本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 U- J9 W7 ?9 {; X
6 G8 T; o. P1 h' q* u: t3 ~( b 转帖 ; J; s3 N2 l0 S& i% Z1. 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) 5 J6 n0 B r# B+ [* Z4 t# d2 q. _3 M" t! D
例如： - W( O8 _; b' x/ J% ~1 O! @8 y7 S7 w# s! c3 F
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) 2 K% n/ i! a$ x! ^ 9 l' f: F+ a A, z7 I3 F' L0 TThree 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。) . _: J' @9 @* _+ u & T, P! w! R3 l/ w( p. pThis 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) ! L" y( `( u) t5 ]0 z. \6 O; L n0 E: ~- |
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？)+ K" Z9 K3 D h- L- q1 i' ?
, \! {; P D! q" n& `1 f: xI 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。) ( L# F4 Y/ x7 ?, S2 ` ! k$ u+ T( E/ U! K* s; N7 k; ^- @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 F) i7 J; M1 s: _* `0 b5 v: M, ?
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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！） $ q: B1 T: |% }5 K: a3 {( [( L; p3 n. S- u/ L" r! t1 y- L
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 J m' I- I6 c0 ~
+ ?6 R3 [0 p. }5 y7 c) o+ n2 wWe 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。)$ C# ^1 L2 W7 O3 J5 ]7 t
$ j2 W" l8 i! z+ m8 f7 N% ?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？） - K2 G: y8 P+ {3 h & T1 @0 g' ~( M) z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 F& v) j8 s2 n1 E% X
. ]9 u+ f- A& d& Y) M* N/ l 9 C% f) {( g' Y+ G* q6 D G! w8 _) K2. 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。 " A' c6 d: s: p) ]& }- x) G ) W4 R' ^/ T3 b' ~+ Z3 G$ G. t例如：% a1 S Z8 z4 F5 @) F. V
; D3 O) [1 z/ S' tAt 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), _/ R! Q: j, q2 O$ S4 q
& U/ M( |! z2 T- }9 ?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） / d/ |1 T4 P9 V' l$ F2 {0 |! a: D* |( _: K0 u5 B* o: k2 {
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) ' y M% j" v" Y0 n4 ] # B2 m; a3 P0 k y* c _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）7 E0 c2 k$ g y
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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） . I1 r( g0 L1 s* b. i( [) G$ |8 x
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) * t7 ^! ~$ }. k: L, b4 j5 Q/ o2 s" G: |$ m4 x4 x; G4 i: R% a
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) $ d; J- P8 j6 O; E6 L* D' c 0 e, w& t2 ^* x$ X8 F' [, f5 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：0 s4 O$ t( ~* p1 H
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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。） : c+ m2 a; e: r# I% O6 ^( s7 J2 R6 V( S: _3 G
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.） 2 g( i4 x2 e' `& z F' a G1 \! d6 f, m6 ~* _% I: X# l
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。）& g! X$ S3 \( [
+ c4 L* O: R1 m3 F1 K' ^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） ; M# I; ?' g6 Y+ _3 a7 r7 D6 F8 ]- G
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） ) N) |# V: v1 R) `6 M( x- q; j+ h* J y- @0 m
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) ( D' i8 W- D. m( M/ p1 y $ L0 M K+ e* n5 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.）) z, C5 ~9 G' @; s9 m6 a) z) t4 l
8 p4 v8 _/ J! a此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! `& l) \$ C: R( f* f
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3 T8 n6 T3 k0 H 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」。 0 c; k- O/ s6 q. l 8 K8 P9 h8 n: o1 t6 e+ \例如： % J9 o# y- @2 `, H v) ~. `4 Y7 L* g+ o) s: j* Y" B( G
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） - s) A; y+ }$ T; p 6 X5 d6 @) o- Y; pManpower 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） ^* w! N" f3 f7 S5 a, k0 s- g) Z% \- [+ C! A8 g7 i
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） 3 ]4 d7 C3 M$ H. T" T$ _ l- w( Y& Q1 g1 a Z- WHe (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 d2 g2 o: ^1 ~9 F* n) ~/ L. W. y. s7 m. A2 S
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。) 2 ^) h, m, K5 W# U# f% G/ r: o6 C7 N9 S4 H
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） : G( f, @5 g }0 a! v' d2 j) p6 H5 K$ {/ _. z
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） ; V: D# x$ e! n( U- u3 H" j. l & d8 s3 `4 U- R9 t5 o: ^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。）8 E& S& R5 V! s+ D# q# s8 P
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
