本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 B! Y! ]- G7 ?# h5 B8 a: v
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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) 2 \& x& H( h: z7 F7 L: H: ^$ g$ t3 X4 l/ V% c
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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)9 ~* W! u: @, k2 m
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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。) c" i% @) i4 t' l2 o& P# ] 5 Y4 Y6 a$ ^- v) w; ?' u/ wThis 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) 9 `2 N! i$ ^8 M8 d& [9 X) |1 A* x5 m$ m% r, m
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?)& D* }1 x$ B+ Y
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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 O* Z1 O% R5 K. @ v" N/ R K # H0 [0 F( R1 QMr. 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) ' E" u7 E7 W' N( w' `$ d! {' m1 W3 j* h4 A3 O5 b9 d* V
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!)7 d4 W' a0 a; W
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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) . X4 p0 G" T' [ + n% c3 O/ J7 {6 K6 B+ g9 VWe 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。)" a# Q, [, x) G& q
! l3 W# M8 ~: c, dPlease 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 t: e. i: E* w: u4 U6 ~$ P 9 u: y' s2 H! _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! : l5 |+ B4 c! w% t) z) c $ k' {+ L- G" R( K3 _# G( I+ D9 V( o. ^% r* f# ]# a 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。. G! d% A) I, b* v/ N5 U
* c/ U6 a# I( b9 B% @3 u7 M$ p例如: + g8 h# N0 H0 l0 O& [- j , Y1 L7 r) n% w; DAt 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) ; D1 M7 M/ I+ T' W& h3 ~ 2 S2 y1 C/ c3 |' a6 B7 uDespite 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)" ?5 _/ T$ v0 H5 N T3 I7 ~: D
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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) o; w* w( Q) c' `" R- l( A) W3 X! C$ Z4 J9 I9 H, g5 i/ Z
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) ! s5 ?* D8 P' _- Z : c; X* r7 A: K! t$ ^3 g6 MIn 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) ( B" S1 h2 U# s. V, w 3 b! p j( j6 B4 E" P7 P+ jShe 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)( M& }# [# c! N1 P2 q
* c' _/ V! G- M! v4 A! dI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)$ ~. @/ v( C# |
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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: ! ?" n9 t3 A A/ \, y 6 {5 n. k1 n7 a. t: f" E3 QThe 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。)7 h/ w3 K! A3 r! T. Z3 ]. }
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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.)0 H: l6 I6 F3 T6 p" E' K" [! n
/ ^7 d7 m: E0 J4 V% i! 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。)/ X% _# |: p. V4 x* n+ L
6 s. m8 E5 j; RHe 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)/ K4 p, P$ w( W
1 |1 K$ w; N3 S' T) Q$ A% ZWe 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) 5 B( z( [$ i! Q* \( z2 ?: \' C3 ?3 P7 G, u6 D3 w
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)* `" }0 Z& T$ j! k$ L5 X$ c
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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.)+ m) ?6 ^( Y7 {
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& n3 ]+ g, w* }5 f- o6 X+ k
& r5 K3 X+ r" D) A6 @4 ^' B3 s' H* P7 |; ^# z' B) o# e 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」。. ^; d. Y# ?$ o- K9 k4 k3 L
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例如:4 q6 R1 {9 O: l! Y6 T
( V* Y$ `! Y8 m! PMankind 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)" Z* P6 `. Y8 I( v" Q! |8 _- A7 c
5 P* r* d( s7 V) P- q, a! [4 BManpower 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) % d2 ~3 S" U) M/ {8 D) o+ y. ?. d/ M7 Q# a( L2 a3 Q& ~1 {
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)( p2 W2 E8 ~8 z3 o7 R
6 O8 G; O2 @( n0 p. B' A. J8 xHe (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。) " d t- K8 n* b- u- U ) i- q9 A9 K1 K# i1 V) O% w* XMany 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。)! a* F+ ?& D; g* N
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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) ; T( S- {' y4 [ d. I' ]: i+ N, y' x; U* {9 l# ~
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)+ t1 a, R( K2 k/ L3 @
: |8 m `0 \7 k2 m$ xStewardesses 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。) # G+ {; P- g$ ] I8 P; a: [2 z: 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。& X7 B5 `( D: Q
! n" T& T# p6 I4 ?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:0 O9 J- A6 |5 k5 C8 C
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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;; D' s8 n1 O/ [4 E3 E4 E& T
# s/ j* Z. R# o3 R2 ?* b0 F$ z9 Y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; . ^' i/ X0 \) T- Y4 j J3 ~ ! T2 M8 L3 x2 n" A O对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;9 U h5 c& W/ s
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ) T- r5 O: J5 O, W0 o3 X) W0 E; j, f4 m$ }+ ^" r8 c
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:! l0 }- @9 S' b8 Y' Q& z
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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)。9 g2 ], B7 E: v1 b# H ]8 G5 p
4 c- Z6 D2 r5 x* q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)。4 `- j& z) `* }9 P