本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 I8 I+ x$ @2 K( f, B1 f. e6 P( c. [' r5 p 转帖 ; e( z+ {5 t* G. K+ l7 O: |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) 7 j1 o; e3 j! x5 Y2 V; p& C% `0 e/ K, u! z
例如: 4 A* J% f' o6 `# F b8 ~" F* Q1 N% ^) Y/ y' e, E; lMany 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$ c$ O5 ]% t( o6 \
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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。) " K5 i1 p$ H! ?! t % S5 V% ]# z$ X; KThis 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) 1 {! e v3 u, j& U' s% P9 k: q) F9 v7 ]5 W$ F8 |6 J, 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?) 5 T. J0 `& u) a1 q) |. ~. ^0 y8 ?9 D" l& d
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。) ' b9 v5 X- R& o* c: f+ x2 i5 [ 6 k, K( M" l- w2 H$ QMr. 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) F& _2 ~, X9 b/ o
$ I# o2 ]/ G$ H" U$ GWe 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!) ! O5 |3 _8 p0 [5 u h 9 N. P0 _0 L9 [ W0 ]3 _7 _# ZThe 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)1 t& _% f3 u5 a; ~- Z4 |( S) Q, Z
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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。)* p) }# {* _1 c7 z4 |
& N2 U6 p, C4 _6 H2 x) xPlease 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?) ( y6 N' N* |( e9 C7 o5 l: _* B9 \! ^% h) p6 J5 F! Y1 L: }
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 ?( \- N5 u& \8 P2 k$ f! z) Z: Q$ k7 W. y) e9 v
3 {3 Z* Q8 A4 T$ m0 D 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。* V/ V0 G. z1 d, G" i3 l: C
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! M' n8 T6 T% j5 W6 O1 j; RAt 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) 4 q* N; o, a- j6 r* s. D 7 _1 [/ k2 S% }% bDespite 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) ' r1 {: [7 b, X; u3 r1 W, l' \4 G/ ^0 l2 o7 u' S/ d! z2 \# {
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) , J2 z- n, k7 [0 h ! M0 P5 A! y9 qHe 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) 3 l1 m' N0 `6 d8 i; K5 T4 v7 l3 \" v1 S
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 Z3 s' W* q" w8 r
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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) / m5 y5 j2 z' b$ E+ I% j4 x* R, f/ p' Q6 n2 b+ J2 |
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ' h5 b9 e* r w: Y4 W' g5 a0 e& O: l5 y9 ]+ 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: $ \7 v" p @* \& d! K( N/ p" A" q0 Y6 C
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。)% Z0 Q9 Q( O- o" e: R9 G
2 o+ x+ r D& N) C; ?4 Q- z, EThe 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.)" {# K3 P$ I9 L9 O' z- O
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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。)4 T" W3 a# W, ?1 ~# c' u/ |+ M
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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) - W6 d. t8 x5 ?4 t 2 u8 ~+ G& N1 F: S$ \6 aWe 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); n5 @* U- }+ [1 ~
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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)4 U% d/ Z3 l8 R% t4 U7 l
. t9 O) y' A5 g6 i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.), t" U, N8 K, f3 f" @
0 ~# y4 n0 {5 C" V' G, U此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。9 a- E/ c. Q1 f W3 M0 v' R2 D- \
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5 \3 _, L2 M7 v% N- K9 v 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」。: x1 L+ b# p* j
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例如: : ^) R; ^; N& u+ ? I, i! {+ o5 V- J$ Z+ q& S& O- Z
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); Y- c2 ?/ T, v/ [
1 C/ A. B1 G4 O. d) X; T$ bManpower 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) 3 w1 J3 j, W" j& V, O: d 0 \' I: z) y5 b% EThis 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)8 b3 u6 l1 y$ ~3 Y, P. x
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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。)8 U: y {) a+ _3 ]' ^
X% I; z, Q9 m1 j7 }6 t- m" B* |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。) & H) F1 w% U- o1 W$ T; L 1 {: x* N' H' p0 K. T& x+ t7 \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): J ?8 ^& q) H. Y, A0 }
% l+ C; \( Q5 y6 [+ m) ?' MCongressmen (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) # E5 R. [0 F) x5 B( K3 d1 k& Y0 Q1 i2 H+ l
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。)# ]/ a% Q- ], h( r% a
9 n$ b2 R Y c: r; I' @. ~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。 ' P% F' G$ W9 W7 m& c1 x/ | : z5 ], U8 y7 I, ?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:0 q5 X6 X. ~! p: }# y
+ g1 m% B$ b) Y2 W7 H8 a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 m7 j' M7 W7 p H! { A$ A
$ J& X# I) p. O5 e! {+ I' D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;' O3 h9 w: U. n: D$ a/ c) m# K
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ) Z, M9 M! e- D) d6 v# ?# {8 o; o, J; G% E) ]# y
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;9 f- {( {# I+ j& Y W$ q$ M# g* Y
+ p7 M" y' W7 c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: 9 m g9 W$ b; L - ]& R) ^0 @6 a9 p9 c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. @& x& l/ N2 i- }3 o7 y0 [0 H+ N9 W7 r
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)。( ]0 N7 i- o: t0 a8 Z