本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , [5 E2 U4 f4 K) \1 x: N9 K, Z [) R
- a: ^" ^, M- X" k% S' _转帖 * G: u/ X0 z5 `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)- b1 \, V/ A/ b) r8 e. t" q
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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) 8 H, t: L* i1 F8 ]2 @. u , h. m. K, r+ k% k4 q+ m% o {% uThree 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。)! ]; O# L( A, J* e
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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) 0 }# h# t$ Y' Y% d6 N& J) j7 n4 i5 f, g. B3 u0 u
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?) , h4 N3 Q4 U/ R6 V! E- P; `$ ~8 p& N$ T
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。)1 s; P' D0 e1 l
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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)( L- ~6 ~! z& R3 M4 L' ^! ~! _
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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 i: T* @7 Z: B9 }- |6 i1 [3 K% l/ {7 X/ s* x4 W- ]+ U9 q! Z9 g
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) - Z; ^2 D5 w* p/ m 8 f! y4 H9 M( A9 o3 ?" j7 uWe 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。). k1 E7 C* M: J2 S% e" {' ?! @" ?
, \& X4 I% Z) @/ X1 b4 `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?). _8 V& _% i0 X1 E% z( L# o2 `
/ J# _$ @3 Z5 o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 I$ C' V! `0 z, J
% Z1 { z) Y' m) P% S( A( q0 Z7 j; _- I5 f$ ]; V; t3 O 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。& @9 T5 \ Y+ z. W
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例如:: p" K X$ c. y# r
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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)6 ?0 X9 ~+ z# L. ?; [. K7 n
: Y2 l5 F: m! \/ Z+ v8 i2 ~* h0 f) m# P- yDespite 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)7 H' c6 n! Y9 K5 E, E* C8 `/ c
- ?! M$ W7 U) w4 x4 qI 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)) h0 c$ V( q& a9 s: f
3 S2 t9 u Y3 R" D! D5 u+ ?) n JHe 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)) K: Z0 z/ m& y/ C% s- s9 @
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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) ! a7 Q- d- H* j" q) A4 t" k * H; S* q+ M) U( T' C# b8 |& mShe 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)* \* S7 o- n: I2 m9 z$ i
) v) s6 e- ]# D+ h% xI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)& O( E& Q" L, j+ U* j
0 ?( K5 M9 A+ ~7 J9 y' Q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: 4 D7 u9 k u* O) y, _6 S" T/ _0 i' T% K; y5 V% V/ B( {9 z3 w
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。) 6 F2 v- S, T t! C$ V 9 B0 I- H$ e) Z0 d$ `7 ^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.) ) X' j1 L* n% }" b! ^" q2 V" z( s8 o ! d% M, T! P3 o7 r1 c/ JHe 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! {$ A/ H6 p7 }* x0 |
[; q9 E( i8 ^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) ) j9 _( ^! c# ?4 d& d; B" C: S( E& N. D0 @+ W3 J
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) k, y% X5 [' W1 ] 9 Z4 R( R7 l7 Z6 n) _ K% G2 DEnclosed (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) 0 z1 m9 j0 I, s: B$ a5 B- Q8 E b3 k: O, u+ v* f3 v$ 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.) % s0 t" u7 u1 E1 N7 P/ m$ @/ x" V5 }( t7 |; E! t9 [& {
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" ]$ e0 T7 s# {) Z* H; F
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?2 j( U( N/ m$ h6 C% ~ V 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」。+ V0 X3 Q6 f0 }. @. ^- C
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例如: - p# ^% \) e+ K" F; p* N7 h H9 w8 t5 W$ ^1 u" c" CMankind 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) ( M5 H- [. b1 ~: C+ O" H 4 S; m3 B& q1 }7 S* ?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)3 Z- D3 t) \0 N' m
: s; b- C8 I }' W+ \1 S; C, f6 fThis 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) " ^; i. ]) q$ \1 F0 M$ p1 W4 V; T4 Z
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。); B# H% d) |4 c) ^3 V2 P
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Many 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 \6 r8 z* z5 M# H& f6 r" E: o1 j7 h7 _
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) + Q' m6 A8 x$ ?% `- ?3 x$ z3 O- m# J+ Z. ?# t
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)3 H3 l. V) l5 h6 I7 F
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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。) / K+ a. ?* m9 |/ m8 p" i3 @, Z# h9 b8 f) `& c
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。 $ A- }6 }0 j" S/ Z. E; R 7 D9 l/ ?! r* x$ @6 v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: 6 r5 n) Q3 R4 e! K8 D' k6 w ' ?7 i% i: C5 Y5 ~! X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; 8 z' J" A! B- m0 }6 z/ |# T! T 3 V7 x. [$ B3 ?' I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; ) u0 G+ N7 ]/ ~+ ~# Z ; G: P6 `$ m) ]对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;& [0 O' ?! `6 L+ i( {3 _# Z* |
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 P% U V# N, V& J# t! _4 ^2 ]) C9 z0 E; [
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: 5 J% j1 [: z/ K3 r; @2 Q. n: R) c! i9 R" |
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)。 & H+ I! t8 S. J; m; e! s8 a" {( V) J& f
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)。 # f0 O5 x. k$ }& K