本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! V5 l7 L" d5 ~# Q
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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)7 k. h& U3 g; @2 o9 M
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. Z" P) \9 J; G+ ZMany 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) : j4 a# C. R' j7 h + i& \/ a5 ]" f2 n0 D$ O3 E' |# EThree 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。) 0 K- c+ O( i8 W4 ^5 e, Q+ R) M9 ?& w' c: h+ S; M2 s+ h7 e l0 e# }
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)0 p. I+ @( d0 Z* W3 m) N9 a* m
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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?)) {# E% u1 | B# h2 `7 s
" V, @/ d; q/ M/ t+ wI 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。)/ H* ]( I' w+ {* B! S& _# q
! h) s; N; ^6 S) Y( LMr. 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)* o8 }8 d, @* {6 {4 @) S
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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!); \; I0 N; S+ x
3 v8 C, [0 N. L, M( wThe 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) 0 v. ]4 x' _1 H- A' Z9 C' K: |" A 3 }% e' u/ B1 x. W% dWe 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 o/ {# q7 Q9 Q3 P R' T 7 y% A* h+ J. s& s8 A$ ?3 [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?)( @; ]7 n/ P9 \# }
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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!0 c- h$ A& f. D) i# X q# B* N
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; c- C. |7 z/ z9 D- f2. 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。( V" Q( Z$ M0 o4 e
# Q* A7 x$ l* e( i) e zAt 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) ) L5 a6 F, D! T `! S- \" j4 H- H( T5 Z
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) ?# k: g6 p! ?4 c2 k! n
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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)6 Q! \1 h6 R7 i& u3 k' s
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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) 1 T% J i5 b* Y8 u/ o# n' ~& D1 |2 E: B, s& `& }* s0 L5 ^
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)* o/ l, i6 {$ W, G1 o3 \! B& B9 E
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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) ! ]$ U1 p% V/ b! n- C: P* T2 {$ `) I8 b" b/ {1 [& R6 h. a
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # Q/ l# ] `% M3 ~( @9 `9 c# x: A3 p: w0 x/ f1 O
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:3 R: {$ {0 Q& |- ^# ^ e* \
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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。)5 \; F D3 N& \+ e& Q
8 s! T7 }/ H5 ~0 Q/ b2 S! ZThe 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.) 8 H( J" U+ r. g 0 {# `% {8 t3 ]% 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。)% v# w% {: o, g% ~7 P
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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 `& |% ~/ `8 }! l6 O
e! d/ o4 R: Z. i( [/ e3 DWe 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) - `( K; U4 a. J% k" ~# \. h7 d( b, s3 M
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) & K5 d# A- s) z2 e# a$ u Z 9 J) Z g7 ]" I9 u6 b( ?+ q. |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.)3 I% u0 }) L' y3 y: G2 Q
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 $ Z$ r3 v* a, S9 Y3 D7 n+ h 7 h0 o7 |8 N: x * @3 [1 H1 B2 R$ f% J. K3.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」。$ O- ?" s6 i2 G( }
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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) 6 Q3 b. N3 I r3 H% L" N- S s; e5 K' X* F* B# r" C$ u
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)' J2 \: ]' h/ N' c# A. O
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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)% Q! c K. v3 b8 `2 Q! {
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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。) - C* o3 \# E/ D& Z8 V " ~5 i+ w6 Z" \. n NMany 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。)$ S$ W# A1 e+ u
9 Q7 A( \% ?5 Z7 bPolicemen (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)3 z! i( k( |. S' ?6 a( Q# H+ F: m
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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) . \9 O& E* O4 E3 T % M1 Q) g( P7 }6 I; `. GStewardesses 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。)7 K! ]+ o- O( }% `- q
4 U3 l& p: e9 {+ A+ F6 w! q6 m) u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。' ^5 r* M8 L. {* Q; x, l
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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: * z6 I/ r" c# m5 _; j+ q0 `: B5 Q9 W0 I3 |; y2 j4 Z, f6 F) l
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;# e7 m! P0 _9 r: w, |% `
; }* J. N0 \3 @9 C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; 5 F& \" K' A2 g( m, y 6 N1 k( o5 i0 b7 ]对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;! j- j5 d/ x8 {
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;7 A! \, t c2 ?; F, Y8 s) B
9 C# a. A6 H! d' f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: ( i3 a. X, r |5 z1 }* j+ E2 g! R0 W
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)。7 I7 Q. Z+ D. T# t
3 D! l4 g! g+ @$ N& E& T) s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)。' F( H% [8 }2 x2 r. T2 @/ T