本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 p, x5 b8 H: {+ g& G
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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) ; I4 n* A+ g! ]0 h5 c; B) {$ a6 L, `& Y2 \
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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)/ P7 I w6 a0 Z. K0 ~5 g% W
$ n' v3 v4 J S0 ]5 P* VThree 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。)* c# W2 Z) y1 {6 \
; @9 @# k+ q/ B% W0 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) / ~/ N( j" G9 h2 X% D- H9 M6 r. z3 t0 @1 O
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?) " S. }! x; \. J+ U6 P' n # {; p3 u1 }5 w$ q2 q+ @3 \ w" ^% HI 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。)+ O" S6 S, l1 L
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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) ; ~( q9 i; W. ?2 r2 F7 `& G: Z: V& ]' [ a4 r) b: I5 A+ a
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 U' p; n# _% C
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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)/ {5 Y2 A) V2 a0 P% u: I& Z% s' L; X
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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。)* _1 K! _$ U/ N# m
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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?)7 S* d9 m( z H D) C( m: J 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!) y8 P l; @: W4 u/ Q2 H: M' |" v
1 B9 s3 K2 b) _5 N0 s" B , H( u! v7 b4 C/ Q: B$ o2. 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。 1 H9 R0 I" j4 u5 Z( J + A; a% D- p; i4 ? g* L例如: & M+ e6 g, _. ~0 s6 G8 |5 n { x9 s) W) u$ i* i6 gAt 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) 8 p2 {5 B0 V7 D0 {# ?0 ~; d 4 L/ ?; E3 N p( DDespite 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)" G& ^* R+ [1 g4 a( z
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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) . u* ]: `; }- r6 e( ?6 m/ v+ I4 w5 M0 }6 M8 a5 d$ B
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)# W7 ?& }. b5 }# m$ u
9 }" Y3 B* Q+ Y' EIn 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) . B% j% C' w3 l. Q+ `+ f7 S8 v. }4 D6 x
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) , `0 k8 z. E- |) U& w6 I) i! Z1 A/ W* n, h
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % [! r1 r7 H( q0 E* B4 V2 u T ( f$ h& r W! A$ K4 ^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: ( n2 ]% ?+ M3 U1 J( J* ~9 A0 n7 _; ?' ?6 g, i$ Q/ \9 @
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。)7 C. d8 }% K5 \/ l1 w% ^8 J! K
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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.)4 O2 m8 r2 i9 {. ~
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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。) ! M( p! C. Z- U, \# [& _3 t! Z 4 W) a" R# H& ~1 |$ V; L9 hHe 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) $ H; s; ^, j' L" u! } 8 E, s) Z* D6 }$ z0 B3 ?1 DWe 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) 6 x9 y9 g# l! g# ^, @& ~( I( L& W6 f$ l7 K) X1 o. v6 {0 L
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)6 G! z9 f" `) d( L3 {+ e. n
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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.) * T6 N3 R9 X. n9 _" @6 K 1 f, c! M# [6 l- }- @0 u; j0 @此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。" e5 j8 F/ _0 a" `* w/ I
9 C0 r/ x* J8 P8 [, l' u' s6 g. l C( j' u/ K4 S5 b) A N q9 b7 Q 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」。 2 Q, g8 B& O E* Y6 J & I. M }7 g( T* }7 x# h例如:4 X- j& q6 h0 n9 U2 ^; e
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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)% d: O( p' V, P, }. ]" n
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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)& K7 u8 j: R4 R0 y( H) _8 b1 u
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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) , L" q+ ?2 T$ m' o7 r. |. x* \5 q* W2 d. h; k% X: ^
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。) 4 \% `. O* m/ L( W; D: `7 y: W " V2 ~8 J$ W' {2 L. w9 }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。) $ G" I" G% ^; Y4 h3 B( ^+ T5 D: K$ A% Q- t& s
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)9 t) w" }4 K! J3 L( R0 V9 i
5 v' Y4 ~+ L+ C" S3 |' ?4 k0 ^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)1 l, i) O. u! \# A6 Q
2 v7 J/ E! ]5 M+ _ Y6 \+ mStewardesses 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。)$ L, [7 f x( {- x- M/ T- Y* G
) s, w; }7 a+ h) t/ j, `8 U3 d. D8 H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, i. Q1 U) ~: R( S4 r: j, A4 n( b& w
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: 5 a/ g. D& P/ P! `: r. F$ E$ }- z. B
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; ! I w5 }3 ^+ {; W& Q) ?7 t" X2 Y , l! ~+ a" B4 X% d4 C' J7 H0 ^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; & x& W- @& F% v4 n7 ?; j" d6 u& d$ i
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;# S3 w2 O" \# u; S' j
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;' `) f" c& e0 M: c$ p; Z
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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: ' I, P( o7 J5 y4 c+ T8 _7 A0 j5 |, k1 d R
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)。 p5 }! j) b& k6 N! P+ I0 B# Y
( ^5 i# {, u$ \6 T" [- w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)。 % f, j. t- ^" x( C, U& g: z