ VWe 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!)% f% p( [) _, ~. ]. Q
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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)/ ?- {# S4 W1 O+ s5 A
- r% Q- `5 T' I! }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。) / @% r* s+ z" q' [ $ h% _1 \0 t i5 }' _$ jPlease 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?)7 U) d) C, [# a) _) H% G" x H
: l X& N& L# H. {0 `3 }0 t+ |9 H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!$ a! Z$ I0 S X# M2 D1 x3 Z
7 j5 ?5 \5 C$ _2 o5 g0 K7 A5 T$ }) p0 G7 b; _8 ]1 f: [4 K 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。 4 C' k8 A- J/ _7 A- k. \2 f. A7 k+ j) H( I( C# ~. J
例如: " s+ ^" q8 d. O7 q+ G; ?/ Z- f) b% E7 S9 G& D6 [
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)6 u! x, [! K/ r2 l
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Despite 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) " T7 _8 q' H y. e5 ^7 P } g8 b
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)9 h, C8 Q) l0 r
$ I' r3 ]' b; _- }0 s/ 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) ' N$ t+ F! N* ]' b- \) W $ d$ `- C7 c7 {" 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)' Y8 f8 A1 B$ G$ _; E2 @8 n) k. j3 l+ K
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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) ; ~, ?" L6 l/ Q x) B( t( x' ^ # C* q" Q" C5 {; E8 i7 SI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)- t; T9 A, h0 k8 ^
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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: " S" s5 J) E3 N2 \ & U& ~5 [& N, ^$ y9 |( h4 x6 TThe 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。) 3 U8 B' J, g4 m9 ~. A 4 y* @/ A$ X( v! p4 c; b+ a* _* 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.) % d% @ {: Z# a4 w3 L6 { ! |: s& ?* o0 u7 n$ S8 hHe 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。) 6 l0 ]2 L. F; m; I 4 Y# |# p3 [1 b9 w Y% H9 _* i1 iHe 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) 7 C! B# T! s8 j! ?& T& p5 B$ l5 n- I& A7 e0 g( Z! _
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)7 d" I3 Q1 _) V( m
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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) j7 a: f: z% I% S6 f : @3 {- y& R3 F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.) s% f- P8 [ P# B
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 # E2 A# M/ D0 A# @% y0 k, k3 I
/ H( r/ t" f+ o. q. e6 T 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」。' W0 _. i6 O* u& ?! j/ \# } q
1 n e6 N, T0 [例如: ' ]" Y* t: n& P$ F' h2 v4 n ' G; ^" _" j }9 Z2 j( w: jMankind 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); W) k- G' m! h' _, |& U. B/ Z/ C
# U. ]7 ^6 S( W. Y. cManpower 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) ( A% i- \- a8 C6 Q8 F) x 7 y! _ j% z( c Z$ CThis 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)9 `, o2 }& e* _! S; V) C3 {
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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- D. r& E# y ; V i& ~3 V' y. FMany 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。), T7 m4 q3 B9 S' r# F' U3 D
! u# X: d* G. l, tPolicemen (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)* U7 \8 r, a6 Q# W/ s0 s
/ r/ Z! i: Y5 T" t6 L6 A5 BCongressmen (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)* u7 j% Y. A8 J p0 \- i, N+ A; d
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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。) 9 k8 i1 x" B7 @; L% A( H5 s 1 Q7 b. F% N! c3 R+ B7 @5 W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。 ; k, n! y, t3 t( R4 F; L {6 I $ A1 F' m' |+ 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:* r& D% m: d1 s/ ~: Z& m+ i# e
& S% n2 ?( e+ @' t0 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;3 z3 }' d/ V8 O