本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 + N8 q8 [1 w3 g _& ^2 y / T+ _- Q/ S& _& x& M' }转帖. U6 R! s. M3 b' A3 M
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)2 v1 @; h1 j( l( o" @' h
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8 K" N+ ^* L8 X5 o6 J9 _# ]0 v: PMany 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 t5 r& I! ], d6 p4 X
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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。) [0 N8 j3 P7 a( j; Q- s; ^: T # _' M1 ?9 q- p' _% q) wThis 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) ) m. O( X8 F1 T' Y! @% Q ' j5 b3 M6 ?5 I$ j; Z! ^ nThe 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?) ! o g0 O' x6 O" |/ t |+ X R1 g. v3 G! ^0 c- Y
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。) : b0 t' s/ F: u( R' l1 g$ w$ k) z' j! Q% o* V: W
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) 3 g# r {$ u1 ~7 R! Z B, D7 U" [9 {# ?' X/ b
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!) % x' U) g' Q, A) [, d# F 6 n, A* {+ C8 H/ U- g+ O# i6 o( F- V) SThe 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)) D% H9 ~) P6 l, g; s
% T8 B! d1 z3 Q4 Q: O7 N- s9 mWe 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。)1 x( c1 m) I0 o# |
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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?) 1 Z" Y: G" {; W" e1 o# T4 i1 M/ Q: c( T5 K
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! ' ~% F5 y0 @. [& e0 n- I& u7 \, \$ q" y# P3 B6 m/ `
. \" U P4 j# Y$ I) [: N2. 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。 9 [. I L/ h8 L' w( Q/ z: V) T" O2 t3 J% g
例如:4 o4 u1 t& f3 j' [
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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) * s$ @3 C2 S" W & M+ n, R2 g, W* @* m0 U, y2 D7 \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)9 b* q! B( I3 X; Q& B
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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)# e. E$ U( s) y" ?( S3 [! a
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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) 1 S2 F; g( l7 N+ B 5 s& o1 D5 Y" G9 Y& wIn 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)' W5 U& n7 K8 G0 a- o
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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) . g2 Q/ t0 ~' r5 L2 c5 X 0 O, k8 o0 T4 o6 p. a5 W+ \I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) + ~2 @2 V6 W1 C* Z; V' r" |) R; T8 a- b8 q9 ?. ?- E
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: ' k J S5 N# P- z& Q" X& G n) j8 t6 G5 E+ M" H- }$ i( C t' y
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。): l q! V) I- {3 J# E
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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.)9 `9 m& j# W' v/ a5 V& d2 c5 U* M
' j5 z2 g/ r0 i( U/ d- @4 {" _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。) % X7 \. I3 _% ~/ l 1 _( j6 _6 _5 ^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)& ]" _0 A4 {) \7 Z$ ?8 x5 w2 e3 P$ g
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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) 0 } P3 E0 B4 \. j3 w 5 q( J4 o1 E$ v$ O, ]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) , }2 A: B/ N9 `4 a5 G & k/ u$ o9 t* a. ^: K9 d, J2 u1 `: M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.)- \+ A# F# H% U8 R2 I! @) K8 I9 o
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 , T- C4 r( F* _/ @% K : E" w0 H9 B( v1 j2 C! n( D* m# x) {- P 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」。4 m& a( R! R! ]0 A% Y7 {
0 B; K& b9 h# m' u0 `. c例如: 6 l8 J! Z1 S2 d) S8 V2 T 3 a. S6 o4 q8 _: I* @" \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 ^! u6 K* Y2 A& @9 z! X 5 N' g+ |* Q1 `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)3 O2 F3 N9 V, j" d0 }
, d5 {3 d: d; q, o# j0 `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), ]) x3 ^7 j4 e# P& s2 R
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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。) " _4 |7 U j. i* i# r4 {" P 7 o' `4 d+ h# a( b BMany 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。) 0 A3 `( m t. v, a" N2 r! w + y- a: L1 N O) N3 @" gPolicemen (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)% T* p% j2 B( Z) W1 o
' ]5 h9 Y* Y& X( oCongressmen (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) 5 o8 B1 ~- |2 h/ f. @6 U' c C7 W! d$ }
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。) ) R; R: J% k; R 3 p' f5 ?9 i) O( Z6 T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。 ; k" g# O) ^# i( G0 f) F6 N( h2 |% `- q6 `* H6 a8 _
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: 4 r m9 B; k }( w% G% y: z/ a. K ; A0 O% T4 s2 N. c1 ~4 I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 k) U/ e9 O) F. S3 c+ j
# ^$ X9 k+ O6 Q3 E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;/ Y1 l2 A Q$ d" j" z2 w
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;3 D/ Y8 H% x9 W6 D- G% O! s
+ z, d5 \1 ~# u4 [对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 b4 o: V# l9 l4 x" S 0 b" K* ^. L. i' ~4 s. ~6 W4 c: Q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:5 H( [+ H* K( E( N
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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)。 " l% X, l8 H: j6 a2 @8 t0 M9 j4 G
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)。+ |$ v- r# j3 l' U