本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : S0 L. W5 [4 t+ j! p: Y8 U( L b ; @* e( p; w+ n" z转帖 * m% H i' r& U/ e8 H8 {: [8 T1. 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): ?( m3 e* Q% H+ K" }0 E) C' [
- I" O! Y$ g0 y( C: d例如: / k* f2 r6 [. H& A X# D" l( m 8 u" Z8 W1 o" `5 d8 J2 N. GMany 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) 2 L% P8 q4 B0 c7 y: N; P8 ?& t% O, M+ r/ u b+ \* s3 q
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。)0 x' G% S6 _8 Q: R1 h5 D! a2 I( q
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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)8 @! K" T3 Y# i/ w( J& P$ o8 M
2 i! d) \- e& O6 N, h% L. t1 FThe 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?)0 v5 o7 u& @& |' X0 K
2 k9 E, g6 ~4 P: z4 v+ 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。). ]+ r' \" b1 C( T3 T, \3 ?
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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) ; i3 {# c4 S. V) |& n/ x( m: P' z) }3 Q% P3 I5 r5 k9 Z9 M8 c: Z
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!) " q0 A* r7 `2 Q1 |1 X3 ?: y4 O# D9 r5 |, A8 z# [9 c
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): T. H' Z% _5 Z1 k' Y9 M
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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。)7 N7 N4 ]* C: p7 e4 q2 a
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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?) - L. q+ h N# s, M. P) m. q: f, L1 V+ P. |6 Q1 l1 t
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!/ V2 w9 j) o, _, p, u" y0 j# ~( b
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! i+ }5 p) _% J9 k. h+ R& C; b 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。. M* v& h+ g U/ z
7 U2 _( T' l* q) o1 } E例如: ' `! d$ b. Q7 d* g3 Z( d- Q$ S9 \! h8 r( z- s9 Q6 F
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)& ]/ m2 L" J9 p& g$ x3 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)8 ~% ]; M9 G ]2 ]3 H8 ~
% V* e) y% B9 c) x& S. q- {2 L- RI 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)1 t" V* R4 F0 u
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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) 2 C+ ^1 B% d1 Q' h# t% m2 L% n/ l' K2 c. R0 ]$ E
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)1 |4 n' ^% @; N* x
: K8 M) _+ d+ f# R3 T; _7 F9 h7 J4 F# OShe 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) % X& Y1 s! s4 E1 Y+ b# ] / L# [! Y- f0 }- F# [. pI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 3 w; d* U" E' [0 K4 f6 B* o* f' D4 O: n7 }$ a* u
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:- u3 Z4 N8 Y3 r5 x( v
: }, {* B+ u4 ^% V& d+ PThe 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。)) u! u6 O! g( ?- f% T
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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.) E+ d# H+ k o& j+ A; R* S+ n( u5 ]! m1 s, a( M9 n- [7 a
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。)3 Z' E, o& \% B5 Z! q' g
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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) & i2 G9 b" r8 G/ e0 H- ^/ A8 h' S* I. E' g
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)" I2 l& [( q9 O5 V5 J$ N
* I: \0 F# d0 @7 R) T1 h) g$ |" k& \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) ) I0 h ?: e t P 0 A! r3 _" p, k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 ~. t2 X/ h+ V
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! t" S$ V j) W3 p% V6 n
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! }4 _% M- Q, ]" L( e3.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」。) P* ?. q; [5 S$ N
* g, }2 E; x! C' v& X例如:+ z2 |4 k/ F. F- [/ C4 c
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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) ; Q! ^% P) F- W" E5 `! f! z( P ) m- C( c4 S2 W" d: d! BManpower 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)! A" H* j; s! M% |" `$ O- B3 V
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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)/ r5 Z9 j& ?3 b9 b
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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。) 4 A- S" d/ L$ y7 W9 L& C' B6 _. Q0 O {
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。) ' K2 y6 i4 a- a& u 0 f z4 x. \2 A! a1 n3 Q3 @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) 7 L1 ?0 A. [8 ]" Z * m- | q# Y2 c( C/ G9 CCongressmen (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) m" Z s+ z8 @/ l9 m* E+ ]' U2 s) @# L3 K) l' a5 P
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。)5 ]# p, u1 w! v! R
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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。% m% s8 M8 l- A/ \9 i4 _
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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: 8 S0 S$ y9 c9 t2 w2 r* O1 G+ E; V7 ? d' T6 R8 J
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; 4 N# v! ]6 l; G3 L; g - T( b5 y( y3 x( `! 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; $ P+ G( t7 ]! g8 W$ X! A; k+ B4 u# @2 G5 e9 i* `
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; & V. q7 g+ J9 i' |4 ^& _( m" f( |# g ; R/ |* B: L+ j$ y对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;6 R+ W6 L/ M1 b( ~
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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:# O8 {7 v( R& o+ E6 J7 X
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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)。3 N4 x+ P" d+ s
1 K# v0 ~, w F& h2 @$ `& G: 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)。 2 h# j" Y9 a$ S& l, p