本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) k a% Q/ u# I+ K( s! I+ P$ e1 _8 I H. \% i 转帖. V8 \; [0 ~# d1 M. d
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) 1 c0 L3 o2 O7 P) e/ ~3 i6 V0 l6 b2 ~4 Z, d* L
例如: ( m" j! ^3 z6 S+ ~! z' r& H ( o' B8 ]1 U3 Q( R8 HMany 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 h, n! t0 t2 n/ i5 A! s8 v+ Q: J$ u5 T # Q0 b6 n& y) k+ u7 b6 J, mThree 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。)% I$ l' N; y# V( |
( `, q8 q0 C6 SThis 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) " z9 U G" {( w( |. k$ ~: P/ h- H 2 e0 V v% b) g' M7 W3 q9 [ XThe 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?)) D. h1 I* D1 W! @+ G r
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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。)3 E2 ?- N. Y, q* {
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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) 9 w& j$ L" D2 ~5 w0 G" Y6 a5 K5 ?* [ Q+ c( c! B: n$ T& w" EWe 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!)- w& x' N. B9 d& t; j- y7 W
" r% J4 u1 L7 V1 C1 h; h2 OThe 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) 5 k8 I" E8 ~ ]6 v, j! i . W( C1 r" g6 v2 JWe 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。) 1 l7 V( H( _$ _5 ~! `7 E& T6 X ) |, o9 ?: W$ o4 y4 e+ j+ P9 I9 H( p) JPlease 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?) 0 G5 u5 ~3 P& F( \7 t3 I! j( R% v. e4 f
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! " y- k5 D7 {) T! U) c. q& G. C2 X) {5 H5 B# y
4 L9 d1 Z6 `- `/ l% E* e 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。 " i* d1 r; p: y6 Y' Q / p/ p N$ Q$ ]$ u' Y/ \例如: 2 U+ |1 S* F- O; U' q3 z+ C' B6 y" I; j4 o
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) 0 s" R" h6 X" k( W. ?# U$ d9 { . U. |4 C. f7 J* L1 {0 l8 J3 RDespite 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)# ^( R/ {: m3 G2 f5 W
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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)- ^0 Y8 z# [) P3 a' N' l* H7 g
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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) |6 O8 [# |, n# Z
, p. \/ W5 e" U( PIn 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) 9 v# k0 G$ `" l @2 T7 X' A ~1 j; n5 t: t
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); L2 \! O$ }1 H: i+ K+ r, p
" r* m3 P# j. D& Z9 _" \# v$ v+ @. _, [I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ) u; {# B6 |+ f2 P1 o" t G5 }0 U; r2 O( s$ t8 w
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 U h1 g
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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。)1 Z! o7 t- Q1 Q, k& c8 J0 T
% Q( J2 \* \6 B1 v i: T: N7 p8 jThe 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.) / Y, W3 U9 _5 g& S- P: I# P" x8 t 6 [( {2 q" q/ M8 O% r3 FHe 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。)6 w' ~. i& @7 W
9 W; ~* l' y+ ], A" I( WHe 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)5 Q" s3 I1 v/ l# P
8 K1 Q( Z' h4 e& m' o% ^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)6 e. l3 O+ Z$ w2 w% l) X& t
0 J2 Q# a- d' [3 ?' WEnclosed (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) 7 `8 L( L+ F+ ~( ?2 j- Q 9 G; Z6 p4 k h0 U$ F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.)& x. J+ d" V6 E" q5 \
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。& g8 Y1 N: i( x' ]! S3 j9 [" x
+ `% o K- s9 g+ C; ^& G $ ~7 O0 v/ h: ?( P' b, A3.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」。, V. m! {# q6 F$ O
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例如: * P& ~$ ]6 t1 K/ Q+ m- U6 }) t2 |; j/ _" ]2 R0 V8 v* d! J B$ N
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) / T& e9 @# {& h% w1 ^ ) N% e& ~$ v4 x0 y& C& U# I- o, f& [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)0 ^, W& W: m. S9 B0 ~ z7 x- r: M
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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)$ t$ E0 Z: ]" Q: e
$ W$ m* {" U) `) kHe (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。) 3 _5 i0 I# R J: x+ p+ l! N5 s7 L* Z) b: {6 M
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。)) U, Q- E+ h: Z4 \( l$ U
. l# Q; i+ Q+ d8 B9 E. l. QPolicemen (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) ( }! ~ h" S) Q, p. M' c$ { + V g( D" y$ j' H3 g. T: FCongressmen (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)* O1 [; `: G- q# n" m
+ V3 |0 V) u N9 eStewardesses 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。) * g3 n! D+ y4 p9 v8 L# U; b1 T; j# t- Y. ^+ x9 u
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 m' \/ z6 l3 K4 i) Q5 p n5 o2 N1 e6 X& t. d5 b7 x( p
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:2 j( x' l+ t& j7 G6 B* ]
3 g. @# `- I3 q2 I( q# N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)。/ v0 @2 _; U: g P b% {. g
* s& Y5 m6 {$ t) Q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)。 + ^# i) ^# N& L; n$ f8 S! A3 J