本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 {# J& k, O* I0 E! P
/ z& C/ i, A+ l7 E0 ]( N 转帖 $ V* m$ `* C0 D2 O1. 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): N1 }- j# G( C4 V& V" K# P+ v
+ j3 }% l3 u2 d/ Q例如: % ^. x; C4 y1 p: k* c# W& w 6 i& W! O4 p% @6 {' x/ nMany 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) % v* H2 i' K l% H2 ?8 t( H 2 J' n- u- |( S" s4 q+ q; V3 nThree 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。) 3 i! n( C! ^3 l7 ?) ~) h h" l7 G: e. X4 e
This 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) 5 k" i0 ?) Z# v3 Z0 a % O9 V3 q# D/ R- m/ I% VThe 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?)$ C0 o. d3 ]/ O' v& v& V* _# G' A
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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。) / R) B/ I$ d; ?0 e5 `9 Z. q 5 |* A+ I I5 h& [% z) Z0 }/ wMr. 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): A2 M- ~) e# L' X; Q9 P) [( n& i
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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!)8 Z# I: |+ q5 ~$ y9 a# c
& s% |: U& | Z/ [ o. aWe 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。) - z$ X$ H5 O3 ]; H) X; e/ o: N( t s3 n6 o2 \ z+ h
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?) ( M' k- }7 r: y) {( S5 W1 u# a ( @8 m, ^! B9 P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!$ n6 ]: a. ?+ B0 w
! t3 j+ E. j- ^6 S9 Z" y% n% ?; T( {2 c5 _ 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。$ }5 @1 A; Z9 y$ q
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例如: " [5 T6 t2 @( |4 e$ \) @0 U7 {8 D/ s8 M/ H1 _4 X4 p9 H
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) a' H6 `& I- h7 z3 E" K$ `
( Y, G0 R! Y* J% g8 A: X$ zDespite 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)1 k' v4 R; ]( I. a- \
$ E0 s" ?+ G- A" x* CI 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) ; }+ L8 Z4 B. [/ y+ W- c4 _5 i% `: [& u0 d! i5 `: {
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)2 B( D2 }9 P% Q+ x- T
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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); P! K9 F/ B7 A- T$ r t
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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), Z1 N" k+ I& R+ j6 d% g+ a
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : ~/ T. y$ L8 S, b3 C" T# v' m& H& O# i ]1 \& U& l
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: \, ^+ E# j0 f* z+ f
0 T9 ~' `. ~' o+ I# x; O# a# hThe 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。) & s) ?4 O% m/ c. m# Q. @ , H1 e: j% J* V0 kThe 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.)" G7 c9 K' P+ s7 K( ^6 z
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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。)2 L, N1 Y7 W3 \& I& A# ~
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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)+ n) J) T5 ]. _; g1 Y
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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) 8 _% W/ y4 \: G6 A( M% j. L: u0 V1 H ' B* K9 { I; C; \4 p" e+ qEnclosed (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) ' Y, X" A1 W: ^7 B" X% b 7 a, {7 f. H+ d; h! T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 K3 q3 ?7 x0 G, ?0 ]$ G
. s* f* V+ z2 o. @; L此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' z) A R( t& l% f - V+ f! X& e; j! _, x ( K3 P' r( K$ q% Z) o3.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」。. i. S. o9 g3 N( p. [6 M
$ k- R8 O$ s! @ G5 Q例如: ; }7 Y! H% E) t5 M5 W0 a3 s3 C8 a& O% P0 l. H7 _1 n
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)6 h8 D; V. A: j/ f) J3 d
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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) 9 ?- W2 j+ o+ z' M6 l& F: }5 ? 4 a5 B4 }6 \ vThis 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)( ?; H+ f2 O7 [. f' J9 f* |
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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。) ' x4 m' _# e' F8 `) ^: i6 M8 n/ J1 B" r, G
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。) " e+ d5 v6 o( l $ v8 t U4 _& `$ ^! K9 C/ rPolicemen (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) . G: {' A+ Q+ I' A, ^2 S $ y% W4 z4 G6 h8 V( I! I* n! pCongressmen (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)% W3 K" ^4 k* Q" Q
, v; k9 _: J9 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。) ' j& G$ ~- G. \$ F9 d a " c& H" K" k% @& k# l y" N5 O7 R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。 5 F# ]; C9 }/ l1 F7 `5 r1 _" _+ ]2 J0 r( l8 p: H$ `
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:# u! ?+ w$ f& s* t, l( o
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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; ' c ]& \2 t% c. k7 z+ d M1 C) u! L" u/ c# g# N6 o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;- H! }4 Z6 Y8 T/ _
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , ?; [5 G, |* ?5 ~2 }# Y, Q0 o/ v u 6 O; }8 d7 X; D( @8 C' f1 D对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;* o' j3 u/ x1 t9 R
& D5 l* c$ G/ ]1 a* H# q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: * _: f9 m% H. i: `6 V. H, e3 [ 3 Q+ k" h% n8 j7 M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)。* W+ g G( P9 X1 e' w/ w; |
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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)。 r" o, D! U$ J- i+ e- K