本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 M1 a" Y K- M0 }' d. r
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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)- I) }2 f* G/ N5 |
, q, ~2 h3 H e) ]7 e例如: 0 n2 h2 g% y7 ? ; E; j. ~$ f" u8 X! ZMany 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) $ b9 J( l8 h8 f6 m# } - E9 |2 o- C( oThree 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。) 2 [; S: C7 s {+ Q - f$ ?, N6 _- z& @. Q) uThis 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) " Z) S# A% Z7 R) P5 w# k V- o9 J
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?): H6 h. X+ X2 p2 T# J
, I5 f. s: d) ^8 g- j1 [# `9 uI 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。)+ S# i' J R6 _
5 g' H/ _0 T0 p6 a; ?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) 1 Y3 d4 Q; f, S# h$ C7 X" ~- f. U0 j% j
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!)( |" o- J4 _+ X) ]7 I8 w
/ ~1 P, P f( X: C! m1 VThe 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)2 w, L0 J7 o, ~. Z; C3 K+ V
+ O8 Y: V1 @( \; t" J' |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 r5 ]9 U( }1 Z7 H4 i' q/ k: I
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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?)% {& E1 R+ d B# \
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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! % r: W+ x* L' K0 n7 Y3 g' x" N9 f0 r" B, [6 y* i* Y9 r
" m' i6 R3 v( b" H6 ?) \4 v2. 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。 - X8 s. d7 N3 _! F& } p4 t 7 q. `4 ?4 y$ \8 @. ?9 {# q- T8 |例如:- z. Z8 J2 G4 b* J
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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)) P+ [% k; M% Y* E# e* s I% N+ a
. }5 \$ O) h+ PDespite 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 E% z7 f# j% p5 k1 ] B6 N( P, W. f% |2 H9 J$ y" _: mI 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 D6 L! c4 `* _- c3 R
4 x& T8 P7 f2 j& ^ VHe 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)5 m! A1 O* Z* q; t7 p6 k1 ~
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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): H! _1 w0 r% L3 f& V' ?( F
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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) * i$ j1 j% V) Q3 ~& \9 P" d2 f r6 i& B+ x5 G
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 H: b: t1 N1 I( F * }/ H! R. C( T5 T) L5 n3 H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: # U* M! y* w' g7 S% u$ @) A+ t O) F2 L2 h0 l, l( {0 S
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。)$ X- o9 m x. i3 S1 u* W3 m5 L- F
; @+ y" }7 {7 h; `$ r. `; KThe 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.) * ]8 r! J7 j( \3 Q4 ^9 D- a' t1 H5 Z% ^: H0 }1 X* H
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。) 5 O1 ?* @6 O' H& B + L9 ` {$ o* {) 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) ! C, ?; {# c- W& ?1 |) y* B2 W' _: 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) 4 P% w" k2 K* o5 s- ]/ g$ K8 F/ V1 _% S, s
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)8 u4 u" A. e5 \: Q; E
: e1 P" v! S$ ?. B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.)' j* n3 l( y8 ]" P
* c2 k! O" f& v' B# V5 O此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 V/ | s0 q" R3 ]
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) {# s+ Z3 F. N 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」。 5 h2 }6 A! I5 Z0 K" m. ?# R# H7 x/ N) ?4 \
例如: ) y$ J, p3 D( f3 H/ S: U! A$ F ; B% ^! K, z/ \0 j, OMankind 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)3 w" z/ }: V8 j1 s/ ~
. k; x( c8 j! N3 FManpower 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) / H( s; u. c, _! d/ h ~. T3 i( ]( P. B( mThis 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) 9 B A# L/ A# n7 c / u/ N8 ?7 x6 HHe (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。)6 U" ]9 Y- V6 {1 d
+ G4 _& e( k" o5 [, c% m7 ^1 {1 NMany 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。)7 Q0 U( b4 S$ x
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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) % u+ W' u! T! t) R) L3 H ) o; ~: }- v! I t9 MCongressmen (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) ) N- R0 f& Q( f- U) g2 M1 _+ Q" S* @& \3 s
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。) 4 D6 T7 `1 M! Y U6 R- w 0 v! L) x' d ^( |7 K" F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。 * \/ T& V) o+ [9 l 3 [5 l0 k, y$ B' E7 h# b* w! L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:! k4 t7 U6 @, ~8 _
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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;4 X; Y6 n K0 N& ]6 {) I2 g6 m9 m
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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; $ H9 Q. Z- i# C, [. x4 @" ^! y: A u4 i1 i
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;4 M D8 z: p. R
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ) ~: _+ e2 D: m G& U2 Z Q8 [; l6 z0 a- f. R# e
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: , p8 W& g4 ?1 {; e8 y; S$ N* \( A# ?0 ^! Y' S; K" ~9 V o+ X
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)。 + E, S, v$ b. Y" F* y$ v- Q2 Z& ^+ g. S* q- M+ l, X' u
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)。 ) O m0 U' s0 D3 F