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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) 6 h. H" |3 H# e" ~6 y ! L" R: ?: H1 a" K$ j. z例如: 8 w" j9 O9 P/ J* P8 W/ l) z * Q, I+ ` L" }9 W# D' PMany 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) 1 t$ ~4 j' @' K6 c 5 S4 A% \1 N2 x: qThree 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。) : y) L; [, [$ h ! w3 P3 i/ _( X$ ^8 BThis 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) / y* F% n) ]" d7 S# x. x9 O0 [# T* V; M4 A( L6 E: q
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?) " L/ M0 a t% e5 m3 Q! p 8 O1 z9 v& b. X, ^7 g/ O. I" hI 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。) 0 I8 W2 P, H. e: ]! ~' z* E7 D7 C: s, G( m+ [" ~4 T. C! m* }
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) # g8 T1 S. {4 y/ f# ~ 2 q5 m4 x; R+ sWe 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!)" B' T; I/ U. G3 ]4 w3 j
& B& B8 S; _* g/ |0 d& i; CThe 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) : E6 J$ a! c# L1 s# u. t - B$ f7 H0 H( @* O+ GWe 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 ?- }* }2 q5 Q/ c$ v$ u
4 e" n4 X" P; o, DPlease 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?)( y# G2 M U. n2 l) q4 E
' Q1 D- a; I8 b6 I4 y9 }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!- {# ~7 G" y6 M
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4 k$ m/ Y0 r! |) c0 Z" t2. 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。 0 n, p/ x: p0 a+ U8 C# b6 e6 ~; P0 e' p( [/ v7 x
例如: $ a$ a F) e% s& r" ]9 y: c6 u ) _ h) v9 h$ {5 y- A. MAt 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) " i1 f5 y+ M& T, a, L2 S3 M' T* A* n3 X
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)1 o$ x- a: G6 E; m% S* r
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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)+ }- N O( u4 _! B1 ]; d0 ?
4 H2 G+ F3 g% c9 IHe 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) " [9 e% D# l/ U; @1 R ) L L2 I/ G+ e1 x: 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): D/ h, l: I3 T+ b9 O0 t
& M3 I$ j1 X' x" w: R iShe 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) . D G( @( C. v8 u" _# G, `, A4 C# B: r( e3 R1 K. F
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % d4 _( w$ S" P- i/ y# u$ f) B. g1 M! g0 K+ p4 b+ m) w
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: . c9 ~* x! r# |& V 2 O0 q+ }" K4 UThe 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。) 7 z9 l; N9 l3 [# X0 S2 C8 e! A 5 N1 q ]1 n3 D' w' PThe 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.)2 H0 E6 `: d9 H% ? ]
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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。) . U! o$ z1 q& t6 V # H1 A- {" {( Q! FHe 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)( j" x# s4 O* m0 Y8 s
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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) " M" f- u5 H4 c% `; J3 w0 D2 n( ~- v. ]: y' J6 g
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)* W5 f" ~0 j- m/ d
7 c2 @6 R+ J8 j' v! t8 x& w5 I( l2 }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 C) F) C" I3 q" w' {
+ W& h, n5 T c5 m/ s此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 i/ Z1 ` k) l! U$ e/ B
) u% g) Z8 T8 ~* P$ g/ O7 A0 e+ r: m/ m$ @% d$ j6 b! p 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」。 1 b3 b0 N* p* p: f! r; S& o$ l+ h; q, j( W: A, a1 M4 O+ W b" D; R
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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) * q/ v6 Z! k8 @- X" D# m% s% D: a
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) % [9 T o) \, m- q- g( C( a1 v* ]$ ?# |( ]/ d/ t
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)4 B: D3 F7 P) l) g9 M* N, @) `
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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。) 1 P* k$ m" C! A5 T ) x; ?. G" G0 @* m* v( _! L3 rMany 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。)& |; F% K$ u5 C
, N. k# S6 o& C" f# K# t; G% MPolicemen (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)5 e+ D& u% z2 e' e6 F
! ]% u6 ^9 |- c3 t6 _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)! ?2 C5 g2 D/ F0 |7 c
3 j5 i3 R4 }/ OStewardesses 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。)4 q; F- F6 M7 V# S' A3 [* d
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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。 8 R& X# r+ D+ @( Q + Z' L; l, h! r4 H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: 8 V) g' I1 `( W: u$ i9 C1 E# z: h8 f) _8 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;; f: u+ j5 s0 g" m
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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; ' H0 h1 V6 k' z) r8 F, {) S/ U- J - c5 I( B& o: j5 U, {. [/ E; t, A1 }对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ( N0 q+ R9 S- q1 w, P0 | T5 j3 R" G+ S' W/ n5 n# @9 ~* C' F
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; . a6 i' |; ^, ]2 J3 z! j' Q- j6 Z7 X* O/ w( 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:3 F. Q# k' l3 A( z5 F8 n
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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)。 1 f1 r% _% R6 P ) G, E4 c& z8 }. b, ?# A" \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)。: j) q$ v. D j1 ^; b" W2 ], J: _ C