本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 N$ o& [% y$ d
* _$ K; @2 j* r0 V3 F+ ` 转帖 1 p3 J& l& i3 `# f: i% { L# T; n8 L$ ?1. 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)# C5 |. Y8 W! F
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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)/ a6 S* E! m6 k- y
- s/ N, I! p) L9 o4 o9 ~( qThree 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。) 4 W) _3 Q, C/ ]% I$ c3 Q4 Z0 I7 z2 Q! \! P$ X
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 T7 R+ B/ K0 m& j( ]5 r( K
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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?) 9 u( u/ q( u# H# n' I8 T8 I9 S# {% K
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。) ( s0 x, h" j. H. K" E 0 z8 C) A" s$ ?1 ~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) - A% v! E6 D1 P9 x. q) p8 g ( u/ q/ ^! s( [/ m; a0 c; eWe 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!) + e) v& w8 }) a3 n! n. r 6 M5 h. U S& ~0 u, Q% OThe 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) - R% F. o7 r" ]4 _0 N) J* 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。) , v( X' }; e5 w& R& h' d6 j! J 9 U! u; t, F' y% ~9 Q, uPlease 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?) % @$ X8 D( V! a" q % d9 B0 Y8 O5 a1 |# g2 z# r- M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!. n q- B. p6 J [1 p' _$ O
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1 U+ v% x1 Z1 l4 Q) C2. 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。0 y) v+ H3 f! y w* T! e6 Y
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例如: ; ]! z+ Q$ F" \# u5 }: g 9 L5 e7 r% V7 ]; m- N2 iAt 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), }1 d/ d& F; e+ g6 A
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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)' s, P( u( f( Y. n8 e
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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)5 ^9 N: A4 B a9 L% c: n
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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) 8 w3 y% |- Z, d" n8 D( J P1 N. P% h1 V7 V5 n+ m* a2 j% J. |
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) 5 g4 ?, m' i0 H- z' m: W2 P& a9 q# X4 T: q8 R& F! q
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) ! W' Q+ }/ m5 I* V& W3 C* \: f6 S; n) \) ]6 r8 J/ t
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) - ~/ p! ^, Y9 J7 }( t2 t" Z ! u2 Z4 I( }. k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: & w+ ^7 y) @8 P$ ^% f0 z 7 ]; a9 B8 j; C3 M* h3 WThe 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。). i+ `1 @, l9 G6 a9 \2 ^0 [
. J+ b% n5 q& G8 ~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.) * A; G) B# q0 l) [1 q% T7 H; p4 `0 C; `( v# Y
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。) * m" R: ]) h% A/ z& m- f! y% q" b* L- }3 ` f8 {
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): p0 U: S' y& S- A: A
0 B& V* W& U7 @$ bWe 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)/ m1 L4 Q; j2 J4 n0 V" Z
6 X2 @. g; y" T8 Z: z/ Z3 u" DEnclosed (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)9 y* ~1 X8 ~0 K
/ s4 i0 A; j: [8 D2 x E* U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.) $ ~9 W) s/ v: C: S, ]) ~# k6 | ! g2 l6 j' W! Z" E) j! F$ S) h* T此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 W& u( [( K0 A1 @' g a, u. p4 \1 j
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+ s' T7 q# W" q0 r: p3.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」。 5 @: F( x# h$ Z+ [7 T0 L : y o: O" L) D* A! }例如: + L1 e" f$ J1 }" G1 F 7 H- j8 `3 L8 QMankind 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)- t/ b! _+ ?( ^ k; c# _& G) Z; |" K
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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) `5 y) y- [8 F6 s. w: r f7 L
% {" E3 ~, ~7 U+ |/ AThis 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) ) N0 h9 |3 x4 v E % [; V: f) N; I& j/ c5 j8 e; THe (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 ]* A! r# j2 f- ?$ x0 W2 E0 s* p9 ]
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。) ! x3 g! U9 G- Q; y3 \: i4 u8 v' x6 O' c
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) ! b; ]% h/ m( p0 X/ J) [- R( A* \, q6 V* _: z. a8 ?
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) " ?" A T( L$ H4 T$ n2 y ; w: ` A0 x. C: ^( ?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。) 4 l0 s+ H. ?. u1 S$ g9 ~/ {3 s$ S& B" a; |% d
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。/ L% k+ X8 }" k; v2 |. ~
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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:/ H* r7 z# [* m- }5 M9 Y2 ~/ I, W
% W) T4 D; X: U% Z% Z6 r5 _- H& U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; $ N0 w4 I6 O4 ^+ [" B' t7 T! r% e( w" \( Y* 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;8 a9 B$ \5 y0 L h0 L, A$ w
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. @8 U {+ O( e4 r2 A5 ^, w
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; : @" G' S3 H8 @1 o " E! S- o* ^3 i6 u, d* N% L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:: X# V+ l6 O8 S
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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)。5 K$ e1 R: j6 R, U$ j' p
7 c' b, G- t: h% T' 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)。 ; h3 ^ h: d) C/ p( Y2 ~