本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 Y4 x! x/ C; i: a9 d' G0 _( I! D! y/ s% f8 c8 q 转帖' M9 x# R# ^) L6 r
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)/ L5 c$ F0 \2 Q- G: N
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例如: # B: k5 q% a4 F9 O3 b 7 \. ^6 F0 |7 e& |/ F8 v6 f1 S& [$ XMany 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)% Z- u: J3 D- P" X3 s5 c
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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。)5 s2 k4 s. v$ x+ {
1 M5 |1 L* E* y1 Y9 R+ Y+ _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) R8 k/ X f( K3 |. K9 M6 n S- J7 T+ ]* I* r- l0 D3 X9 U1 S8 D
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?) 0 r2 U0 d& j6 p4 ^1 d4 r% M5 R/ p! o. O3 F- r2 D
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。) ! x M8 j0 L) I% z9 x: q3 {0 N& X" I5 G4 m1 B
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) 0 Z# h T, R. T2 X3 h 7 _2 A7 V- B6 h# h: dWe 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!)8 v9 P, G9 c! E' c! w( U5 b" s# {
" A6 ?, c) l/ T' g2 E! V2 r9 UThe 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): M! d. `9 V4 {8 O
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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。)& `7 \( k' x/ U
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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?)( }6 o+ x. y z
' c- Z2 O4 [& v) j) l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! - L6 s/ o t! ?7 x1 j) V* \- {4 U/ ~& J4 V9 j* _" a! V
6 G6 M$ s; b) N a2. 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。 8 ~, ?" s. }2 G" ?' i6 f0 X$ M/ o& y" q: [( c
例如: 9 ~" N, A5 v9 k2 T3 m9 r N8 {9 N
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)+ p, H7 J! o. T# E' ?1 z
% M: y, k/ l: k& lDespite 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)/ {; }. _3 v/ o6 i4 w/ F
4 {- w% W5 V/ T- k% X m9 e, I- `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) 3 l! e+ q% N: z* q ~ |' \$ ^. O % q2 E& m p: k4 n+ b. j3 A' GHe 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 p' ?! {; [& I; S) v
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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) 7 L' H+ y0 q# }% J! S8 `, x. Q 3 F: q u+ Y9 Z% BShe 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)- O. E" Q1 K1 {1 v9 u- A6 N4 ~- i
; F& o2 Y8 {& M' ~I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) & m5 x, Z0 R( k. h$ O' D! E5 W: _* a8 w& T! A! ?
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:/ @. h8 j& p1 \/ g$ _1 T
6 A, q5 l1 R# FThe 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。)% z- W i& v7 i# S( c
' M% N& h! T+ s( oThe 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.) - @; b5 J$ L3 u1 ]* s9 X* W$ |. N P% {0 ?
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。)$ v E% Y' R; p) o
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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)9 L; X! `' h, ~+ y0 {
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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)1 G/ q, ~6 i, |/ P* m$ e& A: |
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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)" P/ m0 K3 Y- l- B+ s
' K0 }$ C: P, M: 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.)# q) A3 r" u- z2 X
/ X/ o2 v/ m) ]# ^6 {, P8 G: L此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- L" h" Q& n: g, ]
* K# B" }4 J8 G $ P1 P. j' U; c4 e* M& P" P3.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」。& d- S% D4 a6 ~ u
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' a2 p) `( M# Y7 j: tMankind 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) & q6 |9 L! ^9 c. y' W) ?1 H. R. z& 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)6 V! Z4 u3 T: {6 N# I. h* M
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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). L0 v2 Z, P2 ?' Y9 Z6 X5 P
3 ~% b+ c/ L- L6 m) U. f- eHe (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。) 9 y O8 r) s# `) Z% ] / D; x8 o8 J) F8 M. O& D6 G dMany 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。)7 ~& z X+ ]6 H8 A! s9 S( R: K
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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)+ i# z5 z h) `
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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) * S& ]9 @& }7 {: X+ c . s4 N. I1 h# v I1 v6 Q4 H8 iStewardesses 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。) ; H: k; T# K j . Q6 w2 K# p+ l0 D- v* h, i' r' q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。. q2 d+ }! j# e% p2 v, }
6 F7 e; _$ H: h C+ _/ O* O! u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: . J. O( d4 E! B% V5 } ( L! r& T& p, k2 p! L! M4 ]% I8 N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;" n1 A. f) `$ [! P4 F+ p1 Q8 U
2 T+ c. y' S2 X6 t/ e. s# C* L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; 4 }# R2 O: S, S# _ R, X$ n r, Z 6 ?- z4 S1 e2 @6 x) i对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ! [# p) F9 P; B3 H4 M; k, E ; A* D) B+ n+ ?, K! @+ ~+ ^对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;* K: M1 s" ?0 Q
, `# `1 @ g, D- K. S* f7 E4 T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:/ a# J) G' A O
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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)。4 m* L! v4 l5 E4 @+ \* J
! @$ ]9 X+ J3 e9 w2 e. I) K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)。 % |; i. }+ m( l* \) j( A