本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % W4 @2 {' a* N2 x
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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) 9 }* T2 g K" O$ H' p7 g) E- ~3 g
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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) % L% K: H9 ~( S4 d+ Q2 `; y- S% y5 p" w' z+ s( z1 v
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。) W+ B# z/ O1 z s
( C9 J8 e" s4 N/ G) LThis 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): O1 i% X( R9 u0 S! j3 ^: p
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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?) : b; J# ^) X2 c: i2 } 9 M; P0 W( Z# x- q) gI 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。)& n1 j0 O7 a# ]0 q9 Y) q
+ l/ Q2 o/ K1 t4 n0 } n% `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)" W" |' B$ g; j: [$ s' h" K
6 m' D, m3 `# m2 T# 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!)1 K7 u9 c" A* V( _
) T2 O w$ ^* j6 J3 j- c* Z+ `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) % w4 s! G2 B4 r X0 _, j0 M% d. @
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。)) h2 J/ j# K7 R! J5 |: O
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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?) # k8 i2 T) W7 @4 n `$ i4 _' b3 Q" `1 i* i
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! 0 ~/ T- E' s: l: [6 O% c! _1 V9 {5 m7 [' m, E
. Z+ r# `" M7 g2. 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。 / U9 L: h; ^# K& h * {! b! v' v' R/ u例如: 2 w* S. V6 Z+ p/ j1 x( N0 h Y! ]; s
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) 4 I' ?$ ~: L8 \; }" J3 L" g W * z4 u4 B) t+ v2 s! c9 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)& a9 G* t' r8 R* G6 k6 h. h: m: O
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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) " b9 J& g e4 N" x0 M) B. U8 e* w5 @1 k8 p2 j+ s+ ]" a/ M
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)0 ]3 [) j3 D5 D$ G$ T
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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) ! G1 W/ o: L! N: Z( T7 r& w- r ; a) i F! e$ s G: {( j* Z7 U5 [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)" L; [* _4 b: h) V! @
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 7 T8 x; l& v, u. y8 l . n- \( I' R( o& S& b8 S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:# f7 v1 R; p2 t
: J4 p4 h3 o# [( \. u0 _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。)$ B' D8 ]3 n5 S- W! @
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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.)* C# G( C) A/ d p b) T* e
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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。) ' _9 [( @7 [/ t 2 l5 s5 a+ R+ [2 ^/ FHe 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) 6 a& Z% K/ d/ t* L' y* f* n' g 2 o9 H' f2 R7 ?5 n5 h, s1 jWe 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)7 E, S( j* F! v a+ f
( `3 X! |7 }. w& g REnclosed (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 l2 s6 C* o2 h! Z- j5 K" E) b9 s8 g! 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.)$ Y% ?; X8 Z) L0 U5 l: y
: x* f7 K0 h9 E7 @, i9 T, m+ A此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 b* m/ l7 l, _5 K0 v- x7 q0 t) W
/ D& j% x+ U% b7 ?9 t3.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」。2 z' U! V T O' s- D$ @
/ D$ }- F6 `+ u/ B例如: 1 ] Z; |9 y. o: C5 W7 @& F5 ~0 m 2 I+ t: v0 u) f/ G2 e) K, g, F, P9 o+ vMankind 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) , L6 m8 t3 i2 m7 ~, g $ O8 o" }) C. O* S$ r: U4 h, }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 s% P3 P. ]( f; B$ A) g7 ~$ K4 G* ]0 ^! q. T/ a
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) , `$ c" q: Q; i# G5 R( V- S! d , H! k8 d! f& I6 ?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。) 8 J+ A' H% X/ Y4 r( L( _ ? 6 t K5 b9 e5 \" Q2 \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- l+ p. f: C s. Q
/ W0 I' t P3 V8 r5 @# _& x& K0 x' ?- sPolicemen (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) & C( G. Z; v. D8 t; T. p) f" |8 c8 Y3 ]9 y/ j/ g. M" f3 L
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)5 l7 o" s N/ C9 e( D
! B' ?( w9 D' V0 @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。) . N& i# C/ d- h/ S$ F, z o: p F# x3 |+ ^+ {! q0 l; Q% \
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。 4 S9 \2 f0 A6 W) L1 ]; h$ x$ t( Q x$ L3 D7 s
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: $ O/ Z2 D* j5 o6 A5 ^" D N 6 N5 y, ]( q9 ]- t0 K) W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; * x# z! ^/ i/ N 9 E9 i$ B) v: l. z0 I4 Q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; 3 D4 B2 @2 m+ L0 m* \( \0 h% Q, H* b# }7 T; I$ D+ i9 s& L
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 4 u2 Y, Y6 `' o) D% f. h , ~/ N/ ^& G% ^! f7 X4 i) @4 b对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;! M3 H& u) L4 x" H
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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: - ?' M# B0 b! k u + L- n+ y# s2 u* 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)。0 x6 j A7 E0 x7 d/ A4 Z8 d
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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)。 & _& x) T9 E+ b5 R( l. r* C