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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)4 O: E) y" T Z8 q& Q
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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)3 i$ x5 Q; V4 g; t
, u3 b( z, ?; D Y0 W. e2 |1 [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。) 5 b2 Z2 C& Q- o3 B, ]- [/ U% \8 }! E- t
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) : Z. D; ?% J1 O) r9 K' g* F4 m/ D' J, r" I! g" ]$ ^- k0 p
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?)2 a$ O* F' w" @/ i2 O
$ w/ T( A. [9 S$ D- `8 j; D- xI 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。)' T4 y: A5 e5 c7 {. e3 ]
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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)" J; ^: i9 F% n; J8 _
" D8 E5 z" m! Q7 G0 h3 kWe 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!)8 D& a8 e2 ]$ O3 E/ c
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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) ) K) A1 m( `* u( C5 h1 `: Q1 p1 a. ?9 y8 @! g
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。) 8 s! T/ U: e4 k! { n 1 T4 Q4 W4 e) y% |& q6 P1 wPlease 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?)3 t% N* X3 A+ E0 _7 i5 A' ]' W
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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! ( V, ~* f6 ~+ a# M$ f( ~+ o1 j8 t: q2 J* z- X1 }4 x
$ {3 u: u6 q+ |- l2. 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。6 j! S0 _" ~: M
0 X! p( @2 S- J# P9 t( I1 O/ `6 L例如:" T& y9 W6 S F5 ]& ^3 b
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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) A1 c0 D- d' b . ^) m4 h5 b8 e" d$ a2 HDespite 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)% ]! ?2 m- k5 |* i/ f
9 ?9 s% I* u3 C8 }' T4 N$ 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)# k3 t! \3 \6 U" w0 w
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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) 7 n3 u( n0 P* n' s0 f* @2 i/ q+ k/ n3 T7 n8 h1 B
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)' S2 u8 Q9 t8 J, g
$ Q4 K7 F! J6 R w7 u$ J+ ~4 \; `" dShe 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)! K- y6 \1 f7 A
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)" w: e5 T$ b8 ~5 r5 b
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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: ! p" v, I3 O" Z" e, ~4 `7 s" a X" w2 \! E9 A* ]6 j$ kThe 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。) ' i. p3 H( M* J) z( T; e" R ! Y8 k8 |4 K3 k6 I; f3 |4 [' DThe 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.) % O' Q# y3 x( l9 N$ B z' V& S% b* J2 Q: k: h
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。) 5 b* b1 `) j1 _, a3 m. N1 P- k: N " d) ~% W: [1 {0 w9 x& z! QHe 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) 8 i' |, s! y2 r& j3 i $ s, z# j; v7 x6 X$ o0 U# RWe 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) * Y3 {( f/ {4 }/ U 7 o. r+ U/ D, ^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) 3 S+ J N2 c) Q/ V ! y6 l8 d$ J4 n- I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.)* A& c# `) l' p# `! l- q% n
& r2 d5 ~8 ~$ V: V+ B$ [) B1 b4 v此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 5 k* X& r- o' E7 i; o + _% @6 q! p1 y- W3 o6 f6 i& u0 c* S: x& M, _# m* o* i& `; o 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」。 ( B+ X Y( \$ L7 G8 R+ {3 B0 j& }" e) [. I* Q
例如: + Q f& t' d5 t$ ^$ u: Q 3 A; \/ K" g& h- 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) 7 c4 o i6 q2 `4 \7 X# Q8 P+ I. [" J
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)/ _; A1 W9 N4 A4 p
6 F2 s8 N+ n2 P; m; [) u( oThis 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) @0 q" X" }4 y. ^0 u& K# d/ X& f
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。) 4 }& b& a* I2 \/ Y. b9 U$ Y4 p/ f: M : ]% t4 p3 i* @; }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。)9 B' z$ ~, I P; e
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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) ' N5 R$ k" P8 w: h/ E% z1 m' ]' T( t
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) / r m) ^, @- z$ k/ Q: z+ F. a' w( A: P$ i0 k4 v5 a$ @
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。): H9 X6 D0 R+ E* f6 r
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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。 * `2 [2 |3 L' y% K4 A& L 6 G7 {( R9 _. n! _9 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: f, }0 Z: F, ~% a & g1 V( x6 V- ]5 W6 U6 d5 A" J. 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; / ]2 @/ L5 W5 E, g, u % @$ j. S" h1 ]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; ' C9 _$ _% G5 V# \. T( V & {5 c) `+ S) U& \9 i1 g对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 `& e! H# V/ {& k . l$ \9 [, f) L( o* ?; I5 r* Z对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; , m6 T- u4 s& j$ H& S + e) K- C% e6 |$ u7 r( z& l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:) f5 z* u" E, D9 K$ T* e+ |
, X/ s% h0 u" h I, u, _+ O; s& S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)。4 n: z5 H1 B/ l0 [
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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)。$ @$ E% R9 J1 S5 F+ g