本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 M+ L* c; @# y; J% H& R
+ V# ?2 ]5 J+ V" n! K5 R0 O 转帖, U( K2 b A" a' g5 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) m' _0 x' P' |: {# a6 j' }9 |; k; m& K
. t# f4 l+ b- C4 k3 O# N0 h
例如: 2 M# W# e! G- f, S1 U+ J M4 C' {6 i Z3 }
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)- D, \5 K/ j1 e' C$ `
/ J! t7 B+ q. I7 e' H) F5 yThree 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。) " S0 ~+ n2 Q# l4 z9 s8 f0 f6 c. j& T& e! I* `/ J
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) 2 l2 L1 C5 a# C6 |2 @5 u- y 0 H8 m* ` O; p7 X2 zThe 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- O5 ^3 i/ }. S" I/ c# K% t: @/ a# Y3 e$ x9 E
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。)7 J8 {5 t/ G1 [0 o9 L% a$ h
: S- ?5 d# B+ I; g/ x, k
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) ' y0 L" y7 f& j( O3 v- w7 I9 H" x2 ~6 J9 A# Y
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!)( F# b! ^! r. O; ~) _& f# \
T2 B; J; V. O' ?
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), |+ K8 F8 f0 e j* Z, C
) ?( w4 U; I! [2 Z" [2 L: p
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。) 8 b% T) m3 e' y% U( p, _1 n1 r! @ ) l8 e3 ?4 g! i' S* oPlease 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?): m0 L# s0 m0 K0 C, X9 a ]. N
8 Z: p6 x0 L8 U c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! ! B) [! a5 H& E: ~& Y6 F7 u5 m" V# o) e - I9 ]( T6 b8 p/ r6 J( i , F4 x" `" K0 |1 L5 g. H$ D, z1 y4 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。1 C3 x! [; G. P* m8 A. k
2 a* `1 V6 z3 b. Q
例如:/ ]( R+ C! G1 c! E4 c
3 {1 ~8 ?) J3 b5 _, t
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) S/ r7 K; z3 U5 u+ W P1 j2 k 3 J" J3 d% {3 @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)2 N. _5 a) Z) Y* U
+ W' Q$ W) Q2 f9 y, e4 J: |8 AI 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)+ N' _+ E5 c' E, z) G8 T0 J4 v: C
4 [/ N6 [8 q1 U: m9 B, t
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) 3 P) N/ W H T- G9 u+ r8 Y3 V) ^ ' o( x4 l. S* J' ]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) ( W9 ]. r# m$ a6 t* {& E + h$ O* l7 O+ Y$ \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 w* f. y1 p! C" x# ^
: c; L+ ]. u p+ g6 bI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)4 r5 a- @9 O- ?4 j0 X
6 {( G4 J0 m' j/ W$ F* u$ V0 C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:3 r: i/ F6 g$ m7 ?
6 O4 f; q( S- o% H6 ^ WThe 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。)1 m7 z" x6 g( L5 l- v6 ]; g; y1 j* Z
" B/ i& E0 i5 UThe 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.)% ]: ~3 Z9 U6 Y/ N2 o
x# D4 ^0 V1 @8 bHe 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。)) a/ X i: x; O3 \# e1 \/ S
+ q5 c# }4 _: _
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) ; b3 s! e2 Y$ A) w3 G2 n. Y! C9 L3 x2 c# L: _
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)$ V# S7 a( W! W& _0 F- A
+ _. `/ n: q3 H7 JEnclosed (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)/ a2 B/ L5 [: j) ?
# q$ x [% {$ @( B# z. _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.) , N+ S4 D2 P. d9 ?: a 9 ~0 Z# a. m0 U2 W' y4 @6 w此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ \+ o- F. T- k4 n
5 u- Y: X' U+ V# x% g例如:5 D0 I( B) z3 t7 G" X6 o9 p3 |! M
0 E0 {9 B, [! E, w" j6 v
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)$ I8 B$ @+ S5 Q5 E
+ ^' q; o3 N, x! ^- m1 ?
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) 7 H( ]* J* B+ k2 W& r8 K 1 R/ c+ Y/ m* @6 K0 N; Q3 `- zThis 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 C$ e$ |) f. `7 o4 H " \* q% q% i$ V9 L/ U; C& |3 |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。) % _, I/ W) \: M4 G" Z1 R; W; J+ ?" i5 \$ R- _4 U4 F% h9 _& V
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。)! M) G, q% ?0 M3 J1 I- l
! Z7 J2 f4 N: @. n8 U
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) 6 U# _2 Y* r& v4 r. U, @ # X' a5 b6 N( d; V. ` h3 l0 v3 nCongressmen (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)# u6 \" u) }: s
( F2 C v# i; F: t5 ^: u$ G, n3 rStewardesses 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。) ( f n8 U, `" s) d8 u/ R6 Z9 b: Z% _0 o
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。 $ I' y- P6 ]& N0 Z 6 Z3 L7 L8 {& w! M( l+ M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:% A" ?, F5 B D/ L |# m1 F
& @' ^4 _0 [* Z4 Z7 F. `1 J2 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; # A. {# D/ `& p* S9 j7 W2 ]5 f 2 B) ~6 C, C: r: t8 O/ v: U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; ! m% c, M9 ?& e( x7 W% j+ x & ?/ U$ x' z8 m' ^2 ]' q对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; % _" u$ J: l; O( s8 s * r V$ f- W1 p( L; E- [$ V; q# K对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) w4 H) f# i0 K, `, x
2 k* n& R8 ^1 N0 A5 B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:! a! n& D; o4 M* F v) y
9 W" ?" ]2 G: }1 L- U' B
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)。4 C# k8 s' x& z4 `. u* B3 G# G* S4 E
$ a: @7 Y: v ?( ?$ K( ]
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)。. w0 E8 V+ z! j# c' B