本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) u) z/ L! x; @+ U* q8 Q4 |! \: g7 |# _, [, G, O 转帖 1 q( V7 T5 o! @$ A+ s9 z6 L7 ?! n9 C1. 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) ( F! B$ w8 N! Z' C* H+ l9 m6 ^1 J) i
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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)( i t6 a- e0 I( y- \+ L% h
# X( p# `8 m) j# KThree 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。) ) c! d3 g `- o4 d' c5 O 3 L/ L# h4 l X0 x1 QThis 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) 0 w) ~. g& @/ D$ `- E; N G8 z% Q0 n/ f3 @" C4 m/ [
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 [, L0 o9 g8 N1 @- W* Q . U$ H' a, ~( b5 x4 V. GI 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。)& f/ g6 i: S r3 w, D3 X. J
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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)" b' ^2 c( n. x. J& z7 ~: M+ Y# H% m
p! K- L* x+ h7 ~/ z! uWe 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!) / [" |/ n* e% E- _8 s2 f" [; o& ^9 `. p; x" [6 w5 X
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)8 x5 q( g9 ]& r
2 Z; \- ` ` K. Z+ `8 ?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。) 5 X2 C, o2 v" N4 R. q, \5 m! Z7 F7 [: Z9 b4 _
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?)' O; ^8 T( [( a+ s/ e* G* C
0 e! f% J/ q% z" C1 L: b) e3 P8 g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! / W- D: v) J* D! V t D$ r! [4 `# m# r
# ?5 Q S3 y0 t' S0 C! } 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。 * Z3 |/ S2 t$ [6 c+ X7 L" Z& i; y: P* w1 F. E6 Q8 m0 m
例如: ! p6 x! j4 h' r- R 9 g' b& z ]( I! d" @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) ( G5 k' {3 W0 x4 l. \0 Z ; M2 k8 m+ [9 x6 d9 lDespite 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) - a: M9 l s& i* d " [) v1 [6 [' mI 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) 4 W k* N) o5 d$ [% x. ?2 e5 w6 ]$ m( V) N% Q# y
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) . ?( o" r- }5 i8 p) B, ?/ u & d6 r1 D4 R7 c- aIn 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) ; g% e0 e+ ~4 E* x: \8 T; q" w7 K) W0 H3 B- }/ S0 `, l, e
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)& @. _- Z3 t5 \1 O" p
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( T6 `# R( q X& k8 `4 t; f ' G6 @2 b: m! G. H8 Q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: r: N% k0 B0 Z7 p8 H
# J7 c# ~, G! j$ hThe 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! Z9 [+ B$ y2 j: y/ \& q m( ^) s" B6 {- q$ g, MThe 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.)+ n. x$ L! v& U& P3 o
. ]) Q2 v3 y/ A. g1 H+ cHe 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。)3 L. i/ O! |% J2 m) T
* C# X0 P& ]; L- t @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)) W/ ?6 ]3 |8 l& S+ _4 S$ ]1 a5 w
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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 l0 j2 \4 p. M# v$ E
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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)1 a; }7 s7 l s* V* C4 P2 \% D$ a
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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.) 4 O1 K4 i1 [3 J7 W- f6 m ! @" O; j. ?- t/ n* ]7 M6 l此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 2 o1 H5 f) }5 Z4 h$ A0 J4 }: M! L7 ~& Z; g
' k o4 ], q% t6 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」。3 |( r% R/ i( w1 ]) X! l/ A# s: g8 f
. ~* E9 g* Q9 q, T/ ^8 Z8 X' H! F) p; A例如:9 _$ `1 z& D% Z% P
* n" Y& p9 a" J/ N$ V! 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)! c1 ~( E; ?. ^8 C. I
$ @2 F) Q3 w/ |8 L+ S" KManpower 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); g* g- D. C3 |
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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)# P/ L- m$ ~/ _; n6 ?
. b# u/ r+ c7 AHe (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! E7 ~6 j: B* K' Q5 u # ~" s8 n! L0 z% X8 {& L# 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。) / F, S. L5 O+ p- h. i! q# Q) a) D$ ?, \3 G/ p5 y* E
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)9 ~& J! g4 ^0 t. K& B/ j
3 {$ F7 P! n% ~- V3 p% W2 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) + Z: h/ M3 C; w3 P E+ R$ E ' ?& k, Z5 h7 h7 n q% ]( h$ VStewardesses 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。) ) F* D5 A' G& y/ M m8 [: X3 M! W' N$ S' o9 Z4 D; \3 \
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。+ X7 G1 G# Z) a# S
# W% _; j" `: F, Z$ e5 M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:, t* p/ k m3 ~- t
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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;7 t/ F) C' a, r
* c/ E: c$ t" g4 A2 c! J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 h7 `: x* E, y( M! P
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;$ V- e6 I4 ^+ [* i2 Y+ G
. v5 o. A5 a) K# f对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;1 L; j4 E/ f6 G+ j3 [
. f, y) S9 w0 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: ; D% X; x8 g$ ^6 M+ Z 4 r. b9 b! o. `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)。 0 O; y7 z1 N/ r2 S$ t, i4 q! d2 j % Z6 s4 N4 @4 v% c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. |6 [# g' q" b' U