本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , d! x7 }0 a4 T$ A. e( Z& j: o 转帖 1 ?4 l8 R9 J+ f! p/ b( h1. 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)4 @1 E/ Q/ `4 e v0 J; I" ^2 o
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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) & K, s, R2 d5 j! k: ]$ d 1 N8 z" o; Q% y1 n/ IThree 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。)- n/ Y" W4 w2 {( c- ^; B
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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) - ~5 k( S# A, `& t# V, L P# n3 U, d" N$ b: 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?) & k& v* e# k9 G3 K! F; S- S" S7 d* ]8 w2 f6 g
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。) 0 ~) I$ R' e6 f/ ? " C- P; ~1 z( N0 e; oMr. 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) 7 ~9 w7 O' l2 R ' b+ I$ H" J6 bWe 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 H5 u: y! M& V8 j& b" o# n. M9 ^
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)* R7 e r# T; K0 [9 r+ @& F
; e _$ G8 n Z3 I4 A; B. j1 hWe 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。)+ ]+ }& H% B6 a7 T7 B; o7 s/ K2 O* l7 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?)/ g* T$ O6 C' l( }. l5 w) U$ J3 V
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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!: z0 U) N; k: m6 p5 M
5 j, B5 N+ F; b/ K0 C8 f# N) x& a; L) G1 P+ ]8 j% L0 D 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。 ' r) o- H- G- D * @& E; W0 A4 }+ o9 \& A& Q9 e例如: / t: e5 W( ^ M6 J; W8 f7 T7 V& f: w) }; E6 P
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)2 g$ {+ i. [! }
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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), Q+ e7 m* W- o0 ~0 d, T
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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) / G g5 L* R3 i# l; _8 B) T/ d' a, G: \# K
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) 2 a% G/ d; j& g4 b4 Q* C( Q 5 {0 @6 `# g4 P& AIn 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) ( ^0 P- r8 o, ~% b9 k" T0 v+ n S2 V5 E7 [ f, t6 ?+ l0 _
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) ' }; m" [8 v2 q# l. W' G# n 6 U* W7 l/ W5 S( lI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' ~$ v9 j& m( Z, O% Y* n ' n' |1 E- B: [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:- u2 S V" ^( q0 l- j* I/ b% 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。) J3 a8 Z9 t! t$ z' v ; d9 c d# M8 |: |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.)" o# h; q. z9 h% g. q/ X
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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。) & d; p- E% P9 b4 V& d4 S# K 5 H8 |8 [* N8 r8 }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)- f. l ?$ O5 w4 ~, T
% T' l& I2 I$ p2 d! j+ S' X* i0 |: ZWe 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)8 F/ t% { `4 v! |; A
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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) b! b8 F/ J, a# n# I$ s+ ^* E) a# w& L6 h( N
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.) $ w! H# _* v* _& r$ Y0 S) E: |+ r6 K
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。8 z) X* C& t% _ r( m4 |) i5 u; O9 {8 t
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! G, k# Y% F% T1 k 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」。7 j5 P, z9 c1 J* O8 \0 Z2 d$ W
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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) 9 W" }4 k0 s& L5 ^: ~3 U4 |+ h5 v8 H6 T! Z( E' i
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)2 _1 x# L* T5 L+ t0 B% a0 m, B
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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) 3 E8 ?! F3 R( \$ W. s9 L & ^" v' K; Q# W, uHe (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。), j. W( w$ s) y
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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。). i& a1 n; X5 m. @
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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) k+ s Z1 v5 C/ [ / ]4 q9 A- M! Q: l0 S! l J' KCongressmen (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)5 P f/ e. f& R& X3 l" @5 ]
5 o2 @. B6 S0 ^* xStewardesses 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。): a* c ?% t8 k1 x
6 {2 c+ {6 E& R" ~4 Y: 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。9 U" K5 O! m0 h m% ]8 V
- F$ @ ^9 N+ W# k3 C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:7 B1 r4 H2 k D
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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; ! ~1 t- C8 v* Y8 e) }% d; Y. e( R4 s9 ~; G8 ^4 _- k1 p- N
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;" [4 i1 h& |( W# j
) e" H, j3 L# Y3 M" o% Q9 x- K( t对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 1 s f+ t: G& b5 q9 ]( c6 b. C6 ]
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " z+ [& r- |3 i. U @ 7 W6 M" I' t1 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:1 k$ w4 v/ [/ l- ]9 v/ j) T9 k
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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)。" z5 _4 @/ d5 m; ^( S8 Q
+ ~" I/ Z6 n1 y% n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)。, c& U! o. N- S# w" B% E