本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ! w2 v' b5 t2 e) V% N( j3 e- b }# T, G* G( s# U 转帖4 k( O( s8 W, ?& n; J4 l& `) b0 A
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). G9 O# H7 `6 U" 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) % z* F9 R* R! ?) q- f! u+ X, c2 p / _6 r0 L1 T. yThree 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。) " A& u9 X; ^- g6 P! ^ ( `" p6 o& H' 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) 0 e; W A5 C1 I# l1 | a% r5 K( D5 t/ v) O% |# l
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?)0 v' Q' ^5 m; F2 Q, J* B% S; i
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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。)" M9 x- F6 s2 i
& Q F T" t6 T( GMr. 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)& `7 {0 o- B- F. |) M/ W2 |
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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!)& k* z( Q3 ?1 J6 A3 u# I5 |
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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) 5 `4 S) B/ Z; d" \ 8 K2 _3 ?% }% Q- cWe 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。) 6 D- c/ w1 A7 b& a$ [0 o" Q $ }# }* |) d/ S l3 kPlease 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?) / R: p W o1 y! d7 a + j. `3 F( F' z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! : ~/ u7 M2 P4 q9 Q, M1 U2 Y ! T- {5 ~3 g6 U3 b: ?& f2 I2 ?1 r8 u, A) N* q' x- g* l* @# 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。 & O5 @& W( c; U' I! `, w3 `) f! ]0 a% X
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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)" J Q0 w2 ? n9 R* N2 F
% [8 N" h, v* Y: q8 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)8 l2 }3 S- C' |
# o5 h' h0 U6 e* [& O" P& G4 g7 E' |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) 9 `5 V! i& C' j: J2 G3 @# w" Q1 ?, V1 v7 {
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)/ ?$ W( G$ Y2 B% E( ?& p. n0 _' S
# A8 ~, i9 q+ _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) 7 b3 Y$ c; {- T$ u z3 B6 G; y0 w( \/ H
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)( L. F5 J- i9 n. D
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)8 z5 x. e& h1 M' h
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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: 3 T- R: [. _# i+ n T, f A$ D$ f: g# R% v2 f" B; P2 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。) ' V- ~ d) o W- K6 p3 T6 y / P0 r0 z4 M; \# NThe 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.) ! K. f j! q0 m/ g% I2 c) C$ y) G& K. o, D7 L1 _( c+ ^/ P
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。)1 s% j( q- `' |% V4 M4 c& F W5 v! z7 b
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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)" r+ _& r5 C) J8 t9 a g" |3 n
" d; s. t% `0 \" w% p5 v: o! n9 b7 sWe 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), }$ t8 I; y! k
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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)2 o% @; f, x6 h4 q
1 Z5 c% I2 S# H& M& i1 l/ ~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.)% T9 k, S D! g$ w" S; u ]
6 u2 e3 a' B: @2 J( H: M6 p此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 % U7 D8 S0 V* [4 B' n4 i& g* w9 V& @# S3 X, q
% o0 m: M; |( ]4 Z* i0 w! t 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」。 % _: }) s! x5 h" h0 n m1 Y: c- J: w4 Y5 f' f. Q; t7 D. ~
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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) 0 V+ ^" Z) Q% g7 `! B' e; m0 z* x- K; i- N
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) 7 s+ A7 j9 y# l/ D5 z( q1 @; P& f! r/ T; S; Y0 ^
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) & ^( i$ p: D; H1 }) M8 Z/ ^ ; b3 A$ n" a7 o& S: Y" THe (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。)( p1 A2 S9 L; R$ _2 w
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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。)0 F7 D0 \4 K6 E- e1 r( U! ~
; {% I0 N7 r+ E% ~/ _% t$ fPolicemen (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) $ C1 g1 i3 b- @6 _" }) U7 e- h+ ]/ |( E7 z% |/ D I2 L7 O/ B
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 o1 f. k. a5 U
4 H# c( U" a5 ]9 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。) / E* H; V% d8 H! @% I9 f# K" n4 Y+ c' M. 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。3 x6 i" x7 w" t
) u. j7 W) T) J$ S4 C: F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: * P/ @) s, M7 S a6 w7 s3 W2 y - T5 k, K8 }+ N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 E H5 q4 m3 H+ @
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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; & Z" w5 D" |3 A. u$ M5 W% T ; i7 J& r% p8 s I对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 3 P. }( g& @9 A5 Z9 f7 b# O1 q. W! F: H4 X0 ~% s, P
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;% w1 f% g) F) N t6 t' r* H/ m" a
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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: 1 G: C" U; s( e! e3 r0 l; e; d. l6 h" s/ 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)。4 Q- }! s5 t; A" y- B( I) ?3 A
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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)。 , `& W2 R% q4 a+ o& T3 Q