8 a: k" j+ ^/ G+ a p. N; Z D* k转帖 3 ?" W) t, k b& V" D4 V* s1. 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 M8 W& d9 a/ ?; y( I& Y- }8 L/ q1 ?; x& \: C
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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)! @. X n0 T7 ]) |
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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。) # y: K. ~( o, H4 Q9 X+ F* d. ^1 d$ z9 F; d
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) ?! A- t% [5 C; A$ |+ m& C5 E6 K, m8 I5 j
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?) + S7 T1 S# g7 J$ ^& u , K1 k6 Q5 t- E0 Q" l, d4 j: a+ CI 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。) D2 j5 m- X7 C$ Q I& }. X6 x- }5 |2 c" q3 D9 E1 R3 U
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) + e6 m+ Q2 j$ A9 l4 R' B8 Q$ K2 P3 k/ ]2 s2 g+ x+ Z
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!)& O+ n5 ]1 C. s& d% i# A# |
" b8 l( Z9 a5 r- hThe 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) 9 Z- A4 {5 m f2 [' _5 r/ \0 H; b' v/ p
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。)$ ^( b: I4 f0 M6 \
3 ^3 _9 f! A4 L" b- _+ b4 ]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?) ) t5 r$ p* P1 v% O. l. @3 W6 h R G5 R6 d: v2 E3 _$ r1 a
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!, a! h$ D! C( l! M3 C
x, d) P. a+ s7 W$ o f% Y: c- x# o# r) l1 |' U+ f4 @ K 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。 - [- f; s8 A5 W( {: U5 y , S0 ^7 O8 w. O8 w; c& s8 ~1 ~4 B; A例如: . B- d* s& X0 Z* L- ~2 a K5 F5 n6 q. 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) 7 e# }% l/ j% |+ K, I : y. D0 v: z% IDespite 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)) ?) M; X- Q( H) [; v
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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 e) P5 H' J m8 P! a: T
1 i3 T* ~6 ]% O1 j2 Y3 FHe 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)) Q# z) Q+ s0 D
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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) 8 b, M1 ]4 ~( C" w, y+ L1 X M+ A' D- L/ x1 S5 j
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) ) E! Q7 n7 I' j! M3 c) w# t# l4 x! g
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' J3 R% w5 v; u$ e * \( l/ {6 a# A( Z如果只说:I will tell Mr. Wang (about the matter). 不是更简单吗?因为 bring the matter to the attention of = tell = inform) (句子最后面:「about the matter」可以省去); 同理,也要避免意义的重复或用字的多余 (redundant); 例如: " \! _2 R( u% C& y " `$ T4 t/ K- n, JThe consensus(of opinion)is that we have to act right away.(大家认为我们必须立即行动)(of opinion 可以省去,因为 consensus 的意思,就是大家的意见。)# n. E# j' J" i% O3 T1 n. `
1 K2 p8 g; k+ T8 M4 `: J7 ?The letter shows that the problem(continues to)remain unsolved.(他的信显示问题尚未解决)(continue to 是多余的字,因为 remain 已经有 continue 的含意。所以句子就成为:The letter shows that the problem remains unsolved.)1 h5 T7 m f" o+ j
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He has made his (final) conclusion in his speech.(他在演说里做出结论) (final 是多余的字,因为 conclusion 已经含有 final 的意思。) ) \5 a: E/ X s) }& l6 M ; B# k/ g- F7 Z7 E2 u) U. bHe has had many years of (actual) experience in business。(他有多年经商的经验) (actual 也是多余的字,因为 experience 已有 actual 的意味)- T6 y- A+ x9 [) }9 Z5 B4 r1 A
5 f1 h9 J+ A$ e1 j, n7 \) w+ K# ZWe 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) ; \5 j3 i4 p* M! _4 n& G1 W$ y I" O# S7 M; r8 b, |; ^9 c+ ?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) 6 N& ~2 V; x5 H8 |1 u " M8 d8 ?8 \ Z! W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.)% Y O8 X. k# `2 A/ G% T* Q/ L
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。# t( K( X; M5 k, X$ \9 G* T
0 o$ h/ ~; E; j; d6 o/ Z! R3 s- }! [* P4 A3 _8 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」。: Z( K# M% h9 i( G% Q
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, |: s) }) m1 ?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' t3 |$ T) b% ?5 u5 g) y# E9 k ; ?3 _& F5 X! B4 i( C2 kManpower 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)2 ?, M* G- d$ a
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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)' U2 x. Y; G; ~. Q
7 N& T0 u4 n+ [6 Z3 ]# [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。) p6 u6 n# @0 l, f M5 d( j( B * n3 ` N8 Z7 u% oMany 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。) d' _2 a+ k, g( C, x
# e( m6 ]8 F: t3 q' J; RPolicemen (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)3 T% B4 w" }+ o- A
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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 z4 f& {, _5 |+ n) T- V3 g! A
1 D1 G7 P) F8 E8 JStewardesses 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。): `, M1 p/ m! \& p5 t3 Q
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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。* o4 W2 c1 ?* a& Z# j+ U
& V$ b+ J( J5 ^5 C! \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, s) [! p3 y& P L# T+ x" K) s
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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; 4 j# j8 l% V. s2 W3 \8 T# x, l+ Y4 z' E% ^% h, s
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 o) g3 A8 r2 \6 _& S- I
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;; G/ B: \0 y( l+ B3 ^) w9 c8 Q
* Z$ q4 h+ \" J) @3 G! I对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : F+ B2 j v+ w) }' k 7 n, ^9 e& s. Q1 L" B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:: C# S% o2 k1 _" G
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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)。 0 Z8 X8 }" {6 s8 ^! d, w6 J" ~5 D6 f9 L+ ^) v- |
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)。/ V1 Q, ]% _, S: Y9 E' P0 \. F4 y