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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) 7 k% F5 C9 r s& o% L0 ]+ G$ I) ?' ^7 d; N! M
例如: + s3 {2 a# O9 [ , a" w q) |/ qMany 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): p6 d' r/ R4 G
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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。)$ K; ]7 x$ s; Q! u9 H
+ Z$ i+ w3 c$ f: k- Q$ YThis 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)3 n, R! r; n* h% h: W/ T+ F0 p: k
; L' e# s6 \+ `9 ?: M* T4 `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?) + c _6 P% h* q. H1 Q3 M4 R $ t* v: v5 s9 [# [0 oI 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。) ; j/ r3 n$ \+ N. j9 ?2 e9 N4 V4 O+ P' K3 Y6 z1 [) r
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) 0 a7 l$ w& T% }3 E T7 t& [1 F- ]8 ?0 R' 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!) # u) Z* `0 ^' G, j " y# ~- k: N7 ~- x4 Y, KThe 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) 2 [6 z+ n; D0 L" X* o% c ; ]) a9 @4 ~; j+ z/ PWe 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。) ' g; C: x9 }; x; @4 |/ u. ?, k, X: ^ & T$ H b) P. M# l$ v; a4 b. ?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?) 2 F) K$ y. {, z q, N: o u / p, @; @9 z' D6 a+ Y* x; 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!3 T- K& w# ^' ?
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Y1 R3 j: X6 s* h2. 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。 . q* \3 Z6 }6 U+ L+ f: z R* n; P; {+ y( ? }
例如:1 k( ?/ u0 u R( s. t8 H U
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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)& _: y0 w* z8 g- Z+ f0 x1 K9 e7 o
+ V; s7 u1 U( a# k+ V7 {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)# ^2 f8 f1 x" u8 K5 a
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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)( n/ X& N! B$ g
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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)! I( O( B" a0 T. o. z8 t5 x
/ x* I& p- s! z3 E. hIn 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 @( p0 c* Z* `/ r* }/ |4 @
& L. V! \' ^8 P3 r- B8 WShe 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): w4 S3 z Y8 o
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " r7 F4 h1 p: ~: |! O( V & R5 v( R7 K- V; a( `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:+ k; M# n. [+ A+ |# V% {; b6 R
. s9 b& W# k6 [; y0 C* N; P$ ]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。) 3 w6 L: d2 l4 g( [" a. i" e D . \3 Y I" _6 W. vThe 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.) 9 X; Y' S; \6 a4 d: Z5 I/ ?& e: X ) I) ]: M' g4 {" z; v5 A5 |$ VHe 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。)$ G/ p/ C/ @' B+ h
. o3 r$ E* V$ t+ O* R% J6 ?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) 7 h; ~7 X% J% T* ~! q* Q( x3 q( t# i# h
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) 1 S7 y% w$ S( ]2 J3 n! |8 n ' a' }. W$ g1 y( P# q& e3 h/ p1 PEnclosed (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 E; u; N: P2 b9 Q7 U: U0 u
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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.)! n& I4 u$ i$ t n
; \6 \2 N' [0 W4 O7 z$ S% Y2 `此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " ~5 F/ w. x5 T, j$ D) y - S. ?4 ~: f& s0 f# g7 K0 q. L$ k' b- F. _9 E9 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」。; {+ c. E6 G& }5 N6 H; H
: u+ ~& z% v R例如:! F7 o' l; U% K' J: V
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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) - y( i! {- C; P) X! S8 Z' T- d6 {! ?
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); I/ k) v7 L& V# E
' T. b5 c2 j# @; w: g4 b; QThis 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) / B4 |3 |0 l; x; r1 u& a4 a) y . e, y$ w' A0 e! ~: `0 K3 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。)7 r/ ?- W: M; M0 @$ z
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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。) $ M$ _, M& w1 E1 O ' {; a2 k1 f8 m' mPolicemen (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)9 D$ }* D: O% z
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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) " q3 E' U+ D1 h3 U; n/ V* h! V: y* t* `& F2 L
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。)8 [0 _* A7 }" A) V
/ ?9 |1 j9 ~6 f/ G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。+ E3 O) P4 o5 z. g3 \
. F7 m P6 f, B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:! q L" U% B' |2 R
. f' Y- [4 S. S% C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;9 Q" ?: r- o- j4 q
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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;. i) ]7 ~$ e; y- u5 ~7 a! C8 O& U