本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 / t$ g I0 f' l" @! x( F; e+ A: x' T) h5 b 转帖 2 B8 P8 Z( e1 Y n1. 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) : E8 R! M# e( u& S% N; r5 _# k4 X( F8 T
例如: 6 g& s* `) h T$ M$ ~9 I ! J6 y5 ^7 z/ r$ y4 _ F' Z3 H$ CMany 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) . V5 K" B1 F, u( [2 S @) |+ \7 X" l$ }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。) # d" \6 a8 B4 p . a, r+ z" }( lThis 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)- E' R3 K) N' t0 W# Y' [
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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?)$ P7 s5 @" B9 s) x3 y) d: D, {
$ D. V0 B& q+ O5 c; @5 PI 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。)5 p$ ]9 U4 W' ~& q O
2 ]7 G0 Z& K# _& `4 a J+ B: `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) ?2 }$ Y( L. v4 N' I0 n) T4 c! I& g+ A/ l5 Z
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!) 1 R4 \1 }5 y& v5 `6 a) _ 9 K* h; P) Y# X! k7 b5 I8 ]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), B4 C4 B6 R- a ^
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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。) 7 U' Y6 T% Q q( m% X) Q4 T 9 ]; \, Y( u) N+ k. l$ {4 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?)2 W; }2 l$ u+ t c5 W$ g
/ o5 ~! [4 Z. i7 g. Z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!' ]) h5 P6 x& t/ a* C% G0 V
; L" p- N* r$ O1 ^' W& K 3 m& x& L, m! e: {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。 . Y6 Y. S2 c. ?( r* Q9 B- u4 g) w+ G
例如:5 ]2 ]# u+ o+ T5 S
1 }) @# f. \: O# {* l- T! MAt 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 `% Y. s4 L* A8 B# A: W. k( U9 x, C0 E3 e8 S% S& C9 `
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) / q5 n% E& d. ]9 x9 z' i6 Q Y X7 I) M' R0 W
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) , V9 l( |7 x9 }" f$ L, s; \ C; c + j/ c0 A% d5 P* o9 p% @( yHe 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). M4 j5 Z B& r7 l: O, _
# b- r6 W4 j: W4 J9 G( cIn 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). B7 w" @* f3 M/ A. P! F9 L5 m+ d3 |
- U* k7 S# V! Y! D3 h) 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) 5 M1 }. d( B7 ~$ f0 E; d# `1 I( z# q* R2 S6 b5 u2 V
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)% p' ^, A% U4 E% s/ P
2 ^$ O6 ]8 _2 \5 n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: 2 M; P5 w; x. e8 v r7 W' @ & k& Q' \) x1 ]$ y- w9 fThe 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。)5 F+ D' g- H+ U3 G7 X) M* t
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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.) ! C6 U/ P* `. v4 s& L3 V1 [ . ~0 e" W, q- C3 O5 v( DHe 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。)! f0 b- e' H/ j* p9 V0 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)4 b* }$ w" n- T
$ b7 {3 P' D" B/ NWe 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) - s5 c2 W) z7 g% o4 U# l" a0 C: Z) E: s
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)' b( z6 V% S0 \2 h7 q# u( B
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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.) & C. `; {! n! Z 4 V6 y. B& }# ]此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 * B2 b9 o9 r6 C* d' t2 }, m, n g' v4 u0 W8 H
' S% ^9 L8 k9 Y( J/ A& W3.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」。 * Y4 ^5 i7 ]% G) j( j + Q8 h. t+ `' j" K) h8 K. r例如: , R# K% ?, d" o4 z1 u& x7 ?/ U" t. ?7 @
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) $ Q. I- |& h5 g; w/ k, l& |& ?* ~ 9 f J" `9 \0 w, I& y3 y. }; s& _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) : Q1 ?! x/ d* S# M b4 p( O" }1 e" v) m# r" Z1 @* d
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) L& l* s, C* {# i) Z9 u3 T5 p( p/ g2 V9 T5 M, g/ [
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。) $ m& z) N1 }7 K c6 g( t; O 7 o3 a# \' J2 P. W3 eMany 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。)7 G6 k5 e1 J" U; A- n
! M& d+ \. o: }/ I9 ^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) + m2 J: b+ c( f! f # W3 V5 z- E! W6 a6 \, |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)3 \* f& x& e& ^' \1 r% F" e! L7 m
# d3 F1 _- s3 n5 n4 F9 W! I( v9 R8 }% _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。) ' V& D! E+ B/ ]- Q4 `! c: E; f2 V6 d7 d) T7 w8 `; m; ?1 |
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。; Q6 m& \9 a/ k( P
: w; K, k# J1 o3 J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 {& ~ g; P2 P9 V. j7 L; o* F
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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; 0 Z; t9 h/ a& x5 R9 A4 u- k4 U, q) n' ?
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;: E& d. p. I4 Q0 u# u1 R) \8 n& C
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; * ]% I0 q4 S2 N$ n% e( F* v) K* M4 J
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; # {0 ^$ h3 p( Q K + I8 K) K* C+ |/ H! h7 m u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 {4 m8 X% Y3 w+ q; |$ M
2 A6 }; f9 V* H" p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)。 ; _1 W' B: G( }, B s+ k " m0 B8 L8 y# b6 z. U5 X2 @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)。 5 y( }5 c+ _5 b+ H