" ?1 H9 B% n0 k6 C* D c% N# n转帖 , g% l }) N. }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) 7 b, j' G; z4 O5 J U+ P& n! E + D3 ?! H$ E3 t8 O+ s: E例如: 9 J% |% V6 N3 Z! }& j5 c4 E! Z
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)+ n( u4 k( ~- g5 ]4 z" K
' m) ~' S; s* i% t: I3 \Three 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。) ! ?% d% K/ Z: ? 6 U" w' T n# W( F+ }7 xThis 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) / ]+ f" G, e) K# y$ i i. i4 f8 g' L0 l
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?) 8 [( _; Q' f- z v0 F1 ~) M! U( {' E" h8 c T) \
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。)2 R4 s$ }; G9 k7 U4 [5 D+ i
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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) ; o9 g3 u9 B: ]( I' K# \& F/ ?) D3 |( t3 a6 w
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!) & `& V& {, T3 I: A' Y. x+ x8 l; ]; x& P6 u
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) / u# i) A' m( O% l y' Y% V) H! p" @( N! l1 v9 ~
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。) ' T1 h: ^" C2 T# X3 N0 c# b$ w4 b! d5 h' M
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?)* Y* q" P. f; P' R
6 c P; ?5 P. N& w3 u" F5 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! 0 p, J t8 d6 v) D9 W5 J2 k( `. i - [6 i) Z q' ^: o ) S8 l+ r8 L! I( Q2. 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。, M {8 p3 w+ m
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例如: 8 u4 L! e9 P o ! p" [3 K) Y1 R6 h1 yAt 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) X. z7 D1 N) g
# ?6 |. C# {# g, h; U6 ?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) ' A5 ^ w, O' p3 z j8 H. W5 a/ ^+ tI 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)* b# Q8 f3 Y$ K. A6 F* `
$ _3 r; U. q( G$ j" DHe 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) 9 \8 {. E0 s! o5 y ( E8 N. q$ f! g3 b, WIn 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) % m% \& ^7 U! w4 y# i. F. ^0 e5 o, R1 R$ 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), l) Y# y: Q( M3 d/ O
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) % p3 q) z& S9 u 2 p1 D# J8 M; z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: # f1 N- }; p- x3 g) V & ~7 n7 E' O7 v" AThe 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。)$ G/ n: O8 Y6 R8 y3 |
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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.)$ _9 A, B- V9 f6 k2 B
" \+ B! S. A7 A" D# \ o' M- cHe 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。) ! m1 N8 ?3 h* a1 e1 y, M2 Q, i4 |9 T" c
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) [/ M6 U. @ A* @1 b6 e" h. _+ h
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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)1 {- C- D. S8 d' }* }- p
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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) i5 R9 w8 f3 Y5 b; U# D6 |
& b. p! F2 H' 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.)9 N, i* _4 }* W% {- v. U# b+ c) n
" ?4 N7 T" t' _+ N( E此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ' {9 h" S2 U5 O2 y3 s. P / S+ E6 S! `0 p: l. ~3 F( I1 J# { 0 m( M3 X2 J5 y$ ?4 T# O. \/ _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」。* c& D t- [+ D9 Z2 I g! r
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例如:' j0 w, P- C2 n3 G4 p2 u
' y2 l6 m8 h. u% f: H' ^# k1 }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)# w% K7 A1 m" q9 a* q$ N5 ^" ?
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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) 5 y) Z5 W5 n, z1 T6 [ 3 o! d" y% _ H1 i4 ?8 Q7 }* `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)$ O) R3 J% `+ v: \' Q) y# z/ ~
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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。)$ z, l5 U4 y1 ?- \# J' Q1 G) ]
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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。) 0 J' W- e! ^& m' ]: w' o, O6 i* @( p2 Z n' C% p, o0 C% @
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); Y8 f0 q4 x+ n
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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)* Y% v3 W" a* ~- I; n1 G6 `
2 a' V! F$ N8 r& |) N5 M6 ^4 l3 CStewardesses 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。)1 y9 h# s8 p' Y$ [) x
) Y [: ]7 N9 C3 z. [, B# D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 l0 l" t# W" ~" u" `# Y5 j" c1 f# z. Z( b$ _% r
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: % p$ b2 S d9 |, O& I% g7 w9 x9 B( [' K
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; & t8 V% x# ^3 ]4 N9 D8 |. w7 j' j2 B y/ Q" u+ P- }
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; 3 Q* E5 Y% C! K* _ 7 X" L/ o/ R `7 o5 h对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;: M1 S" k7 S8 E. L4 R2 l* Y4 u, q
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 0 G! k; {' }2 s" o; R# } Y2 l% J2 ]0 K
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: 7 r& E3 a9 i8 e2 b" w 5 T- A" U8 B7 d* y* K+ r. _$ L" e9 J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)。" X3 L# A) t. t0 K+ F
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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)。 6 p- Q3 K# Y' \, ^' a. }