本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 h' Y$ C# l3 s ^! w4 e# ]7 L6 V , ]2 `: N! D. s2 }转帖 . L# o* Q0 t$ {! r& b2 h1. 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) ' }6 B3 r$ g3 u/ ?( |2 b( V5 B " L4 p5 @% ?2 X0 V. r- l例如: 2 ~/ c( m/ G& W+ K4 o5 c: Y! M/ [) a3 h; x. ^: {6 r
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) / `) a6 v: ^, k1 j. X' } , G; }- h4 a2 U% } }) bThree 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。) ( r0 `. O4 }4 o0 Y& c/ ]* f P' B/ I3 k1 R1 Z
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) 9 Q$ U! y1 r" k) R' _4 D 5 P7 p ^! [5 }! B* B! `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?)+ X/ `& p* g- w4 D* L
( b# d# G) u5 G- i) ?7 MI 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。)4 O& T0 {! l3 |5 p5 E
+ [8 c- H1 Z6 O' `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) 4 k/ i- O" Y2 B; C# k % Z& v& E* p9 @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!) 4 B& K/ b- h7 v6 q6 m 9 D4 H6 n' }# P0 i& nThe 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)% s& @$ m: n, G3 V5 E+ T5 l
' c6 f: }, L/ e' E2 iWe 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。) 1 s0 q- z5 Y- F0 N% u5 l4 x- ^0 f Y& g3 r+ I5 f
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?) % s& N( x, A q# A; |6 C# v ' `! E9 @- I& v4 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! ; c' w5 c& \4 A0 ?+ ?# C * A9 \+ G' b- u h4 G0 |9 B1 O' M: |! Q, K: x* I9 V 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。 6 H% |1 p5 p$ t. a# \: Y 0 x. n' T: M1 w% h) A0 }例如:. A; W7 o- ~% L! v+ d: w- @
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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)+ `$ U% ~8 V4 Y$ v8 ^& E
]/ h% a' u2 e4 B& XDespite 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)! N* U- ^3 K' V* _7 v
# \7 y, I3 i1 O ^! K" TI 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: l* }( e6 s+ J, N' k% J+ j' Q
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)- f/ `1 r' _; T9 B! r, t" X
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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) # D. P/ H9 G3 h! { 0 j- a1 o9 u U- JShe 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)" S- w& q0 Z- p3 q ?, e
! z, h2 b# P. w, p* XI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)0 Y7 n1 X* `5 ~" }$ z, Q
, Q) Y5 j' |$ l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: " _3 ^0 I4 H7 F/ n/ Z/ h1 M6 o8 z4 \ G0 K+ y: j* y X* R
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。) # Y* @ N" A+ M, f6 ^' }3 z, R2 u & i1 U7 F" t8 g2 c4 R. TThe 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.) ( d) p7 b# O; s/ z) D ' R/ K+ f" U+ W- o9 {7 S$ K# |; THe 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。)# I$ i; w( D( P1 J; W! Q
6 t! _% t- P; H: M- _' WHe 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)! }4 H% B R# M
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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) 0 S* e! R% g% c+ a4 [& u4 h+ e4 v& P6 c3 Y b8 U
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)( a" h& V- M, t/ Q# c6 K: m x0 v2 A
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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.) # u' d1 j% N" \$ U3 F ) C+ W, \( `9 E7 a此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " O% x) M, g! t, B3 C0 ]$ P( q ( V: y7 r7 h9 _3 w& s" G& S; C/ ]1 k7 ^2 i( K7 V: G. J$ P 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」。% s$ u5 m; l: u' L2 R1 d$ o
, ~2 f; K, @& V5 H/ U例如: 4 A! V. ?8 M! T* x* t( Q: y# |6 B# z- p1 S. T8 W) O( q
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)7 q' n2 z+ [1 X$ o: V# J7 u# T
8 [" o V, o/ N! }& l3 b# TManpower 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)! O0 h+ z6 h4 ^) Y6 i& V
& B3 u' D( I6 S" ^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) ) p7 l( m4 N, ^2 y, _9 Y% [! ]% z3 r4 @* ^1 T+ b* i
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。)0 ^4 ^9 U% N6 _) ^8 x/ O; [
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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。) 3 y/ K/ \9 M$ Q% }3 J* T: @- j* E( r4 t) T" f6 K6 A9 J6 s& v
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) & T# T* K+ X5 U$ i" s0 g / L7 r4 b& }' }2 n3 pCongressmen (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) # q" F: v8 ]. v9 Q( r* \/ [5 N- C! c: |0 j" h
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。)" t. H0 L7 a' C0 Q* n$ Q
7 s- x- h! |( G/ V; S6 D$ P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。 2 N: x2 p" X y- Q- | " N' r( g. A% U2 V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: 9 d: B" ]4 M4 W6 C- I; i _ x4 ? . f; |: N$ R8 s/ u0 V C; B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; # [5 Q8 k. X% I K4 S* {- V/ L8 {1 ]* G & ~, Y; G- v* r, W* F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; . l* G8 n+ f' U6 Y$ b9 p2 [( Y- l- I7 v+ P3 z k7 ^
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; + v2 `) _7 V0 h% a4 g0 P, k; _; u" f" o" F, F' d) {3 [
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;- m8 l3 R6 K, R" o0 ~ ^$ \( ?
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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: : W# J: I* @( N, `, z. h. b/ h5 C$ k; f4 |* ]' b( w* r( J! C% 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)。 + @( y& h" N: u+ j6 G! I. B( I {) J
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)。 ; y( s4 @8 p7 x0 w J. ?