本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( {% C. K, F; y: O: ^* ]& \
2 H1 m& u/ h7 i' P+ ~9 ~转帖 7 k- D: P+ b) F. ~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) & L0 I( @3 m; t7 V8 e( e' ~6 T0 o1 Y5 v5 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) + H* q, P9 }6 g2 k% m3 e3 O' `& X+ h" b- k. F! s
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。) 3 ]* W, D! r' _! }; n/ |: `5 M6 _( l7 I9 m
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) ) X7 L, ^/ P. q) V" e+ m 5 h1 a( h3 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?) ( \- R v+ U2 S& a9 { 1 m% a5 G( I/ U2 o2 k) D* [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。)& _% T. I( Q0 z( k
9 y. n0 H- f8 R* ^3 [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) & \" l7 u1 W, R6 z- ?7 F 0 G& h5 o/ e9 J! X/ yWe 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!) # j; D' }* i* I" Z 2 B$ v" ?6 b' N" I- A2 }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) * K2 }8 Z5 h* R! K6 O0 x2 l$ J7 @5 t _" J$ }- E) ]. a' R% G
We 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。)2 R! ~7 D- f# f& B1 F4 S
, @* P* v8 Z+ Y- c, ]$ R; i1 z' sPlease 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?) / K L4 F5 w$ i J! r+ x " m- C3 x# q& D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!+ [ b- i" i6 c
, m( R' a$ D+ E( L) C* k: r" N4 j" r 2 Z1 L( u- k# R2 C+ j" ]+ S' X# _! b3 ^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。 7 H: z/ X: d5 k: f$ J 5 {1 J; ?( m- N% [例如:$ F+ Z+ M/ P7 b" M
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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) . d9 I* l, A$ p. s. A 8 q# \) M" `0 _# ^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)6 J& J, Z, p9 [7 j4 G
9 c; o, F, _3 f3 i7 {1 [, DI 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) $ V* d P$ G' u7 a. ? " R7 M! z0 a! }, ]& u4 kHe 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) ' a4 } G% B o- x7 e/ |6 Z- I- `5 U9 h8 w4 g9 H h" R) c' \8 \' U- p
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)0 s f) G0 R+ I0 j9 h
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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)4 M3 p% d/ h: M" {6 E5 z7 [
" f( Y2 `; O5 WI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 B. }% R) ?$ r1 G# \4 c: y% O4 p 6 q1 B' k2 @! x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:% {) o7 T( Y# ^( L2 \( k) D
/ y0 o' c6 U1 o* yThe 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。)8 c# k6 w! C) M) X% b% m
9 b) ^8 T8 E2 A% b G+ MThe 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.) 1 E, {% k2 F, p# s0 i* A # c" |& d0 o" _; D" 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。); J( V& P: m8 A# x
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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)# X$ l9 A4 t' ~$ T9 E' G
& L9 R: p7 A8 R" c' V1 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) 8 x J: h4 o7 W # S. X( k, ]- L* }# r' uEnclosed (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), |: R# K0 E% c1 m, n5 l: L
( ^ _2 H* x$ O# k! j8 K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.)6 ?2 e! ?: K9 ^6 A7 o
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。3 @7 y6 K: |0 T4 B3 y8 d
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4 u7 z e( z; x4 v( U! V: L3.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」。 4 V/ {+ [+ ~& J- o" Q' m" [2 i; h4 k5 T
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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). |- `' _( B* F2 q; Y" m p- v: F5 }
0 ?1 O7 A M4 [5 B/ E: g* iManpower 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) $ G' w. u( N; m4 m) h# d1 @% O2 m7 l# [. {
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)7 ^0 u* a; A4 t6 e- `# ~
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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。)5 w* p+ b9 h& v+ V% V* q
$ s _4 t; Q- i+ k, I; O, v+ 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。)3 [; `$ ]( [ H; t D4 S
: C$ h& d( U! |# t$ ]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) / u V) V9 D c% A; G5 O. P0 q& c; p6 R* ]$ P; n$ i
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)( R( v# U( \- S u9 D) P
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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。) , l% D) o( N7 ~ 9 G, J0 @- E1 S; y. P) q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。; `6 t3 {& ?4 P
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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:% z! x- m+ [6 A0 V) v7 S$ {
% w4 O# I T" s2 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; % n* \1 N/ a1 a' J* T, `9 ]2 c1 B ( I) ^; R" W* h- R, J7 w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; 6 P0 M" h0 L& S& ~5 ]' n $ u& Y, i# V7 D' O) T对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; . Z8 R; X- y! T& @5 e " `- E. z$ d+ b' @2 T; V对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 L3 n5 S8 G m2 X3 V4 v + j. p5 A) Q5 R1 V4 r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: 4 `0 e9 G4 R: N9 _5 o ! {7 B5 A$ v0 r& a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)。& s# F0 `8 c5 o% V$ C% G
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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)。3 s# a( y# L4 o( ^ e I4 g; G" c