本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % [, R$ }0 ^9 u5 J/ g
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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 _. s e% D0 ?# U( N, P6 s( b
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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) 5 j8 m3 \8 ]& O6 ~ % R- S) r% c% p$ l( Z6 o8 iThree 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。)8 t V0 B w/ s. i k
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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)2 @5 ~% N( Q0 f9 v
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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?)% d* `; S8 x$ H! X9 G
6 i, H1 T3 j& n- V3 F+ q F7 KI 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。) 1 e4 M) C$ C) f3 O Q$ ^% o7 @+ l$ j( Z% `( ]
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)7 m/ e$ |+ _2 C3 j5 [/ c6 x5 Z g! m
# S/ @: |! M+ k! U* z. e+ e6 NWe 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!)* D$ L6 a x% Q
I# j7 o( A( lThe 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) . ~) P5 Q: y7 \# ?% p! h6 q y9 u! J8 B) J. o; s) t9 h
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。) % u" Y' n% i- R2 F) y2 S0 X. ^4 F5 {1 L N/ n1 `+ W3 s( g
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?)% l8 [" o4 C5 t9 g: n8 Z% q$ N
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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! * X8 z" N: `" @ " W% ~+ W" @# x6 n6 E# V; F2 i ! Q, L' d) `! K6 ]8 j$ 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。; D$ F' ]9 k0 t+ _3 ^" T: U
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例如:4 G: F( k% o! ^8 @) s
- @* s5 K9 ~5 Z ^- HAt 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)* c7 W' ?" A' R% Y0 J
+ G& \+ E( K XDespite 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)! F6 f" w$ v g x) U. ^7 X* {, S
, [) O! J+ l/ i9 N7 T9 [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) # H: l+ k- P8 f3 b6 H _4 l; H% q3 ~* d; r6 S& 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) ; t/ @+ R/ q+ i2 K3 t( a9 d5 s1 Z: T0 q+ Z
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) ! A/ ^& I9 c I2 U2 R7 O# S% C0 A$ N & r" D9 e6 k: H0 b' Y" z/ P: I& tShe 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) 2 ~6 }0 f5 Y1 s7 l- g( m* E 1 t M* S$ V2 E3 wI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生); H1 z% r, s1 D. ]& B% V$ x/ H8 \- I
& [: @/ j6 ~) W5 P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: , Q2 K- l4 d/ Z0 D) C . Y' d7 `8 l# `. J; AThe 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。)8 I# j% h6 U/ b( t$ c$ D a# v
# r8 J: t* O$ w; y+ ^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.); d3 @* Y) u, 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。)9 p. [% {( W k7 Y( L
0 m9 f+ G1 t/ v }& q 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) 1 d5 m; j8 Q# A3 e! L% B6 W3 u/ K/ q; S$ u8 |1 X8 V
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); y7 b/ v$ @' C& x6 a
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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) I+ b1 A$ L3 `/ M4 G' J! ~8 w' M1 J8 Y$ U# D
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.)4 ]/ _9 R: P9 \; K* t
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。$ g3 p6 [, _/ K, j$ T
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2 J2 ?. b, V0 q; ~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」。5 N* ~$ U2 h; `8 s" i" I2 F
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1 h O: ]1 @- k! l5 P5 O: WMankind 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! d& X @% W K* T1 @
$ ?3 i1 R7 U% N: p4 qManpower 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) * h0 x3 R' c3 H/ d# S* I6 T' Z- D4 C+ K6 W- t
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)4 F( c$ u+ K% W7 z. u$ E) | Q
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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。) # A! i) w8 [( I2 s% { # c2 k% d- t- N0 DMany 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。)$ T; p q* f# Y$ q
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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)8 a) D& q5 ~% ~- y$ ~% q
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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), C3 ~3 m8 N. W9 c- F; m
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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。) " ^# I( n7 I. m' O3 P( l) I4 X ; l3 @+ `8 u3 |4 ]( T2 F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。 2 k5 A0 j- a: }6 Y- ^& z" Z% O# @. C' N& {" j3 l( a
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:" u, G0 i( Y3 a# E7 i) G
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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; 1 A% K% ^9 P2 w6 `1 R1 M% Q" D: u9 _7 K0 z8 K
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;1 I3 P8 C) y! v) T" u4 A
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; # X( W" n. ]2 E5 b2 e ) a+ a8 g9 j8 w对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; + ~! i/ i0 V$ I& z, f+ |& R9 g% ~* r9 B' S2 P, q0 ^% u4 r
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:3 A; F, H {6 ]! k' I d: X3 E: b
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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)。& _3 Q, O4 _8 H. Y: F2 `/ ^
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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)。 ( N+ |) f0 I! Y; g4 b