本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 @+ p* K; `3 y0 }: A! w
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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) . c5 D, f; J( Q4 B: ~. p3 J, U . ^9 d/ A: `) [# A例如: ; o8 @! ^% z* I: I R$ h0 o/ h ! Y$ Y/ n6 j$ Q$ U# U# W, GMany 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)9 b# a% e' B/ {& E v
( h. F# V f$ O2 [6 r/ W' c5 }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% T1 c2 u/ t2 ] `; H: q4 z$ {
6 b- ~; @3 i6 c7 t: z" H# RThis 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) . L9 e% G' t* _0 ^ 0 y* B. `! j& N4 kThe 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?) ( F2 t8 v* N( a' L2 ^ q ' E" t9 q% b" s, ? |/ WI 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。)3 r7 A6 G+ e3 r& Q
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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) " b) A/ w: h n) [" ?& U3 {5 d3 o' S& @9 a1 W: Q0 A
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!) 2 r! X% \/ C7 u* M6 q8 p: x4 x! _ o' f# P7 V3 M1 Z" [ [8 |8 G0 o9 P
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) % I5 G$ |3 l8 t- ?$ U' D$ @8 B* @; k9 t: c& X: T* c
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。) 1 P5 W1 M4 m9 W0 r7 b2 \( M7 K% r( w4 v2 o, y, }" [: R4 c
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?)5 b K) I+ Y- T* ^, J# E, p8 i" c
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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 z7 S7 m( ?& M2 B* { 7 a) I1 N+ W$ P7 a6 Q6 [6 N, a; X3 B/ [ 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。. q$ x4 \1 Y6 t% K' _5 V6 i
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例如: B7 d2 S1 z. I! U6 M3 u2 y) D ' F R% D" a- A- F3 e% C' V8 QAt 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) - H7 r$ k! y7 @; A- o2 S a R' V1 x* g
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) : w- K) s! T+ ?5 h$ j1 c 3 Q. {0 y6 n" T; aI 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) # k- _( x! t% z n% X. E4 p , j/ q$ ~/ F; H6 H) d( QHe 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) / _/ k4 K# e& ]7 h4 T) {- D, u6 L+ D 4 F. m4 _% k) ]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) N6 u. R5 ]' d' m- R* ]
& r; O3 j. ` x, v. f( s \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) 4 |" V2 _- e) T+ t9 Y, [: l2 U" c; l( x# d- d% T
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 5 H# i( T9 E( H$ g 9 L" c6 [- K, t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: ( q, ~" i* ?3 v) B+ q' Z3 D& k4 _7 m! @
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。) # _8 S8 n5 H% ~; g) D 0 S: j2 G0 I& }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.) 8 q% q8 H! Y9 K5 o" y# M7 r1 w4 Y; I 5 b( ~7 E1 O) T/ h- m5 wHe 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。)) {- e$ ?3 l4 E( S% V
( \* G" F. a7 l4 B( v, EHe 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) , y6 I! [4 y# Z, [* x- Y/ t- Z J5 p4 ?
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) & T" w+ U) e! D+ S y' k" _8 [$ N! z+ @) u, l( Q: |
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)- v/ \& i* `3 m% j+ _' n% Z$ G
; F: y/ d* U7 @& O0 `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.) 7 ~8 m0 B4 j. B% ^+ I* O, U) n 7 k& w3 h' h8 X- H1 }: k" Q此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 Q/ p! ~8 T& N7 {8 s3 D! J( b5 J1 C4 M- p
& B- L8 O! ~" c6 Z1 f3.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」。 ' `- m3 l' O- b8 d8 {& O 4 M3 u* k- t& }: q! M例如: / H+ E0 A0 F) N4 G) r/ e7 U6 c! [! C: S/ D
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)% d! g4 \. d5 [6 v- l
/ p& C# t! t% A4 KManpower 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)0 `0 e9 g& j" W7 ^6 T
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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)2 u# B+ ~0 A" N$ w- j6 F9 A2 [4 q
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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。) $ n& {4 ~0 H: ?# M' \ 1 v: R3 A# E" C: c0 E! UMany 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。) # k3 `6 R- t# K 8 @( J! c0 u, K0 }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) 7 ~3 p0 o" A4 v! i+ r6 w7 P. C' W1 q' e* C* P1 K: j) W+ X
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)& v& T: E& t$ g1 u1 M) T, x# y4 m( U
9 N S I6 I: N, 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。)+ W* E3 c4 |, u7 F4 N3 \
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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。3 l1 ~ m8 S6 ^3 Z+ {5 K
: U- r5 X/ E! G- ?# {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)。 3 f9 d& ^, q' c4 Q! X - m. I( j- z1 t1 J% K3 }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)。 , u* j7 N$ g. V+ \