本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 : u$ F/ H9 L2 y2 M
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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) / n) M" G, t% N/ }2 _ _( t ' x3 j" J3 J, @! f6 M- d. O例如:) F6 H. Z5 r% g8 a: S
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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)8 J( p& R5 H; R* b& c# V' {. s" k' Q
6 N! ?! q9 E F. C: vThree 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。)9 d7 v+ `. S/ m9 X5 J
* g3 V2 m$ A# c5 J, ?- O% w9 bThis 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) 3 V7 A f ^; e8 S7 j" M7 H4 L0 i' o# f( W# _5 H4 Q6 i+ ^% o
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?) : h) L6 c) Q# C9 q7 t: u' D1 C5 r5 c N2 E; l9 Z8 w+ V
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。) ) g# T2 G3 e4 A1 g! W' P* L; l, A1 y5 Y
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) 6 x) a4 B5 N0 V: b ' J' b/ ]0 a+ c! E3 }' {- F1 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!) 9 v1 c) r/ l9 H+ K d & t7 x- ?! ?- S# LThe 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) 0 m* J, u5 I7 \! b+ k4 i8 o9 o: \3 K
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。)+ K* G0 z* C* G2 p
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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?) , v1 g1 o; }1 M1 `8 j* E' m" X* F0 _& v8 v5 \. V
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!4 W. |' V. ?! P
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- D: X! U/ b* o$ p" X; X2. 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。/ _. N1 K9 z/ s: q
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例如:: W' X3 ?7 s' s; v
2 I8 O4 [$ `6 t/ ?; v: R" g6 dAt 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)/ Y. u$ d# G2 h# V& J) z% o5 M
+ B- B) A% f9 u8 N) y9 S% ] ~! A, pDespite 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) $ Z/ L4 U0 G) h7 w5 _ n6 _) |1 m' l+ D( H/ ^8 N) e
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)+ Q8 q# m5 z U( W" ~ e/ O
1 o. j- t% y: g) D Y8 u2 [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)$ s' a- n+ U" p1 W8 b$ _
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In 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)+ A5 u! T0 p- f9 o2 S$ T
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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) ; e+ U" _$ F# ?3 @. `% `0 n! [1 |$ P6 P
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , u0 J5 s5 I& _9 [; o' c. p7 d / j: U6 |5 |; }' b8 t, i. 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:8 M! `4 V2 ~2 g3 c& w* S
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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。) 6 ]4 J2 R0 U4 K# I3 v, ]( g7 F% \+ h2 S, e9 ]) ]; f! c
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.) 4 A! u, \+ d+ F! u* f5 V5 ^( Z9 u, l: e+ f+ V/ j
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。) $ }' m- L5 `: K) N( h s 6 b4 P- ?& X: i- w& x. v* k. i9 _) aHe 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)/ c' w' F- t& S- e
" v0 y2 Q; k' p6 F" BWe 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)( f+ @. l7 x% U* c0 {7 d
) r' o6 D+ U3 z9 ZEnclosed (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 a8 n( O I% N6 K. ]/ L7 Z; I
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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.)! T5 X: [4 ?3 W
1 d5 s# G0 Q3 m' ~- w% A6 ^此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。3 y# v5 ]3 m( ?+ V1 X0 x
7 P! s6 Q$ |+ QMankind 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); \1 W- f/ v, }6 D% I+ i3 ~2 V O
3 q* `0 Z% U. j" o! |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)7 D9 [$ g$ ]4 B' Z
9 w7 r$ i" u- b. I6 e1 XThis 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) $ r' d1 z) b. z1 N! o* Y! G* M7 T }. v5 f, O- m$ xHe (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。) - }. s$ r/ L/ v/ n8 M 4 t( H# e' T% L1 l+ C9 p1 u( V7 {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。)& Q+ E: \& A" m/ a! y0 r
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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)$ y D$ M9 s6 J% l9 L5 L0 Z! L% ~
1 t5 r5 G& E& F1 r9 l9 ^( S$ s$ fCongressmen (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)& c/ W: o. O1 j7 Z' Q
( b q( @' c4 F6 tStewardesses 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。) ) S* f% h! n% k1 o , _6 g. ^* c3 v) C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。 ' ]: i& S$ K5 T) J # Z1 \% j# d. z' f3 b p- 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: 3 P. F9 l% h, e r6 x) \6 d! n2 g8 S9 G: g8 g) Z7 X& t
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; % z) `3 C& t8 @! v& ^; k . u% @8 H* e$ C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; - f- ?0 U- H8 _- ~; U6 \' G5 q4 X2 @: m7 X: ]+ c8 i/ u
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; , G$ u+ o3 u& Z: W; C5 |' g3 x& z8 ?( O% o4 J4 t6 K. o$ U
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;7 L, u9 v$ M. M1 p
: j6 }4 o' z6 O! d2 ]. y5 M) Y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: , N: X; K: b2 b; }! _, m ; p3 L5 R! X# `% x$ ~0 C5 r3 ^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)。$ k' B* o: L# Z+ L9 W
6 ^! U. U0 c% v4 G' L; R4 n6 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)。 " {1 q8 Z/ P; y5 I; J- s