本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 , c/ c) _, ] h# |* X; ]
/ M6 g' k5 s6 B- r! o8 [$ r& u `转帖 . R) V; R. s2 x9 I. L1. 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)) r* {/ L0 U( V! I1 I
) E' V% H& I5 X4 @. J% c例如: ' v9 A' z; @! ^' M' P& @) b& b! [
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)- `; x9 k6 `/ M1 o5 i
% D3 j/ M% U$ V9 a JThree 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。) / v- q. o0 O, t2 \' x' e. t % e: B, u% I* H% z. D$ WThis 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) 6 f& I) R- J. w9 J- M% p q \6 ^4 g/ 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?)$ i- Y5 I v0 w3 w: N
% p6 y+ ^ i% i) N) b
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。) : o& m6 h( _: U( q9 }: Y0 Q; u % B% R) t8 ^9 f3 p0 aMr. 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) 3 c# ^4 R$ O- c# ?- h0 B - ]) {5 Q5 I( ~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!)1 d$ J2 Y/ A$ ]
6 Z% J+ ?$ o v- p8 q: P! IThe 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) 1 V" r% G' r7 p2 E+ m3 \- z r/ Y+ L4 N. k7 O8 c6 j& @; g' NWe 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。)- T9 N+ a2 U" G2 n) v9 x
# v0 r6 |4 a% OPlease 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?)& I8 t2 H( M8 ~
% I; Q: V0 N# ^( o8 t
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, m5 p5 j5 H1 R, F- ?& w # x% z! W, |4 J; l1 z7 D* j0 N/ Q- \$ S 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。' V$ d5 P; V4 K4 P# n
* x/ L1 c% H. g: N# M) R
例如:0 h( b8 R! ? |
4 t t1 U9 t# q( S7 j3 F5 jAt 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)3 q/ d& p+ f7 L% k% V1 W$ B
5 S( R' n* ^. a, T% ^
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) : r9 c( _5 x+ I v ) P8 U! L k* @% J7 z# a- pI 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) 2 y4 P' ~4 g: B; O; ` - M% N: _" t, F4 D0 }& J1 d" UHe 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) ( a5 K# i9 W U5 P- h- ]2 W7 y7 p0 W6 U W
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) # x0 S" O6 K. J7 K' J) [5 m7 Y1 D) q D% C
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- I+ z4 G, H1 C; r ( R4 q1 T& m' }5 a! \& d7 S1 D* MI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) # c z7 H; a" L1 r% K$ H8 G' [% y, H& R0 e' T% }8 w
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:; h" \# T% X2 ]" [2 v
* v8 W- Y4 S5 yThe 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。) / U) y5 g# S' v' |0 _: x: N $ m1 h3 j, o1 d. KThe 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.)% ]& {% ]$ s; d6 m/ Q9 ^9 p% ~1 I
! B# W: y( T% f) p2 \
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。)2 f, s% l s; h
6 b) ~0 h5 t4 r! [" @0 THe 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) 0 Q& k! z3 ^7 G) u9 i8 X9 n + k( a- c% x) _$ I' ~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) ; c7 ?6 T* F) ~" `* c & Q1 t8 Z$ t6 D% mEnclosed (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) , i+ }# u& N) E6 L2 w 8 ^* o. }; O6 |/ M* D) x2 z/ s, j. e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.), F1 b4 e- V' a) x
$ L& |7 ~) x" o, ^. P8 i此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。' q# k! \4 y+ U0 A7 G) G% E! s" Z3 ]
7 X6 {9 b, _4 e1 L S9 W
; Z. ~9 ^9 e# p: ^- Q% ^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」。 $ e7 f" H8 h9 x4 S/ u+ N' M7 ^* _# i
例如: * J, k) C, z3 A" f 7 t' H; [5 a8 D9 n) S. HMankind 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) ; W" e, a4 m. \7 I Q5 Y Z$ c% L; {/ U4 p' o: V) b4 ?8 ~
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 q ?) W3 m0 P. N
: x) f. C/ t4 jThis 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)5 l1 z) G- P) o" L$ Q: g8 i+ a
, p% W: ]# u: HHe (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。)0 v. N4 m R8 {
( o% D2 L$ B, `5 e- c
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。) # U, x. b2 `8 k/ Z * _! o! ?. \7 T9 ~, zPolicemen (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) . N( B4 D& s% x- E& n6 |2 t+ J/ }
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) , _! `8 S+ k# U6 q - F8 v* w4 N0 j$ n. c/ zStewardesses 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。), z/ }! K) t, b$ f
! \, r" q( G0 |" G; M
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 P0 H7 ]- Y; G, X3 ^2 E% v$ b. K
* t( h4 K1 O% l6 f: h
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: " J" M4 i+ k, ]& J& X+ C9 f! w8 `% c0 T2 n/ j4 x7 D4 `2 E; I& Q
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; & U: N! z" b0 e! u ) o9 Z) O* D9 U+ M9 e- R# [7 Q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; . R9 v/ E/ V, v- a ! I8 ^: k5 d8 B3 C' }3 q9 M对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;3 m( J, [. v, ], v( I
5 K: B( N& [. j对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; ' Y# I$ e* Y+ B. w* l5 ^9 d% q; c. A8 z' g. ]" o
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:, U0 R- z% S& G/ b$ A' K
L- u4 G. A! [+ V; q }2 k3 U* ~4 C
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)。' u% b7 p2 D9 x9 ?1 {
6 S; s' ?; r; Q$ l1 A0 o
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)。 ( j* n8 `+ v5 W9 y3 g$ z/ v" J