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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) ! {' M, Y( v) \' B. m" b8 w" h- t- ]9 y4 x: S9 w. x0 _' x
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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) ( k" W5 N0 \+ p7 e' h+ H5 y ; s5 K8 F2 p0 z# X, V+ \% M9 fThree 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。)% E, p+ z! Q. p4 ~1 O0 p$ ~
0 G4 C5 x0 z! o% r4 gThis 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), t7 b+ o6 q! q, V6 @7 J
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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?) ! x0 ~7 b! N% @: y% R 1 v8 \* V( Y. f2 e3 C' ~% P4 iI 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。)$ @& N8 v5 s0 w
: y! D. i3 b4 J7 rMr. 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) & k* K' l$ }6 w% p ) f) b; b! }$ k+ XWe 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!)$ g/ N& B* ~' z& N6 `+ R4 _# R
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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)4 D9 s' h" p8 K8 e. i, N0 v0 b
Y, x' |0 l4 fWe 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。) 5 U; I6 ]1 L3 R % D' P5 b$ ?) `% V9 A- |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?)* L, B8 b" {2 g6 Q+ n$ z
" q; X+ K/ X3 t/ J" f( f+ Z# r( S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 T9 V! \; w3 c6 e) f! o, e* v8 }* S- C5 l
! u. Z; F8 o! I2 r1 f& L. o 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。 4 g* I1 O8 F. M% D. U K8 u* u& ?) P* a+ D$ M# t9 q" d3 `
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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) 6 n; ?: F- ^+ z- N/ J! `+ x# r; J
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): z2 C4 K7 b9 {
/ C- I. J* | x4 g9 HI 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)8 K/ [9 N7 p L3 Z8 y, `) c+ Y
! _# m; x3 @" X! H5 ]9 w' R$ T+ ?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) " Y; Y! l/ f- U6 Z9 ~! d) p$ D" N+ M0 h8 P0 p
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) 0 R5 k# `4 w- T- S* q) @+ z3 L( G4 h , I& Z9 i) T( }- Y9 _' n: Z3 f% \0 [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) 3 w4 g9 {$ x2 Q. l" v 5 l" B+ Y1 ?- sI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 6 M. V, P+ F3 J3 n: M$ ] l) j) P: f% v8 Q2 F
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:+ l# `1 k$ s- Z8 d; Z0 B
$ A# K* z* m: B2 Z" v' |' hThe 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。)! h& m, I* s- k6 v% s6 w$ b
\9 ^+ c3 r7 Q5 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.)6 z* J9 b3 U9 ^9 ]
2 R4 |' p5 @. v4 i3 c! k( G- S- KHe 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。) ; w% o" b8 r1 `2 C" W' _4 w5 l+ f5 g
He 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) . s0 B- Y: x! A4 W0 P% q6 Q+ [# o1 H1 j8 K+ u; |8 P
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) ( X5 ^7 v+ X( F1 [6 e" T- h% {1 ^9 B- |9 H2 s& z: W( 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) 0 |' d6 g4 u0 [- F* L- W# A7 `" _" h: ~! n1 M" C1 J. t6 ?$ F/ h7 D
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.)8 N6 o0 u, ]: N; O
& w5 {1 ^/ K, ~& {* A& j$ H此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 b- V3 [8 ^' \9 J A
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) T/ C' ^( A' x6 m7 c. q9 y3.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」。& _( T+ h7 M( t. n# s
% l/ `0 Y/ I- `( R7 _6 ]2 ]例如:0 M5 ^7 Y9 g' O6 k/ C1 M
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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) " ]% Z* |- W: a+ }2 W# m! f 2 l! n7 s9 \& K1 aManpower 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 T, k6 }2 z ?& T, D2 ?
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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) + R. @' h4 J" `# F , T/ w8 M: F; J- E: i" |8 ?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。) ! n& l& e( M2 G+ N% K+ O" ?- s2 @- w6 y) P( W# V
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。)7 u. _6 M' v' @7 D) n
1 N1 ]8 L, }1 l3 m5 [+ ~$ A- {$ j6 n3 gCongressmen (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- y0 I. A1 w$ i9 G4 a! [" D7 E
6 M \( u" \" c: P. v$ p4 m* L# yStewardesses 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。)* j0 Q0 ^/ y, j$ X% W
8 z: q; y ? a* L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。 7 a& U! p* D) c # c% _% |/ w- R7 U! f8 r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: ; a, U4 M3 Y) Q$ L4 ?$ o, E9 o6 X6 Q# R$ G; w4 [
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;6 c! z: s8 u6 ^8 u
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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;5 J* g# Z6 W7 _! l" L1 f7 p6 G/ F
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 4 v/ [# G( b5 O) C * \5 D' _' @- Y/ S( E: ^- E* w, n对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;1 A6 A- [- D! G1 \0 O8 v2 O
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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:% s0 ?# t9 ]9 b
$ y. p" T. p; A6 o! o! 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)。 4 r) Z" G3 i& B. W( |/ k$ R* H e : O" w. {# b4 X9 i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)。1 z" h3 T( ^1 O1 e3 F