本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 0 _2 ?3 p' W0 b* h# Z# T7 v; b7 ]1 S) W5 i" H 转帖% S; E b- ^3 A. `; d4 b. X' U
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) 9 i! O, ]; f% w( D+ N/ v' l. w$ N' i' }$ p4 [
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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)9 H, H4 |1 R- T; B- ]5 |+ I9 s
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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。) ) j, H5 ~7 \1 o & K! f7 h* U* c( A" e$ d* a) sThis 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)6 n% H/ v: J( u* 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?) ~* R: c. u2 n4 K# ?6 w- V$ ^0 m, J* p
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。). h) Q7 E3 i/ B% }+ h7 y
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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) / M- ^5 U% R5 L& r( p+ I 4 I3 b9 w" N; 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!)1 Z; p- M7 X: L+ E: O/ y
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The 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) - ], P6 \! v w' P' Y- J( t9 S, \( |: @& X' u- H0 w8 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。)2 Q0 o, U( \" _9 o3 H0 j
5 m3 ^9 y8 \& [- Z" y5 O# u. @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?) ! ?6 z! G2 Z2 }, { ) X: Y0 X6 j* @! S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! / f& D2 o7 X8 a' ] ' G' J: P, J0 u2 F) [3 b8 p3 J& ~) {( h 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。 . S s) ?: e7 Q* _4 M% y 8 y6 i0 N* @* A例如: 0 d( M( a, n% V& X K: Z' p1 ] 2 M% {# F1 v) h. S; aAt 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)5 g& Y( j# w* u% Z8 P1 g9 g9 M- t5 ]
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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) 9 a5 ~ X( ^$ @( T- z M7 j S. A5 M e' d
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)3 F. i# @1 [9 h, }" k$ c# Y
2 @. A6 l" |6 w3 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)# I; O, ]% W. x( W
9 L. q& B* C! YIn 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) 2 z8 F/ Z1 `; p/ } p 4 a& U* H+ ]3 b" }1 w1 jShe 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) 9 }) J! i3 ?9 u# I/ s2 S% i+ S. [) K; u. a, u, N- g u8 t! z" [& r
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)) M1 u; S4 V w0 I, w Q, l' V
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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:. w6 u3 r* T$ L5 y" G0 }
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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。) / y3 I- e0 P" o, ?$ I! a3 D* T) `6 l$ a6 k d; q& u$ h
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 E9 G& C) U3 o0 R( |7 V
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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。). X4 g$ u! x" V3 s. v. ?$ W: k5 o
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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), J4 I/ h! b @) x5 C3 f2 n
) j- j6 f |: `% c" \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)8 o$ s+ [$ z1 b
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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) + }5 L! D; O) Q + f4 k- P6 C: `5 s! d) 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.) @( H; p3 V9 Y+ ]4 u3 f ( m+ r; \1 e! M2 f3 G此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 * _+ H! C( u' f1 L+ ^! I" x / @) O0 E( N; c7 H+ p0 O( h ) _5 O. S1 g% c1 }# l; C& A! D3.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」。' ?$ i8 p$ V( I
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例如: ( k: u# l& A5 c% o" B! t/ T ) G, j5 K7 C: f- J" c( [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) $ l$ h4 N0 I4 O8 j6 v) D# a7 a/ d; x9 r* B$ B, K
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): ?" M. I, ]$ k! f' A
7 L( ~) W# \ ZThis 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) $ p$ o5 @, c' r1 L1 x1 } " p I- u' Z2 o W# X' d4 j3 t5 @! RHe (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。)+ c. F* T$ t! D ~5 r4 e2 T+ x
^# T6 L0 f+ r* nMany 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。)9 H9 o2 |( x- J/ l; q) A
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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) : p% e4 R" H9 A3 W4 d1 F 0 }) L# m' ]" m* kCongressmen (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 M: g& m' n' m3 Z( M0 a' C! N5 d, D, P
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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。) * Q1 o; ^. s9 C A 1 q2 m7 M8 h/ z# O* N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。1 a( u+ A! h% h1 a4 k
& l( w% e( t" N5 o# w$ L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: ; t0 W7 D, N* t) L6 m- Y 0 x9 T. z" o" B- Y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; % j! h1 c" L7 H* y) o! j h / e) C' ~% l* Q* v8 V. C, T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;6 Z( T1 }, ^& G/ N! y1 w" S9 o" ~6 t1 z
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; $ a1 ^9 p* a- s8 M. V9 }9 \2 p2 w \, l- R3 `
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;4 k& u' K% S, ?: r" I; m
4 H' H4 A2 \* h, M6 h* y2 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:% { W( Y6 M. \
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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)。: y- ~9 e( [* K) ^8 s
~( w+ w6 z# l- Q# {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)。 ) f; w7 |4 A+ _! y