本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . I* {- m& I3 q$ B( j* ]& t3 y! z1 u- n/ M u; S0 k# [ 转帖, c1 \% _$ h: u" w
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)5 {4 \* R1 \' I" t5 M
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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)8 w' N# d% y, b; C7 J
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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。)- V6 M& ~2 w/ V& r
8 b4 V5 Z2 b4 s2 k3 L$ K" DThis 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)1 ~* }! _8 Y$ v7 ^
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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?)4 M# K; t3 }/ e
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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。)( v/ ^% E6 p, M( i( f: g, j5 m
0 p+ ?4 J# v) M+ ZMr. 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)2 V, |3 q: R7 T& l* h" J6 O
: ?1 `3 w$ Y0 _% EWe 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!) ' L8 j F. ?6 s- b8 Z- b- i& z2 A+ A: `( ^) ?( w* L% Q
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) Y0 v7 `6 f" b6 z. n6 Y+ D: c
7 U2 i: n. i' E7 f/ k( oWe 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。) ) X& h1 C( A9 H$ Y& K0 ^1 s. b! i1 Y 9 Z. o2 Z+ O& ?1 A! U3 G0 Q$ HPlease 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?)% ~4 c# L" C; z$ w$ r
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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 j: j r9 C$ [/ g' {! e8 M J# N$ k , u. V6 }% I* t) Q2 _3 R4 n, m: i 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。9 Y, X: O8 v3 {- @+ `- ^! o" q) h
1 E# y$ [! L- G, a2 V例如: 5 i8 M K* N1 \$ S5 a8 M/ V6 k L ?9 Q, T0 g6 o
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)6 s9 H% x! @ q
+ k; g7 o7 m$ V: c6 ?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)$ W1 f* L" b6 q, q* J; k
1 A4 a$ Z \! G* {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)+ [3 C K& o) U2 N; f8 ~4 ~
& K3 i) [" V( LHe 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 W1 i' M2 }$ P
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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 R7 a8 H. R7 e' c$ q+ Y 1 b0 g2 x2 ~* N V) ]" IShe 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)! r# J3 |- x& Z1 d- G7 m8 D7 k
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)/ d/ s- {2 b8 M, U7 Q. u
$ e& \4 H) Z6 S- s( }' D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: & y. Z7 T: E& m7 A7 S r' g$ D. F/ ~( \
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。) 2 W) C$ _7 g( W- L# X; e , e/ D' J5 x# u, d4 p9 V5 M/ 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.) $ _/ W& e/ D) d+ z* E- y / R$ M( I. P' X, Z+ |9 d' KHe 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。)% P, F( s3 Y- [% f r
# m% m- h& U* x# o# y4 L& \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) ' g+ K& S/ V0 n5 t ) _3 Y$ ]5 c6 I" 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)0 c8 Q4 J% J2 @% S9 q
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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)$ r' S c0 V8 b
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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.)3 C8 d9 z$ I `6 V* @
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / \: E% J. J8 k' ^ 8 A5 p |) n2 l% U2 ]( v 1 q/ Z' K" d; t- e2 ?! V3.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」。 + E, g7 L& I9 |' o8 M7 C9 v0 [! Y- z) W' r6 J
例如:3 t- j- Y( @% r" L% e7 l
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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)+ }1 U/ u$ @) @3 z
' t. u4 T0 j$ }" H1 b2 k4 zManpower 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) 0 Z2 P2 d6 Z! h7 V# m4 a( p / B" a* @9 o2 {+ Y! \/ o) @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) ; Z' P5 r9 n" l) X9 u / j" Z5 \* w0 y$ \& f8 d+ R4 qHe (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。) : ^; m2 Q$ g; j6 D+ A; k* L/ V0 \4 U( k! i2 J
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。) 3 n% w! v, \! z1 h ) B" m; t4 O: a* m3 JPolicemen (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)6 y0 |8 h: L3 p4 k! Z% u
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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)9 o. B& ]: r& q+ R5 E; \2 h
$ s2 y M7 k0 F/ ]4 d. {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。)3 p: K7 a: s& a0 I3 e3 w
# B5 N7 T( D9 C2 }( p% \" L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。% j$ E; U$ U) S& {) U, g
# O5 W& k3 }1 ~# Y+ L) `: ]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. J; M+ ^) S# Y/ T
+ H5 f F( m$ q2 E# g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; O. S4 X9 v3 t; K7 J5 x) D
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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;0 D+ ?* d* w# E
+ E6 M8 ~) ], |* V4 ^2 s对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; - V! R4 M, c1 B* o0 A2 B% \" \4 \5 k+ ]
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;: Z1 K/ ^% w7 _
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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: 9 K3 x, l- ?. X0 q0 ` 1 m" E! ? k* c0 D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)。 * j. Q* N/ l7 h' a/ I( t. i. K- w2 D. M4 T9 h
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)。 9 } V3 h8 W. N A0 T1 M