本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 L, N$ a4 l$ V: Z* @' P$ @1 ]$ a1 \1 a 转帖 $ H% A2 F: Z% j1 I; q$ Q1. 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): u8 Q; E/ a5 {9 B& _
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! A+ t. t- Z" m+ c0 B* G+ O6 mMany 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) ' R( N2 r* [% E& ^! q+ ?# u$ L" ? 4 r+ ~2 u/ t# v! N+ @& aThree 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。)0 v/ U& O. N- |4 j, q
/ c6 ]# B, l0 d1 Y5 s- \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)* z- U {( M$ M
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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?) # r- d; G1 J% U$ g0 i7 K$ w' T- V, n: ~
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。)8 Y& G+ n9 m( a9 V
6 [" g* w$ E# C7 [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)/ F2 t& D% j6 x, P7 u
! W9 K5 S/ D& Y5 o9 b0 aWe 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; |# Q& I5 [ r 0 H3 [/ L8 W2 v `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) # K a1 K0 a* | 9 f1 t9 @6 g0 P& g. KWe 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。)) d! w4 E! l; j9 B0 F, F
+ ^4 a# { T- @0 P4 B% uPlease 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?)+ K0 I/ ]* Z& y4 A: s9 I+ R$ c9 G
. _# T$ P2 Q8 F: D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! / E. V# }+ R. g" K, Y3 v1 z0 Z T& l) ^' r z$ C' O" q
% j& d2 D5 [; d- v 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。0 k0 W6 ]# U! e/ V, R" q
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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) ; U- f* T8 m% P$ O 6 S# z( L0 D0 \5 }6 m- ?3 U2 u. tDespite 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) , l7 p" R3 l/ e9 k0 h1 q- ~0 c/ t3 q8 n7 |% T
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) 1 h) u( F! j t) H( C2 y ' `3 ?* A! L1 K1 Y& [* g; E$ eHe 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) " D6 H5 w7 v0 N* J6 u: \1 X4 W0 x
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)1 i4 F6 K6 j! J" R M- g
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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)1 {4 v9 P Q- \+ p4 H
5 N. H( ^8 B/ y" V9 S" V+ d2 v+ UI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)9 V7 V6 Q: S4 M
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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: ! b3 j: l7 n- V3 o3 [$ r- j6 k3 v * K9 p2 r$ @/ A3 n4 fThe 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 |# g; d2 ~ l & C5 U5 d$ l; AThe 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.) ( M" l+ |3 P1 u' d Q/ { 0 Z1 }; b# S" _. iHe 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。), }7 m5 j% o; k7 A% C. n
7 A$ T q% C# A1 N+ q6 a. {3 [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) % X6 U% h8 I" _& T, n! d4 V$ f- Q: Y3 f
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) ) h' O" e9 r8 |) q7 X3 a) O" G) m$ ^' v. Y) w5 K7 s4 s5 {
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) |# K" c |7 [0 j2 K J ! T. w, x8 p" j! K- G0 }! S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 d1 _- f/ w' N; x . d2 ]4 i- i a- A" ^- \此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 9 q! x5 \% n) w% E/ I- t* n6 N- m- l0 l9 O1 j* ^3 y
" @3 m2 Y6 i$ @: u1 p3.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」。 ; Z5 l7 _# ~5 B0 \2 a; R2 y X; q" Y+ F0 f% F例如:/ L: U4 P! L9 z- e% `# r
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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) # u* y% _2 A8 C$ Y9 w 0 I3 w; | a1 o, MManpower 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) + x7 Q4 ^+ A& f s" |# m# ^( n1 t; e5 h, N2 M! S* {" ]+ F1 A- c) G) R
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)3 N0 L" h5 g( z$ b4 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。) + X) C3 W9 Q! O" e: ]" c- n6 q ! F* t1 q2 U3 a& z0 UMany 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。)& `, Z# U( D' u: m
4 k# w j+ f* q' {% t4 iPolicemen (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) - Y0 X: i+ k+ ~$ O' J4 ]; O) }1 _6 W' }9 e. [6 S9 y8 L
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)4 P$ V0 A- _, W3 q( j% D) a
" M) ^+ S6 i% C" m9 }' hStewardesses 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。)' `* Q( Q- X, G9 q; A) h
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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。 " X* E7 B. n q s" L8 j: e* z6 l. G( B* 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: ) h% f3 j4 F; T: d1 m/ D7 D9 H" [3 T4 P 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; : O/ F) _9 A' ?7 o* P7 C6 t2 C# z* Z: [1 k: ^! a
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; b1 k+ w0 N% E$ R/ Y" v/ A
1 a- _, \1 w. _+ Q对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; + y- p* I6 B/ P& b% _ |# k5 n3 F0 e) S) j
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 z! J! z7 F* i' l7 m+ U7 ~ ( `- E/ D6 ]6 m" P+ ^. O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: . K1 q# a) N/ P3 { ) v2 y9 c5 b- l5 |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)。7 ^4 {/ T; c* X; Z: _
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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)。 1 q3 z4 S0 ?" k! H