本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 Z3 k6 O" M$ @* N: J6 e% I* w. Q9 R8 x: p5 y 转帖 / w. D$ p7 ]+ d0 m! w# A1. 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) ) v7 ^/ ?- r8 d0 P7 o; }+ [" V% ?0 p# l
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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) " c! A: U0 O6 u7 o9 J. G; ~2 l $ s- s4 r. H6 ?% ]. h* G' Q5 q2 fThree 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。) " B( J( n- E+ [0 `) j: m: p4 \' |9 j u% J4 g+ ~4 A
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)8 _. s; r" W) b2 ]: q" F( y
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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?) ' \% ]% w" }4 X* q% u* ?: s B 8 V; ^, `) ~. l" o) J% q, e' h% D9 MI 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 [! u" G# l3 c3 [. _ s. a- `5 U! G5 ~
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). A# `0 T+ m. m. l$ B4 M' ^/ H& P
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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!) 3 i6 _# H6 c" R % H& R4 I7 y) T! m7 h. j+ a+ RThe 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 k9 A2 M0 K% W1 T9 @
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We 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。)+ r* n& B2 g, S3 Y, @; _% M6 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?) / i* l5 O6 J9 W4 K1 \$ O* u- e r# m- |3 d, ]2 e
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!1 v& O: b3 q; z9 ?
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! S( O) E% W1 t) x5 K9 A2. 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。 ! o9 \- {/ D# f; H. A6 T, I8 b3 W1 B% |' V7 s6 ~
例如: 6 t" G6 T U% L$ z8 _3 r8 e; _ 9 ^! x) [3 d) I, U# m' \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) & E- z/ P: i0 V- q1 u6 e9 G6 s 2 E( Q+ @, r: h1 jDespite 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) 0 O n; E/ B: u( h' I8 @# s; y: 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) # q% U6 |2 K6 ?+ ~8 Q 1 ^4 c1 ^7 K. v$ ?( R% @" o9 @" SHe 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)$ u5 z: |' x, I
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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)% O( D: H+ Q2 K `
8 A3 t* r% d) \& |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) 7 W h/ O: l) T' x' a: s9 b+ X6 \ v- P1 j: `
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 X$ w% B2 Q5 D M : P$ c3 `. H- f- {& W/ ]7 t1 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: 7 U3 c; T$ V6 p, y( x$ } $ n& B" e2 P+ W, g, @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。)0 X$ ~0 X# I6 q7 s: `
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The 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.) , y+ H6 O9 A2 n8 N3 T. W& q( T: A3 O" N7 y
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。) . o0 \, { _! X1 T' G& i 0 c5 z6 @% J9 {. N- @5 H; j. ~7 IHe 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)! F: t" S7 J, Z# n2 N2 [; Z, o: ^
- \ g3 T% }: _- e% i( a& q O% y2 EWe 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) + n/ d) B0 d; \: \+ {( L/ _ # M# T" y1 w9 p3 O$ r2 {5 R1 T) BEnclosed (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) % v6 I6 Q _$ ~ / I5 S. T& A( d! _5 e) j1 v8 {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.) 0 K7 o# c2 F8 X7 u5 `) W" m8 b4 K* g- x
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / M5 m6 h! q$ c# }3 J' C 8 q! B- x8 L+ J7 z' F. z, \2 f: F) W0 U. r7 s 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」。 , ?; J3 U9 z/ ~" ? l7 S( O' y, a: h* L
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0 x2 {* G w4 C7 _$ [( e% gMankind 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)0 N0 ?! B& }& F1 E' u4 a8 h" h
! c' Y, d* U2 m7 ?- ~- ]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)6 X; D3 I" `: n1 D8 O% N! @
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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) ! L5 C2 N7 m- h% ?* t! x- [6 p9 A
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。) / M' o1 u$ H+ M0 Q6 w7 ^1 \0 W# ?% E5 B/ T
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。)+ D* e, P) O% S0 p# K
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Policemen (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) ( n; t& s2 v8 W, q$ G8 G. A( m5 s) H7 a9 m; X! N+ x1 A/ m; V! R
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) , s: W- S2 @- q( |( F5 j. ]' m2 Z& V9 j7 J) |, r# g
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。): b2 ^5 P( i% F& v
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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。 7 B, O; V+ q1 E, I; e$ f3 B& ]' R5 ]7 v
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:0 J. o( a5 L% l. ~! z: G8 C4 A
; D0 A; Y+ D' F8 r) q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;7 u* ~, ^* p! j, }% l
1 y% N4 y$ ^" ^3 o9 W. [: g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;. V4 `; j4 ~/ P, r2 Z$ ~& Z
5 M' \$ `4 s+ g: o2 D: s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:, e w' k4 m4 g
! r' g. x) U+ J" f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)。 ( Y( p7 B8 r; ?6 G k3 G4 n) T5 b+ P1 b3 \, y7 B! c
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)。5 s0 i# B( E" [: s# E