本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 - D. d7 u; A+ B# g) i& R: ^- d
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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) B9 E6 I" [, z* c
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例如: " O( N& l1 P3 \ V2 B, s2 z 5 j. P* l5 }+ F `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 A* ?/ i' V. K% u0 q$ p. Y' @& N
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。) # Z/ ^+ U& [' W+ g3 d& z$ r* b6 j6 a, f" w: W, n
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)( I* K9 |( t5 P
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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?) / H! K" `* W. `! q) l* G3 \( n $ n. O4 R0 c* [* w- ~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。) 0 `, i0 C* J$ n; Z/ e3 f q' ~' y, s+ _" E9 q3 s) 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) " L; X; W) L& e- M) |& V 9 ^( u. ^* U: ]- f" n% Y: E8 PWe 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!) 6 k _ \; X+ O; F* J+ U4 P1 y 2 S7 j0 W9 R. Q7 b( t- vThe 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) " D8 K2 O% ?; |# J 5 n X8 D8 s; z( z& w; F+ YWe 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, H; Z; W5 W' P2 ~$ l! K% q7 h' f* |5 q) ]
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?) 1 l O( i+ A1 u$ l( C ! L0 W; M, E) v3 E* D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 h( `' F' q6 q9 C5 U! k% q. U
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- X& Y1 I& @- X( A$ P D2. 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。 # H/ Y8 _# M& z9 ]$ t3 E / Y8 } A9 {7 T% ~: Y1 ]例如: " ^1 }3 ~# T$ C8 r; f/ y2 v+ ^1 z1 ^6 m X$ b
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)0 |4 k, E e* i' N; {
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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)( Z4 \( H* |% P0 @5 h3 a9 i+ Q9 K
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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)7 B5 ]- J$ G( S6 j
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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)' r3 L- y6 {& m
7 Z% w3 G5 r& FIn 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) . s$ @' ~- B v7 t. N# X/ @$ b& W! N8 t( ]+ o/ Q7 \- q
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)- x8 R. j- E2 I, p/ F
, j7 H1 `3 J% p k" c+ `I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)1 k( N) @) V4 i l3 l l; T1 f" g: }
4 K# C- B9 o6 R. n" j5 F$ z' O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:# B1 \, x0 n s7 P* V( [- @5 n
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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。) / p, D# ?% g; O 6 E1 L' M) n0 n# |" xThe 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.) 6 c, m/ M+ h2 d' d' Q 2 B, @5 G8 x. {/ b5 GHe 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。)' o7 E' }6 i8 Z/ C; _
. m5 D9 }; k2 h' | q4 t4 xHe 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) - t3 n/ v" L+ O- L' w% u2 L; F6 D
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) 5 q( {1 v5 F! a1 k* e p. Z ?+ _" Y( K m+ R
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) 7 \- [' ?4 Q8 H4 r- r+ C8 Q7 I& }7 q) \1 f/ t; z
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.) , \% `5 b Z1 H% i' ]+ q3 F$ b6 i! b1 R" X, c3 L1 S D
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。2 w1 L$ y4 t3 k. y9 S4 Z) w) R
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3 @" A0 h4 B. L" s5 L" u3.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 O+ l. p) Y+ }& `; [) j% _) ?
7 N( R2 C ^) M4 n例如: 7 J/ r8 c% N& ~% L2 d+ y m0 ]9 V n! e! L' |
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) 7 [2 O, _: u7 J! Q; m V6 x5 W) o, Y4 P9 E3 T7 a7 k0 c, D
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)6 k7 P% U. j H
U4 @ O# i7 h! IThis 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) * C+ V l; F) u; W : X: T0 a4 X8 g3 f$ DHe (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。)5 C- F- d6 X d: T! u% q* O4 B) D9 p# o
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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。) ! J4 a& `+ @8 Q8 @! A) w# N* y" A9 T3 u6 _1 c" Q a
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) 1 ]. M" }5 ?! X+ k' h* c+ D* K& Z + v. u( c+ g& G+ tCongressmen (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) ) {/ f7 y X1 S; W+ b+ Z; P0 ^& O* ^5 w' m( y8 g
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。); D2 I: b$ h: `, E: q% T" S
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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。4 o" K; v" L# p, z& d+ N
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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:6 J. j7 E0 M4 [! S" g5 Z. H
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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;; o! v1 `/ }1 D4 M" C6 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;* C* ?) s, a' |, L7 L4 L
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;7 o3 O7 W9 S+ ~9 S$ v