本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 5 J, E+ E+ w" s. N) x+ o9 X8 C6 N( k- g: s 转帖7 |. L/ x, p. y6 J7 e! z
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)0 G/ v. b1 a9 b/ ~: A4 l6 J
- q; ?: V( {* j3 I0 ?
例如:" j. b! ^% ~4 L* t# X; b
; b1 m4 x3 g- L' z% sMany 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) ( b5 {/ A0 R& d9 k1 g2 U2 z% ~! V: B, {8 o% R. G/ s0 @6 \0 V, T# h
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。)) K9 p5 X4 Q$ m2 G
. y* }0 i7 X: ^& 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): m5 H# C) y4 v- Z
' g! g8 r1 n0 g1 `* T- M
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?)( D: W9 P- Q4 a# p9 }" U
4 |" M, l; r$ Z9 {4 m5 i: Z. ?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。)1 \# b" |% P$ y. D
: x- n8 m" ]* ?7 D" t) TMr. 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) 0 i; k& ?# ]2 w4 Q . i7 @* L- K- i+ n+ Z7 ?) ZWe 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!) # f k+ E) z3 q/ z' Z) U+ L# R1 _2 U e5 A
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) ' \6 P2 B# v. b: V# i& U5 E) V ; ^$ U/ R9 k3 @- |9 ?6 _$ U9 uWe 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。)9 k+ ~; {- y# l& A y
6 C7 o1 ]5 Q5 N$ j: h
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?) / n7 G j+ }/ i8 F' B f+ D1 v, ~" W2 `/ |# `6 M: X
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! : d1 T5 F& t. V9 E! ` 2 O1 @! V/ B* W% K ) i6 q$ V+ ?: c8 Z2. 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。$ a3 w% N" K w
4 |/ v( ^9 W" z6 A4 \例如:3 C9 ]' O: t! q
8 _$ q. T' y, I5 J" t
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 U3 y" p( @0 S& z# a9 p' O: }/ X- Z4 | Y% \2 m' T
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)0 [2 H7 c+ z: ]' w
0 k4 i, P! J6 t/ Y" l7 U* I* M" P+ JI 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 u8 u! f6 k2 Z# u# e6 ?+ F7 v, l" ^
0 h6 n0 \- L" X1 BHe 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)/ R. g& A R% f$ N! q! a$ F2 V
" ?4 R. k" `1 M
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) 6 n1 j q7 H3 j; D; g, ]+ i) b; F- I1 ^ ?' ^# u( g
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) B7 J& X2 e/ g" s+ h
0 E) n5 {/ f! d8 ?& f' d& u) v0 o$ e
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) " y2 l- c7 N6 }5 W/ P' m3 j 8 ~$ z$ q/ N6 g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: ( ^) j9 K u4 t2 F2 e2 W7 \2 |' ]) D% i" l& ^0 E' [
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。)6 i& V Z; ]/ \$ n3 L# [' M
7 Z/ A# ]% q. ^2 F# F. w! r2 DThe 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.) 5 v- q3 t9 N. K' F5 h8 ^8 h* f- Y! o F+ N# U5 X; _
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。) ) Y" J! e8 E Z _0 ^) t7 `5 D$ u3 s! Y% j# hHe 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); h- \0 O( u( v# z
0 K- @ t) N+ ?7 N, ?8 U2 Z& gWe 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 ^; H& N6 p' _. Z1 W3 Y) C% L0 Z3 |3 b. 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) , p' Q0 P6 ^2 F5 m7 ?" b m& q/ ]% i9 q4 \1 l) j; }
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.) H5 ]/ m. [$ O4 _' s; E1 k( O1 @& O2 @; Q+ V
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。, v3 H' j; v& c: g* d- A
) W7 |% B' o, y' ^# h9 l6 A) P8 g, F9 N6 J6 D 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」。8 l6 Y' I; R0 v- ^* ?. _
! [! E0 D- Y& y9 |( O) v& ^& S例如: ( \" u, o! W9 M8 s% `1 I, |0 a1 K( B0 q8 }; w2 ~8 \9 _3 H Q8 y
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) 3 A( {1 e$ F6 q/ `/ {0 a/ d1 g) m T2 X5 T3 O0 f: |2 E+ |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): K9 g3 g) M% k+ ?; l* O4 _
2 I+ H9 B9 I5 a5 sThis 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), Y% U9 W- h- V( b( y4 ]2 n
5 \0 h1 `4 Z- t2 iHe (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。) ( h6 L; m2 d8 S5 j, ]4 U3 g$ C$ b" _4 `5 S3 ~ I/ t- x0 t6 Z
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。)- c% M# `+ c2 R1 R
7 }% j+ y: z% |" bPolicemen (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)+ n7 r) x, Y4 A# I- u
) D% }8 K) o. l: eCongressmen (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)$ g, `# n8 w' X* r5 F3 L
; @% V9 M& Z6 K s" g
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。), X8 D+ v. G& s ^
$ Z. z7 e- O6 n [' S6 X/ h/ J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。% h. L/ K/ J+ }$ c' W
2 h- K+ Y `! ?& s/ p5 t- a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: - q5 ^7 a& M# {) c 0 _1 b. }! z. P) t( e; k! u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;: a t1 [, N& f4 P, N! m) }$ v% r
- P h0 T# U0 F- d
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;- f0 l' ]( D% K
7 F3 ]+ D. B* B对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 8 [+ D6 {9 E' ?2 U5 ? 5 r; e, K5 o' [, N/ j( R0 Z! b对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; % Q- i5 ~% p0 H! E9 y3 t i i B5 g6 Q* X: a
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 e; f2 G! o! S& f% f- |- Z
# D7 Q$ e, ]$ ], I
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 n k/ [! i. v$ o* G6 j
/ m% q f" z; B9 d! V* k" 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)。 ) k( f+ A* T U7 B# A