本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , H* H! n6 J% V5 F# c8 B* F1 Z ' ]. i) h/ }, ~- A" X转帖# x/ U- E% n/ f7 l/ U9 j' S
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) \: V# o' n2 M% i' s, F$ f
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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)4 z5 x, g( w; d* J+ m4 B7 u; t
' D* W- \2 \1 x) N) g4 _: a9 ZThree 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。) & R! G, Q: Y8 Z& _' F( @- i+ H2 O' {3 }$ R' A& k
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); s& E' C3 _0 e2 d2 ?1 @
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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?) ) v: N# x& ~3 f- d* U1 O$ M% e+ s W3 L1 g# |
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。) 2 C9 w3 R# f/ ~1 U+ y0 M : T8 M/ d* f) A) ^% ]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$ J, H( m/ b$ K4 r3 z
/ R* F* z: n: \) u ]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!) % n C0 O3 h9 l; K1 ^5 V+ C/ i5 o; t6 _7 y# Q; |* d
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)/ i: K" t# ?, Z6 t, ~) e
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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。)( T* l0 [$ n+ i; A+ c! |9 r
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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?) ! {( o. l- ~5 n T* d" s3 v ! K Y& b w& a/ v& I! @& C8 q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! 7 k" }5 G; n6 F6 f$ Y . o0 I' H7 c3 Z) ^$ k- G w9 [$ }4 C4 l, u R8 Z4 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。 # T y( H0 i3 U: `0 A. j, j# C2 C$ T9 j7 P' f
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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 n7 M8 X3 Q% }+ c6 |, z
+ d" V7 x0 S5 CDespite 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)% ^ ?3 O9 g! G y( v5 q
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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) # @' w' e# Y+ v9 B% j L) D9 l: a! M# p ; G5 |0 e( m: T0 B+ BHe 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)& i9 b6 P) C3 X) h }7 {$ q
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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) ( b, n f% G2 i/ D / H! s* z$ t6 @5 F) w7 {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)7 e2 c8 \* M& n+ w' w
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( ~8 q' ^3 |+ {! ^$ A0 J; p5 ~8 u& l) C! Y' y8 o4 @; _ k) M2 o- 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: : M; w1 z7 { x4 t% F0 G3 A2 ?4 l1 {0 v/ A* e) t( T+ o
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 \ k \1 r: K/ N, o* J5 s( E' C
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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.) 5 C2 ~& p" i& F# b7 S; U& r # C; C2 _: R: W$ `% J/ ?# ZHe 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。) % X' H; j3 |& t" e5 L | . X' P1 e. |% q7 E, v* nHe 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) 3 y/ L& U8 d- g% G; B# I7 Q2 |; H" d% B& Y
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) - m( `& ?7 t0 w5 E @ 1 V6 T7 h; m* k9 i3 R0 jEnclosed (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) ; t3 N/ x$ K* R" o: T/ x5 [; B) D7 i B1 K* 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.) 1 z, y# C7 n: x7 j" V % }3 a" g' o& T4 v& A. X此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 1 o x" {$ K9 F r: ` , T( W3 P: R# S3 I t6 \ 0 \/ E. `' l2 A- |0 \; q Q$ J3.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」。2 r, ~- r. G8 d
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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), `4 b. u! F+ O5 b! P6 j" E, B
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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) " q# O" _* z2 L% Q5 Y) @ , g h( H, b9 Z3 t, qThis 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) + {" ]7 f) s$ d5 p+ S $ u% \2 y; h. NHe (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。) . Z& e) h! }% V+ Z1 i8 b 5 g3 u: f. D4 g: e8 _0 l0 RMany 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。)) \. M+ e- {) D6 [
7 j7 ?. f1 c0 ^; Y# U4 y& `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)3 B& d9 W }5 t, E2 y3 }
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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) 5 g* `3 c5 k* y. ?2 ^- K# L! [9 y! R" H' i) ~8 R# u# t
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。)8 m+ |$ F: k/ z2 M# |6 t2 X3 }
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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。; N4 ?/ b. M+ }8 p, B% Z9 C z
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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: 7 G) v$ ?% P1 `) u g& ~- G0 N: L# }) c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 P0 N3 C/ D: y6 r' A1 g' D; j- [' W
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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; ' k* { N8 ~$ y! A, H# j! A9 _. m1 Q
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; ; V, q" \1 k3 g! v: Z) L - X6 r( i5 [) W: G对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;# B( l/ r% I9 K: a
1 h) n1 C! ^% w, h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:3 Y4 f. Y5 x. f7 {; J
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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)。* A- T3 `. T9 A" E: v
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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 j$ j( R- o$ J8 ^