本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . X8 c3 {, i, a6 x- ?0 R- q) m 转帖9 q9 i! H; R% ~* n3 C1 [2 `
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)2 y2 c; Q5 ?& b
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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)* Z3 O+ ~8 e. g' L" j8 K
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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。). M5 M1 v" {; J M0 ~ 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)2 B6 K' ?) c" @/ O- }/ @0 m$ K( }$ o
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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?)9 \) a$ f; V1 `4 y1 O2 i0 B
7 [# n6 K: g9 H% EI 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。) + M( z/ j7 v) ^3 A* b1 @. N7 S $ L' f. V2 J, A* l( @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)3 N" s& ~: ~( J6 x5 V# \
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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!) 3 [; _/ j; A' a9 {8 v) z P' Q# B/ w- x5 Y3 D! }. _5 z5 YThe 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) 2 r i6 g+ h# o" D4 `+ D% S 7 h' J. O1 W. vWe 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。) U: C% N" v) E- C. {, I8 }8 k |# D" b& R* ^7 `
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?) 3 `. g% k+ i0 w9 `5 z( H* O; c5 q; I7 K, ~1 e
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! 5 O% ^9 m' E2 p6 V7 e4 x" j+ L# U$ X6 \" f3 X* n' Y
2 J8 Z& O, \8 c. j" T2 Q ^ 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。' _% d1 P$ _4 p: ]. z* M
) W0 f) e( x( g' b例如: 4 S) M/ f/ l0 ~$ P8 p4 Y" b# @, E+ _1 H$ U5 x
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); [: K$ {! x6 t& [+ V, F( ~5 k! m
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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) 2 {8 p( ?6 }/ D: Q: [* v & ^7 z0 P/ q% z# T6 iI 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) , ]* g1 c+ Q# ]+ Y6 Z0 z3 V J$ e1 p, ^
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)% \( L; [ w, r& x9 E
! J8 g, Q+ U% ?3 x3 X( Y2 M+ AIn 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) : T9 Y! `6 @& w! q$ Q5 _& p/ N4 j, W9 F( `) F
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)" H0 Z0 i' e1 |
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , a& G3 ^4 G: P# Q0 G' [% I # @( z' j; f" ? H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: 7 \" N1 B( ]/ \$ ?3 P2 } \2 j/ b' M: G! q
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。) / G) h4 k# W4 s7 t/ p4 T* A; l5 A1 ^7 @, }4 v7 S4 F
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.) ; h D! {+ ^, ~- C$ r4 U ( x+ [ `* r& N MHe 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。)9 }* z: D% H) i5 I9 N3 u6 n
9 A. P* D) t, \( F6 j# k0 uHe 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) & w% F6 F0 T8 D9 }; s* Z9 \, [ 7 m5 z- u( t3 n+ A' ]8 p0 \# wWe 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)! \# W+ V0 J4 x1 j- r0 y
* m& m+ E k: x" Y' h' l: r$ _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) 2 `5 i; M" N5 w) k - Z& N& n! g# s- |* R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.) 2 H* E6 L+ s5 N# } ) ^( f& b% Z, `: P/ C9 B此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" d% g6 G" K' M7 M. G6 w3 E
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7 j3 t2 w$ |; ^6 X4 V3.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 B( s4 ]/ ]% h6 B1 h. U: n" [5 b+ O+ [% y A
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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)' y: N6 E! t$ O# I5 j
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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 r5 s* W+ ~3 |+ |% i# {6 C9 p$ t7 U- K- U
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) ( n: q1 K, t. E- A! m/ |4 t2 `. s' Z# f; q' E. ~
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。) / ]' E1 }6 I2 U # \( h' X8 M0 Y! U" x1 `& XMany 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。)$ B7 v2 M. @- Y
7 Q. I1 j3 Y9 N& ~$ C* w3 i% LPolicemen (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)# f4 G- Y2 v% w$ y
4 @8 {8 @0 G! G' M4 t& h7 |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) - z- @ i$ v$ D- y8 S : s+ i, i7 h* ~) u9 FStewardesses 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。)* ~( y- T& l( z6 t
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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。 4 j% J5 l5 `* N4 [" s+ ]1 X" l5 H( I0 _) j8 d4 ]8 R
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:7 D: x4 P0 j S
7 J( j G, a0 X1 @8 m# _) q; D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;$ l* _& l. U+ v0 ~' q6 F" x
9 |, B# L Y" h. A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; + }* Z6 d$ P2 I. t' E4 L% E+ m' d! g1 ]1 h T, ]
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;# F7 L8 [9 l$ e. O0 I+ H
% e! r7 W0 J6 @( R) w# z! N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 }& C; B `$ V
4 U" }4 g- X* u: X8 ^8 o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)。 3 h* z& U5 {! e" `. O4 Q$ Q7 N " o4 C7 R' Y6 }/ z+ T3 o. T- R3 \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)。 - m4 z$ C$ A& T. E