本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! D! g5 r+ E1 C9 U Q
0 w6 s$ s/ U" n转帖 ) j' _- V9 i+ x" [8 \' q1. 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)) g7 w0 D8 f ~
6 D& D" B5 [* v8 u+ ]
例如: ' Z% h% [/ Q7 f) B) S# d. S/ v5 H' K L$ H7 W+ Q+ l( A2 ]9 N
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) 3 v; {5 _' J5 l, F# H( o1 Q. ^; g 1 L7 A) e( _; P z4 |6 P- U, f2 O- L* ?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 F/ L! }- b, ?* c: f: [; \1 ~/ l
2 P: j6 J- u5 W; f' v: @( A
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) " {4 D) m& r9 Q% l x8 b1 |7 ^7 R2 Q% n; V/ a; i$ Z
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?)" a6 ]$ U) g V- a" ^8 m- u- u
) E) o8 Z& ?3 u8 }- Q0 F4 z2 J
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。) 8 m* O) W" _2 ~/ Q- U+ J, Y( u3 I3 r, ?
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) 1 Z/ D( N1 `, W' x 2 Q! d( v7 X9 p- A p& kWe 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!)/ f4 O B& b; W
; Z$ p; A. d6 h8 O Y: m( F
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) ( A# y9 L5 T' R" I$ U . Z0 i1 L7 l+ e+ D( d. aWe 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。) & J( A- L+ f d! C+ U' Q% ^& k, ~% d R4 f7 U+ h1 y
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?)% O$ v( ~. z* ]5 s
; ?; H( q# _8 |0 i) W8 F/ P C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! u0 n5 Z% J A6 F- Q7 y
: l( T7 J( O* m2 z) y6 K8 D4 L
& U! ^" N9 _/ Y9 w1 Y2 C2. 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 E: y" Q# m: x' Z5 f8 z9 {4 ]7 V+ V% s* k# L+ e9 j% j' p7 z9 V: i, M+ y
例如:9 A6 k3 @$ R8 i7 D/ W
) U6 L6 m/ Y3 H7 \# g* ]
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) 2 @8 p- s6 p# ~ , J+ ]& }/ s( CDespite 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): P( K% z5 e' n6 L& ]
' y; R) Q: m% W0 cI 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) " K: c' ^% g' W* F. f& U! y & R: ^) P* R6 b. p3 ^+ W! vHe 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)/ C9 M) k }9 ~
* j( M# y& u/ P2 y1 O
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)- Q1 P0 p- ], G* c6 r# g( C
4 y. S( i! u# ?/ }7 b, i7 P+ aShe 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% j ^$ T$ g 2 _3 e2 Y3 o) E* D& o7 V& CI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , y, {; v" k, n# Z ! W [5 B9 I0 {( p( I5 n+ n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:# W3 g5 r6 G/ h% Y0 b
6 L5 R ~2 I8 V! L p% cThe 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。)6 J* v% W" A: l: ]
& j5 L% ?4 ^" w, E% ]- Z0 x9 }" @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.) & y& Z2 S+ u+ d2 N$ R, v: @1 A+ I ^
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。) : _, f* Y. C+ H* B( l m+ x# i( `7 V# a. g
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) 5 [3 c9 }; s9 X; \ ; j; x* a0 f; I T7 W, D$ A. nWe 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); f4 [0 p8 ]6 K X8 G
; }6 M1 W# {% h' j9 @) jEnclosed (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 `( J `9 g& ~/ T, k. o
8 n4 z }' U7 v
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.)% `* A1 s9 U+ R
9 ^; g7 q% K' R6 @' d; C此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。4 h: G6 M1 J5 |- T$ n
6 G6 o4 ]! A) P1 V! x$ e
+ y$ ^- I! [/ s `+ U5 C1 n: I3.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」。% p: K( f# s& t0 ^
5 M: N+ Z) ^2 E
例如:9 @ p/ |& A$ ?- g
, D% y* F+ _, L" QMankind 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) M# \! [! [4 P! o2 D3 ]/ @
/ J4 _9 d ^7 L2 J! k9 NManpower 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 N% ~8 i6 _. M4 \% d
1 q6 F; d+ P, f) j0 s( ^% AThis 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). O* w5 n6 p. ~9 s
\& i; w: J, u% cHe (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。) ' i4 c2 F/ F9 i & |; @( A- B8 S, H6 {2 r4 r, OMany 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。) ! Q* @6 J0 R8 n3 H8 b0 h5 E ) B% p% h8 c( c5 N7 X) jPolicemen (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)1 R F9 q C0 Q0 L& h4 [* ?
: p! A G9 ?" A5 a) l) E$ S2 K1 \
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)5 R) u4 } H* S# k. D# y
0 X, f3 w+ d' `/ ]' Y
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。) 6 M4 v8 S$ h( D a% G w A0 d 1 [) F0 V7 R! R6 H' ~( H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。 l. z1 t- g) d9 ^* T4 _5 l 0 a; I& m5 j3 X$ B$ Y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:. n9 y6 C( V1 j6 O
+ s9 o/ o( \) z& ^7 x1 J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& R, m L" q" I4 z
0 D2 v& f5 H- f2 d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;* q# L/ `+ i: ]! F& X
* a4 @' o* N5 x) |- Q0 G5 w对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ n# W& p, ]& v3 p/ \1 r' Y
- z; l8 T) O6 P! C
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " t* r2 f _0 u+ Z: N9 n ; f, A- X" z! X( [( j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:) [" q9 [1 w& U8 M/ M* X
; N, ?8 f! F- W: P( V
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)。 R# ~2 X" M) ?1 B B
" y& [+ ?- r4 p4 N
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)。6 i" B3 M) {+ y