本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 3 l _8 K) f' A
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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)3 M$ W4 r" L( S# M: ?1 L1 Z
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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) 4 | k3 A3 m9 v7 F! Q0 g# S( @$ n9 a1 e ]/ g) u7 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。) C; n% n1 X! W* z' s7 E( W4 [9 ?7 L: M$ k1 j
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) : H! c4 v' |! Q: v* X1 J( x) f. ]. F4 y. ~" L8 L3 a
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?)4 D1 V4 S; ^6 {# v, [5 t! |% o& E' q
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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。)5 w3 X y* s! M0 d6 [: L4 h7 Y! L
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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). H+ {3 q/ Q7 @5 v
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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!)7 P: `' o; X3 K7 B: N9 K- V
: l) u3 i9 N! W! k+ K5 |& 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) ; k$ _; O! `& m1 X F; e1 W* B/ V
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。) 6 ~1 |9 Z9 ]0 \' E. f! Z. b& C% v6 Q
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?) % |* W: G) |0 G5 |4 ^- I" z4 @+ B$ x7 C6 m9 t" N7 \/ K! }
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! 6 x' M- t, D* n b) D; L6 \ 9 s! H1 z* j: s& \1 n( ~6 j# p% {! u) G, A+ Y 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。 ! {3 Q s' [* w4 Q/ X3 D$ s 1 F! P* [+ I- q' ]* x. O! E, s2 |0 I例如: " t4 L$ J$ b0 C6 G5 u) F , \4 g* r2 X$ E O y- |- N2 OAt 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) 8 r; J$ \, x; K( ^% b % w7 g) J4 ~: h2 CDespite 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) & l0 U, M3 E* C) h- c: b " x. E- C7 O. A1 u4 y1 c$ wI 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)% B& O. d+ Y- K& ]0 l6 b5 d
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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) 8 \: L* t* w7 l8 |+ N) h, L) D, W5 i; ]4 y
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)& [+ `+ I* W# \ o. B% N
! _0 A- l3 R! m6 C7 {4 q1 SShe 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)! r+ o1 G/ |1 y \3 ?2 \
1 E8 _2 l! o5 D$ mI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , Y5 Y% `( Q/ [7 C; o) _0 ]7 {# }9 B' i* f! a
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: # I0 t: I/ |# x( h+ y k " E& f* @5 b2 T5 W; I; i+ G! {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。) 4 T" J5 z7 X/ v g5 R$ B 2 J/ O; M$ f' i6 o4 LThe 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.) Z* e% ^, M: o" e5 l ; G. q% W9 i$ k% K1 n( l0 ^0 RHe 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。), N5 M5 G- l: `5 I. b! y8 c# \
, h* E; G% i. [, G9 w& r9 eHe 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) ( Z( v6 t8 _9 B3 y9 T : l4 ~; c( F2 ~8 lWe 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) % o7 F# P- E' R' F- w7 @/ T " n0 z$ J1 d" K' J0 `* oEnclosed (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) T& [- z. N& @- q* U % b+ K! K( \1 h. Z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.) 5 D Z( z' X5 ? ; P/ f4 r4 s9 z+ }& a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。. M7 ~0 B6 _" X) V5 ]2 r
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5 V4 B `# s* } 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」。2 ~4 s- G3 K; z% a/ g$ e1 ^7 b2 ~ c1 s
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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) ) m! U0 Q% I3 Q: d5 ~ 6 o3 O+ p Z9 M0 B$ n% F1 QManpower 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)6 Q5 t! W! i) O, [( Y* i7 B: `
, E' i+ C- W# g7 |+ f; B: k' Y, NThis 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 \: @8 h" E+ V! }
3 _1 y: A5 x2 {1 L! qHe (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。) 0 J5 A' A) i7 m. D1 \ a9 H# h' \ 6 S9 }, v1 i( r/ Q i dMany 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。) + | Z5 w5 }' Q, W) e& `( ?7 ], u8 a* ~
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). N. d. n, A7 o2 ~3 U
, d1 A, y, c# z$ f" {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); @& n. ^' Y* g/ ?6 k* S5 {# G2 C
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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。)3 z/ M) A7 h0 H, H
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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。 & N5 t9 f& s& j% N 8 S# M" _5 F' G+ s( K1 y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 `) r! \7 I4 k1 G
' V' R* R7 L( @% L5 r R: q0 }' t }/ v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;$ O k9 ?% q' o6 C) n7 V: b
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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; 0 Z* g4 @0 y& V6 R' d8 m2 ^7 O9 G& Q
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; C& ]4 ^) N* `" d# ]1 E( s0 H
2 X: f5 z2 {& E9 c. {, Z对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; & b- z/ @% w9 j* o8 ~# h $ k8 u# \1 j8 S/ o+ J2 L: Y. E2 |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: ; j! y( ~* c1 q( \! W: d1 f- }/ x6 n6 B+ e; {# 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)。 d8 B s: _( z. i0 q2 w y. r. m) m k5 @: I) x
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)。 5 ~/ e ]+ r, S' ?, C% o