本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' _! x$ m" _& A$ S$ C
* d( S3 k; l1 _: Y. d4 M 转帖 1 d7 \$ {9 a! s) r7 S, ^; F6 V1. 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) - Y V! p- I, W' H/ {; X' M) f! P7 c# W. j6 O. ~- O
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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) % W! e4 }, s$ k% ?' f , C/ K3 ?% V0 v: w# z& Y" Y3 ^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。) `& v# m* o3 A) b+ X: ?/ ]$ W5 I3 F( z$ S3 v
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); |# s: e. `# b2 U/ Y
0 I; w: t- R& U) D, s5 \2 k6 c$ p! n$ LThe 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?) % x1 P0 H. k* b! |7 Y, n + ?$ G+ p6 F/ c2 RI 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。)! w- @1 W# T" n3 J/ K
5 w9 e0 M7 T8 f) Q! {' }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)# t. S0 B; v4 C
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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!) 9 Y$ `$ M! O& B. j/ D , l7 s: r# q, _) B3 KThe 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)& ~# j& ~0 h9 O! H
/ l) b d5 n4 Y @' 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。)+ v5 G, G. k1 H8 E( h3 ^7 |# p; i @
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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; a( |9 B* ^7 {6 s( F7 Z' C
$ k) ^- l$ [9 y4 ]3 H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!' Q) A$ W8 t$ W% \5 c8 i) z+ i D
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& V) t; N0 c; ~# X8 o5 A' p/ N8 f2. 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。 % x6 A8 R; T* f0 h* R' f - R& ~; m6 X6 @: O例如:. A f) L& x: D9 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) 9 G+ S) z2 Y# J: x( P4 a, x. Y5 Y2 ] K/ @7 N5 S+ H2 x/ V
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) $ t' R0 c5 W7 M% R' y N0 n7 @' X+ d2 Y3 S
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) 7 H/ G/ [5 Q. W3 Y" n/ z' ` m3 E5 Q' [ z/ O% A
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)' [: R" b; B: p% e: o4 C0 o
- {" }% `2 n( H9 L% N6 b* |3 KIn 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) v$ F2 X* F8 @1 U' n {: q& P8 d }$ a: l, k! p- _) L: V- a2 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) ) s& T- @ Y9 s$ x# q 2 Z1 O/ W5 b3 D& PI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) : O" T5 C: R' t, c; w . ?6 r* i g! V* d9 u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:$ g; U E: G5 r
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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。)" d! \) S, W/ F0 P3 y5 F" Q1 ^
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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.)! F, Z. @- U3 t- b8 m8 ^" L7 _- X: _7 [
5 L# Q! n; r0 ~* a/ eHe 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。)% a& m" Q1 L+ v+ h) q% z
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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)/ o. n# _8 D" }+ [. N
( ?4 b, U# O; A: @9 R0 T* ^+ k; ^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)7 W, O9 z/ x6 n
$ w5 @, H K! WEnclosed (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)6 Z" _5 U8 [, a& I
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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.) 3 ]' e% H; {2 T) ?; O& l) o8 L' u2 O! c4 u a' J
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 . W; H; O6 B3 G; |; ~- ?2 m 3 X- V8 j2 M/ s4 d0 a 6 R1 d3 e' f4 J; Z8 I8 C3.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」。 + Y: L7 p+ y( A0 P8 a) Z5 c1 p 8 l( Y( W* }2 S0 ^& x* y例如: % b0 X" P8 s! [; D# [( X# m0 C . E2 |, D0 j! yMankind 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) ( L- ^9 o/ [0 L3 u0 J0 E1 S5 x1 D2 D$ j# @7 { \5 A1 Z; ^4 K8 S
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)1 P- V9 m- Z# n
, n$ ?, ~/ p; b; q! o$ 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) 2 j/ ]0 `. ]( c$ M& c3 P: G 3 H; k" C) o7 e/ k0 |2 {! t9 CHe (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。)! c) Z# `$ i* _, s; k9 F' W8 U% V8 s
, |1 F0 T0 G t/ SMany 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。) ( w$ n& N3 K4 L0 V' u) K. e1 I# V% u' y8 K. J
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) : W+ p% d9 s* D: e) S3 m# Q $ L& U# b- O% ]7 W3 [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) 1 T. O- w$ c+ d# }6 l5 p4 n: X% \2 ]1 B7 O3 h6 r3 }
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。) 9 B: D* b8 k* s " w* d9 U7 g5 q- L. e8 N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。) b) x0 p/ ~% b3 @2 I& S0 k
. |3 x# y' q! ]7 k" o% z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:; }5 v9 u8 i. ^* V- X0 I
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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 P8 e" Q8 ~( Z, I0 Q k4 O2 l9 g( h; C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; 3 g2 N. {: o) |" p4 e% Z! @& J2 g9 j7 H! R" y& s0 j
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;1 }' C1 G' m( E( K2 y& |+ U
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; * @8 P R# V8 V1 ^4 W4 L8 v( }0 [- m. V; z8 ^5 P/ U' W( ]1 V; }; R" H
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: " F1 M6 ?8 a* Q0 n( U; B/ C , Z$ {5 a9 R) @9 _6 L' o: u5 o/ h, W5 B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)。 " X8 s8 d/ W [2 U8 N H( ^ C4 C6 k2 a" b
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)。 ( r) U( M% f. ?3 W$ S; j1 I. l# r