本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 $ N8 d% A# k0 t+ {; [1 v/ g: | % S6 L" h! g6 Z, j- j转帖7 @7 e8 Y1 g' k1 `- A
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) " t# r3 I5 W h6 x* T1 S4 r. }; k& ~- ]$ T1 x z& S
例如: & @' ^+ Q! ^" s# W8 m; z 5 c' Y8 s- |" v4 ]. D) O" A: OMany 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)' O0 r0 ?* e) P2 @
- D" y) v/ g4 T$ LThree 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。)+ V6 O# A. j0 ]% ?1 T+ X
, ~7 p+ V$ K& ?0 m) h6 c. R: KThis 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) ! G7 U$ X) y; l: [ k - q/ ]& F) q: T+ H0 [+ QThe 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?)" m0 g$ S2 U" o# o2 q2 q, O
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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。) ' T9 f% G; N! k5 E7 ]( x p6 O+ [: J" a: GMr. 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)# |& P" S+ }- @
! j9 E7 M$ T6 WWe 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!) T' W k3 M. Y ?# I ? 5 X5 c7 U3 x0 Q. O+ h0 \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) 7 \% z0 q% ? k2 u ) S/ B; D% V/ oWe 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。)# m+ g$ ~( r, }; N/ r
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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?)2 O% X- f; q2 `& R5 G! I
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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!/ G) N+ I/ G: ?
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* s; h. W, ?, T3 N, b( \2 w2. 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。; g* ` }$ x- x0 P) s
7 d0 j! m4 t. l例如: I7 w. [/ I' ~% w! s. {! d) q " E* J1 W8 T- c+ o0 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 |8 p0 z ?/ @% c) w& ]
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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) ; D N. M; N7 _ ?( j+ U9 V & r p0 x& Y' b1 s( v+ \2 WI 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), s& C4 ?7 v0 u) @; M2 h, j
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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) $ O% Y. f) A# A" J( T$ T) Y 2 @" F) i9 p) q: Z- M, |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): j0 W0 F+ ]- e! R# Z5 {
; B" g$ Z7 |( [% cShe 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) ) F3 V( I% M# H) g) s & H# U# M/ v' n' w5 l$ U" N4 JI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ! }: Y5 }; c2 A S- ^! {$ i ' K: o. ]2 z+ t- r; ?! Z. F4 ?; U$ 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:; ?! T6 }- n+ J- M* Q4 L& l$ _) D3 T
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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。)$ ?$ Q' ~8 `+ m% q# ]6 T
% U0 S3 P6 ^7 j8 j0 O2 y S+ f% NThe 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.) 6 Z4 H9 K4 L. G- o/ _ 3 W1 V g; W$ rHe 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。)0 V1 o2 A% K% [6 B, M$ O. b, z1 q
" r& b- K/ _6 JHe 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)/ j1 F1 Q" Q" Z! u5 b/ d3 N; L* K+ m
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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)# |2 [/ u' i5 A- j& V$ X5 q
" E2 o% z' @ V9 L! r& qEnclosed (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)2 H6 G. h' N4 R+ U
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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.) 8 [- H9 E) ], F" k ) W, E6 p! d9 d此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。- Y" s! j+ z" [8 Z
' R" W6 e" f0 Z' B* V, I4 b4 L: E0 d3 P , `" X+ b( \% F2 S8 N7 ~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」。 6 }' o# g: F! ^% v$ k" { # m5 {' K$ I, a例如: $ ~' z5 r# v$ G2 `5 \* A2 t 6 @. V, F9 m6 b3 v5 bMankind 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)+ I; B1 e' U3 }2 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)4 Z$ ~1 F9 ~; _+ {& Z
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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) * A, R) f2 p2 @0 G- J+ D _+ |7 m4 e$ g* w' }1 S; ~* yHe (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。)/ d5 H, [2 i. D$ u, q
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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。) ( f) g; [ H4 B- X0 P2 s. F 5 c4 {4 ?7 R( m2 Z( M- nPolicemen (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) 2 r! c* q" R2 `2 B5 `% L) I9 o7 D$ @" l! B1 s
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 n/ `* V1 h' p/ b2 l4 `, G
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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。)6 z2 O/ [6 q+ C2 U: J
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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。! V0 x& p/ V( i. P
( A* [# U8 G& z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:9 B# _ ]. _! @1 U2 v: j
# n# S# ]2 N: D; 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)。3 }/ k1 l7 f) q' `. 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)。. k( i, g4 s/ a