本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 7 E5 s5 Q1 y) R
* L% o* Y% X3 f+ h3 S6 C转帖 : A9 N N. S( d6 a1 U: Y1 Q1. 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) 5 m) l8 J. `2 E. c7 Z# a/ r; { & T1 ?) D, ]2 x例如：. [/ X# ~. \9 J
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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) 7 i5 n8 i0 D3 P8 C) F. {" n8 d6 D" R( l+ v# _
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。) . E4 o: \7 J! ~3 ] W: k 2 k& C' w) d# c" D. w5 A" [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)8 a! m/ m* J- ]0 ~' ^7 O) z) a
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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？) & H0 V+ \. P; C3 p$ t" g ! o: F4 ~% s; f8 ^0 C( {8 QI 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。)7 ~8 t: g6 E" S6 \2 H. M4 j
7 S& c$ _" m( f& I2 R3 B6 pMr. 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) . o' v; _% U) B. b' a5 j! F |- Y9 |5 {
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！）" L* y' Y0 v+ d
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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)& S! q; j9 j9 V8 f; D
1 P8 ]3 o5 R: f" F6 L! [: gWe 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 K: ?) G. ^( S* Y {
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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？） 3 e& |1 b e+ p. W! O" M8 I2 `: x( F$ b: t: P4 [
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！: r5 f4 P2 J" R* a$ w! a3 _" `( R
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$ C) v* |9 u3 I+ X9 n8 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。 % o' A8 y3 ?2 L+ s7 m4 g* E/ x5 L, K8 Y% w0 u
例如： : s; n' p. E r8 P4 G. Q/ L* b% Y4 P
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)7 }' G6 U" C9 {; {) R
% S c. ]' f2 c( ^: g n: 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） 9 v. S {. t, a! x! b) @ 1 N4 b/ ]2 ?3 e7 Y/ }4 sI 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% Y* Y( ^/ L3 s 9 ~4 ]7 L9 w' c, s$ D/ \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） 0 J8 i' N3 z5 \ } * c7 l0 |) I6 Q: t& EIn 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） 0 }# t% j! g8 ?" `, Q. r 8 k p E! b. f2 J, a/ aShe 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)% j2 }) {. J- [ O' O g w9 b/ ~
& g, k6 N2 E' ^( {I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; c, d* C- N: q3 I, Z8 c4 k , Q! i9 {. u) w0 N9 _% X7 D1 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：) |2 T( ^7 x, A1 i
: j7 A. `5 o, r( k. p' \' PThe 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。） q7 `* x9 \* d& G
. Q S, T( E! R0 m/ FThe 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.）1 S! L- \# y2 c5 H! U- u) m
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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。）6 s' H5 g$ H1 k: h6 f
, O- h% f3 h% c; v5 UHe 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） " G/ |4 Y: s- c% l1 F3 H$ m 9 e& u+ C+ D1 KWe 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 @" Q4 z$ t4 V" J) L( p& M) E$ `% j/ d
$ [& S; g" Z% z5 O9 g. A/ \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) . d- X+ y W [$ F) V2 K. W% V, O V7 o: T* A
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.）; F% ^7 a# c+ X. _4 H/ M" M3 C, ~9 d
: n# u1 e7 }7 |此外还有：in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! C p2 h- H7 ?
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) s& q/ n b! L5 |9 ^ 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」。 ; O! }& ?& }4 c0 l, d( p: H 8 }& o# ^7 o* {% {例如： # O2 j* O# ^9 M3 ?9 A" G% k. j0 M' ]: B) J8 w+ e9 m) ^; ]
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）+ I( |% W7 [4 o1 d$ `1 |
+ v) q. p) D8 q, B, zManpower 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） / Q8 Y% l& n+ U2 l/ k2 A& e 4 `/ h0 Q, N7 @+ f* o# `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）( S3 V$ e0 I6 H2 X
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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。)% ]7 M1 m' \( j j
" x6 A: v/ w- V/ F1 W- A0 c9 |% |Many 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。) # u6 A9 U/ k2 e: F3 w / F! X' C2 x# l! N2 CPolicemen (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） ( \& `6 n0 z3 Q5 T$ u, y% v8 v) Z7 g- R l) r4 t! e' _2 Y
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）7 Q8 X% z+ k R+ s
" d/ [0 o# l9 d7 y8 ]- 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。）' |* K/ |) J0 ?
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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。' g7 P) U8 R; @2 o, \, m2 N; {; c# I n
发表于 2014-1-8 22:50:21
