本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 N: W1 S- I* [/ c7 k, K$ Z- m3 `7 P4 `6 Y0 a9 L 转帖 v& U. r5 \5 e5 Q
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) ' N; V- ^8 Z# r# f3 R `4 _: V( b: W/ @' m9 }: T7 M% I( u
例如: & ]1 Y9 m. @* l! o. ?, S4 O + X& e$ E7 |5 [; O, ~( EMany 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) $ p) z: N5 l0 E* T0 r0 H) I# V+ u( i F. q& O' e* H
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。)5 |6 e6 {- V* W' U" e: C
$ k" w/ w& G. ?$ T; |/ MThis 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 v a, b" e# N & S) Y6 i6 S H0 q ~3 t" yThe 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?)$ t7 i6 @" K2 v2 l% D, c
) u4 U- ?( }2 b2 F7 [' l- II 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。) 7 s& ~& e8 M3 k4 ~# a% K. j7 v- U$ |* V: s, a
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)4 Y; {" a2 ^2 |! {- N1 R0 M9 a k
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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!)2 _3 k; h& W! f; a/ `0 s0 W2 l
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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)9 `9 ?) T1 k/ Q n
' Q! ?5 K2 [) WWe 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。)% Y& r) @! R, r* e8 V5 G
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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?)1 x: \+ v! K2 u- }
( G: W! ~: r; L1 \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! : v# [0 V, @7 f! `0 s # y; x9 @8 Z! T5 J8 e) k; u. i( _- ?# m6 S 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。 e6 |( |, h' s8 A! n- V) @9 F
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例如: , K. T! O A, R# o" H" p2 _$ c) Y# E, g
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) + m9 u) N6 x( Q2 c( l3 B$ O : E! r: C0 l! L2 h- WDespite 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) . T$ L- w7 |- g, T. }1 A3 i$ G& G4 D1 G) P9 J, J" u5 d
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)6 j* @ { A! m; M
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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) 5 @4 K6 {# r* q% O % E- C1 t9 P2 m6 E) R2 R, ^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)5 `" b( S6 t0 X6 A9 y/ s: U
) H+ q' k6 ?8 T) b+ c! y) PShe 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)7 Y- i" \- V9 a
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) F/ F& x+ P, ^0 Y$ n% B& ^
' f, P; W$ y* B. n, W' ^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:0 ^( [/ f1 ^4 Z* @6 ?6 r4 w
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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。) D( l4 b- b) ^1 |. ?
- _6 ~ I( c1 {: V" z4 @$ e; oThe 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.) 4 c+ B( z1 b- ^- K& e- ~) A# c5 A7 G! o' T6 z- l# W+ a
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。) # M5 ^! w: {, x* P: c " y5 N) W( U8 b+ }' A7 l2 N& f6 tHe 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) ) o6 V' F) ?8 d* F& O 7 Z9 y* S/ o9 ]6 i/ T8 kWe 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 F; |3 w: \+ n9 @# A+ ? % O, f. e/ o" E4 Y; j4 B5 ?8 ^3 XEnclosed (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)9 i# D: n& a& j# \( ~) r% Q8 M
9 @+ Y" ?* } ^; c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.) 2 E+ ^7 v$ x l7 {" o" V& H9 D5 P4 Q+ D5 Z
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 & w. P. @+ i1 A/ K) R0 j9 v$ S6 f3 R9 r, `' U3 K* I+ ?+ ?4 I
w# z L% R! A3.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」。 7 p; X1 f$ f; b- i6 w % w8 K5 h+ ^/ n' r1 D+ B例如:- e* V3 V7 a2 z( |8 f4 Y2 H: s
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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)* [2 O9 ?% d: m8 J" I% M
5 }: `* `; Y k) E+ Q. `! y9 Z7 KManpower 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) 2 U( E3 L* \7 |+ L & Z/ h8 V8 l/ c! iThis 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)& g1 q5 b) W% C; G7 a6 N2 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。)9 f4 U1 z" m. v' v8 X/ y
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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。)1 u( Z7 k: U: D$ C
6 L* [, V; X/ c7 m9 ^1 t. QPolicemen (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) 8 u9 k# i" `" c0 A; ~2 } + j( ^5 I8 E- y" F' b' |- uCongressmen (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) # m) D' B5 a/ _4 ?! _' S8 |1 r5 @ d6 D. @! ]$ p
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。) ) _( v* g( b3 Y / z7 O- k k/ G) S# A( @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 t! [+ h8 [, _) x7 O5 q$ A2 ?% z( D( b# E2 l# p
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:6 \$ m/ f5 H0 X3 t: I) R1 ]# }3 E
; h" I+ E3 H# O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; 8 \: V* L' n0 b ~: F5 H. P7 N, p6 U
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; L" S; x4 W- ]( P! Y+ {3 y2 O& B- {$ p/ F
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;$ S8 g+ k6 X4 e4 o4 [' z
- J: i5 Q# E& N0 [8 O+ _对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: o: X A$ R; u. [# ]
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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:$ \! }6 P; x4 `( `8 S1 P6 A6 s b
% W2 M5 T2 {. o1 \3 d* @* J! H) p. j0 o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)。" D/ z( k M* n/ H7 W4 d
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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)。 / _. V* K4 N. L# W2 [7 F: |% x4 X