本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) K2 P/ _( M, t1 K+ x
% J6 `4 ]0 U: A. r2 t8 n 转帖 , l5 ^( k4 y6 e+ ^8 J; i, i" d) g1. 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) 0 D# t; }) j2 @% l1 m( A! z% v6 ? U; z0 `5 [) {# S: |例如: 2 x8 R0 R! i8 P0 M, Q/ i2 V# i2 |3 g: S. v
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)( X$ ]! X: n1 @8 b$ w
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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。) 9 T3 [6 K# V: b( ]( @ 2 K% j+ r$ y! I" R- `) ?, _$ TThis 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) 5 i; u4 @4 ?/ M! a8 U# ]$ u7 `: ~% b
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?)+ w I& s5 t- A
# _% y' ?% W- W7 B/ [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。) 0 I. M+ ^9 h( A2 f1 g. W; L! k% t* Y3 `% V0 V3 [
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) 5 {2 [" w g3 J6 F1 ~3 w+ K( V W9 B: L
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!)* {; h, I2 C( X0 K+ n0 O
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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) / _4 x& V* m' D; E6 s; }9 m0 B+ i5 k* L/ [/ `" G ^# R
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。) / @! R7 }3 s/ M) I h3 p: Y" B+ M* Q+ p+ M4 c7 Y3 k
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?) $ P% x* p0 ?1 z" ?6 H 3 {' X9 T4 N! c9 R( X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!1 U( z, Y4 R: F. p
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! n* Q+ G7 B }% t- `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。 ; W: ^! n' G9 q1 @& e+ b 7 n! g8 Y# _8 d5 x2 `% a9 [) F例如:- y1 v& o0 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) 2 \* t- a/ l# S( F7 }) B; U2 f+ r4 w$ v" c" Z( S: u3 T
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) . `* G, E8 K4 _: ?% u; t' x: V6 i7 W; E5 a( e4 { w% z0 M( z
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)/ s( S7 M+ ~! I2 j
0 y7 |( L& k6 l h s y4 R0 d' pHe 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) 5 q# {# N- h. J4 {, j+ Z+ v* O" @! G- L: _8 t* R" L
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) " C1 A7 v# X9 J' h5 y& r h . W4 \3 J' ?- E; D4 z! O" {' EShe 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)2 t( ?. K6 [+ V
( h5 f- W8 a3 J& G6 A; OI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' `. ^% b" L* V" i8 D8 Y/ J6 _: x5 c$ F9 d8 D8 | I
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: & d U' r5 j4 l2 j4 T( v' q; D/ d 7 r8 K# R8 F( N3 n$ 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。)$ H: F/ C; M \4 T
, U9 h. X! a$ F' I$ u; v1 bThe 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.)0 N0 Q# s5 b& |; [( {9 q( g
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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。) ) y o l T- y) z- y. G% k7 n0 V' R4 R' ?8 s. `
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) 3 m- |: ?: |& ]. V# ^' L 7 @$ s0 b( I! k T" \' T) M5 lWe 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) 7 U' S1 Z8 N, H9 @" M* e/ A+ s 6 a* j4 H, Y1 D- ?/ vEnclosed (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) ( x/ @4 ^2 ~& I+ u 7 Q% }- b# W, `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.) . W, X7 p; j+ E ]2 Q+ Y: I" |* N1 U( b
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % M. Y. \9 s7 }1 y: z 9 g; p4 w: q$ L0 B, y e9 Z* ]! m; J; W% C 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」。 2 R' T) ~2 S% _5 ]9 F p6 E & O. I, n" j4 a例如:: U; r& J( }# M4 O# [
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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 j$ S( S: y0 r; u. M+ M1 d4 @7 q- H8 I, K+ g
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) " a5 W1 a) C$ V% C4 f# a* g$ F9 G: F7 a) W/ A
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). b0 w' d' o# B9 i
) J3 [) V7 H# `4 d0 w( GHe (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。) r- B! ~+ d+ Z9 O/ D6 D& e9 i
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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。) 5 J& v( n! w: f' R 8 K; }- g1 G4 s8 b7 _+ v0 _# M) wPolicemen (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) + W! B; }3 r% G. \' I) A 4 n! @4 \- n6 b; } M7 }4 {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)- c8 E+ T7 y: X+ f
8 \# T8 R9 ^) p" ~4 p1 R3 zStewardesses 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。) 0 q8 D$ \' z) t7 H ?) S" g6 C* ]5 S D: K3 e
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。% e1 N5 B, J7 {! ^; T2 M( U3 d( 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:/ o9 _0 q% C$ |7 D! X9 D
) [6 v: O% d1 P4 y9 p$ Y2 ~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; + \* _1 m( }8 `) X) l# w7 ] 7 P' d S- V$ u+ ?) t! o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; 0 N7 q+ J7 w _! Y 9 f! ?" X. h* Z0 m" C( N对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;' s9 ^. i. y( I3 `5 e: A" {
1 }0 u8 X# g* R9 w4 N对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 4 }! a& x/ v8 g- ~' r. F& a( p, [! x& k3 z+ U: ^( |4 i2 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: m) b* t2 r" { 8 v, ?9 S- @2 m `" y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)。) m5 b& G% Y4 T3 ]* D: ^0 I
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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)。 ! e) C$ L ] w$ ]4 T