本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , e4 D! m8 D9 _# w% x" x$ F( r" J7 `5 O4 C# S 转帖 % m5 p/ [$ f+ z2 g1. 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) ! d0 ^8 S" m3 j, T) I2 W: X' M, d" f- f: P; `' z' i
例如: * X0 @" U+ K6 f' q 9 `/ `) G( r6 D/ M$ |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) 6 l6 {$ D, N! j/ Y6 J0 `0 {' o$ J) E! U" n8 Z0 b' C
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。)) \& g0 O; y% s8 W/ q7 f
- ~7 L" ^! ~4 L: b4 ?8 W( bThis 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) + Y! L* I, ^8 E F" I$ b" D6 I( t9 q8 L( {, e/ r
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?)2 \. t( ~ X# m6 j u
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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。) 3 _0 e4 R. S3 r' h, t3 H+ q" x5 d( N/ l6 N3 M7 y
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) 3 y. I$ E9 g1 ?: j. I5 `/ P3 W& Q K& m2 V) ~8 f
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!) 3 l1 H. @7 [. G. Y: \2 }, C& _8 q( p) G7 X
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)" g: U0 d$ L9 L" D
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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。) x3 \, G3 d. f$ J3 C7 O2 v. E 2 t4 [5 O* M, e& PPlease 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+ w* U/ `1 |+ i
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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 k0 X, ~0 y$ g: D; O$ w6 X# z ; C; ?% \0 s# Z, a" D$ V( ~" \( v" L5 A 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。 ! Q$ {% b6 [" U* x( H 8 ]: ~/ h' D( q7 p: @例如:. l6 X% \3 @: |% N7 ~+ c0 W/ c% ~, D$ a
" J/ b! \& O2 h y, cAt 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) . m5 |0 g; l# l ! I* l' E' c, V, b0 W7 _ w0 z( UDespite 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$ m0 [4 Q7 t9 u- E; l. f / s* x! U, K4 x- b$ i7 ?& J; eI 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)' r8 m* P9 h! Q! t
5 P: }) w$ c# G( R: p; eHe 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)# k8 [, ]1 G0 |
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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) 0 R: }) S& H+ z" }6 y5 m! G5 j6 u# p$ R! e. M
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)4 b) L; E0 N6 `, ~
2 c! q* j0 U& b( g- M F, v0 W1 ]I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)& i4 T# n& X9 t" h2 _+ u# q2 T
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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 i& `/ U1 C: C4 T : f0 ~" j; N! C! u% [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。)) F8 ~$ H2 Y0 {2 N# }( y
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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.), G* `2 t3 W5 R4 ~
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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。), W2 L8 v; ^/ r* W; J
6 k X9 |) o7 i& LHe 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), J2 h% t0 c9 X
$ j" ~% w2 |- D6 C1 ?1 H5 JWe 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) * Q% c% ?$ ^ Z$ u; t8 B ; v, @3 @) j0 v: g$ BEnclosed (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)/ i% h- q$ Q- n- x( X
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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.)( R1 Z) L- p( g* U; b, G
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 7 U/ n0 x9 {# C3 l; P) a: g4 \ 2 _9 G: {' e6 J6 m2 t, u6 ]0 H7 Y2 x" f" c 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」。 9 w0 Z! z! |; l v" s1 i) h" _) B5 _* y) \2 x
例如: % }5 ?5 b) \9 }* Y7 y, i9 o2 g( v6 x, y: V $ t& D# V6 y( k2 ~$ r# w" ?7 DMankind 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+ r! l7 d; p
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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) 7 O- Q$ g6 Y3 p9 \5 x - h; E: G0 |1 }0 D- W! |# [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) 7 K6 k1 y" `+ P" p( w7 [8 i" N6 m- \) g0 b
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。) 3 r* c# Q& R+ A1 y4 X% Z5 }( g. p% A- p" F/ G5 ?7 a
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。)4 m' D& S& A1 d B
, {. P0 g% [0 d2 B& }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)& M, c. M2 T! L2 \
. [ ~% \( F& qCongressmen (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)" a& Z1 ~$ M- ]" M$ Y2 K
3 I* M" A6 D* y( ~4 ]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。) # S9 g( V$ a8 H# m: r1 K" j! Z# y5 h- F; m! N- ~5 m4 Y$ 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。 : i3 [* o1 M/ J! B% u4 M$ T8 | . v) w7 u8 o2 ~0 O1 t. K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: ( ~, v" X p% ~& z5 y `' \' ]) P: Y1 p+ a) L2 `
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; - p+ C) f& ?# y) S( C' j; b$ @ 5 X4 \- l% N; r( q. [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;6 r. [7 J+ l, b
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;9 Z/ |, l2 n; T/ G0 y% x% j5 q
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;) a$ P( I r9 B% u