本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' V; M) F5 o9 \- n; l
r" e- U: U# C0 `. t7 _ 转帖 # G( W/ _* C U% f' M9 K1 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) ; t$ K0 X/ b0 X; E: a, z9 W/ {$ |6 h$ X3 u/ T, j+ v" s
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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) 1 O3 x2 B1 N7 D( A 0 a y) N. ~# |. u# |, L2 T4 hThree 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 F3 S) R4 ~) @% X : |8 I6 J3 e3 J |1 D; 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)' o0 g; J* g' x0 r% i
$ V( ?3 x- M2 P s) a' C/ AThe 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?) 6 O( }. O6 ~/ c; n# j w8 s1 b8 ^% p2 v8 f0 _
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。)( \- o8 `1 G* ^0 O2 M) M
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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), h! L4 D: l; i+ e+ E/ j( 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!): j4 R0 w0 D ~& I" z# i
0 \0 t8 _: {) m) yThe 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)( r5 H5 \" L0 u' b# Z
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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。) ! B5 U! T6 _: R' T8 Y # {3 D# `+ s5 R/ p% E- BPlease 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?) % x" A7 w( x/ a7 x, ]/ s% G* W $ v* M4 e6 y" z# R+ s& \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! 2 K+ @0 j5 I) \3 T9 p$ f, {3 B # K6 u3 ^: m2 @, o4 E4 s' |3 P3 x2 b( _3 l 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。 % f& V) ^& s9 u. N( I% P2 G8 X6 y5 |2 S$ O# G9 g3 |
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( p" ~$ ^% t1 g) oAt 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)4 n! a; Y7 L; O$ x- g: q6 [
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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)/ {8 e9 |4 g9 c ~- |, a) G3 W6 q
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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)$ C' n' n, o% v( [1 Z$ l
* p) h) T0 S9 [ m! v7 @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) : w: v/ a( f9 O& U2 o- S8 P5 h: k" `7 W0 j F% h' [6 U: o" S& f, }0 x( B
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) ; b: r" l, s9 p/ V) ^. F* W/ e! f5 C9 [' \& p: R" P( J ]
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)5 f' h4 K& j* Y$ s
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 4 F1 z: h" z0 ~6 O: ^ " o0 k5 W$ V( }9 P5 \ O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:/ y2 b2 m# ~- V& q9 c- U
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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。)6 Q3 p6 v$ Y0 ^0 d
* `' c: e+ I+ |2 O- y5 h- wThe 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.) - `- |' \7 G; y6 G5 ~ " b% y; O4 W# _" G# O) w$ UHe 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。)& S5 v; [# i6 t# \6 v+ {5 ]! e2 `, t4 X
; w. c5 Z5 e" V% {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) 1 W: }0 O" a% Q ) O4 g, u" S% X$ R# [9 w* {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): P3 I+ J$ h9 [6 ^) 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) / K# |* i+ y! H) w& h% o6 I& Q X# x+ _# I, ^) Q, M1 \' y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.) / }+ H- |3 q4 }. ^$ c - h( M7 k+ V1 r2 J% D; x; I8 K此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' T' s9 t; x5 H& ? + A u( j6 L" s/ _4 m. M2 K( i( l* H2 z 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」。 ) F) a) c# j1 [/ H) x4 O/ ?0 K9 F, _/ b7 \3 l6 e. v
例如: 4 N/ ]( A, p" Q* S9 g& l 0 K2 o$ h1 m1 l$ NMankind 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) 5 n4 H9 S2 T/ f9 f# ? 6 p$ C# x/ T- @6 y4 \, H7 g9 qManpower 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); {- V' F2 Q1 T$ ?, J0 l
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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)$ }7 `; F& c, L# ~7 N* J6 ]6 R
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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。)* ?+ p' Y( w3 o3 V' i$ q X* o
3 @% Q4 x" `* z! }# a4 vMany 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。) 7 h9 K+ C" S# h: ?7 J6 N: r2 Q' i/ F `/ t% {2 Q
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) & d" g, x; N8 Z7 n ) K, u! O' J+ m P8 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) : j# \3 s/ ^3 E% c; r3 J, w* v: N# J' M% I: R. v3 F- ~# \
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。) 7 R9 ^: ]- X7 n& g0 l X2 K6 K. ]3 ]( w0 q( ]: ]
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 L* x1 m- l4 q2 i* U - R$ t1 l5 F3 `: J* p* ?: ^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: 6 T9 S4 c+ S' {: w5 c `! q: F* l6 ^9 w% U6 p- E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;- d2 j; I4 \, L" B) L: [! |6 H. r
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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; " D# ^3 N+ a) z2 U3 P. G3 D: Y4 c7 m
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & |' v1 w$ ^. p" ~ P$ V/ W d" ?6 @# ^8 ~/ O! a. N
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;9 `+ R! s- J( f5 K
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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: & n6 a0 l0 [6 A% N6 |- {: c 3 \: G& A2 j8 F' @, u, X K7 u( U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)。 $ I- C! h% b% k. b2 @ $ g# z% k" `0 v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 o6 v" q9 h6 T. b2 z* ?+ Q