本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ' _9 P9 e$ \* C6 `( i9 Y ' t: i( y( H, E. Z9 x& v转帖 : D% M$ S. T6 L& ]& F9 w1. 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)( Z4 M; w/ J* f
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$ r3 `+ i. ~( c+ E7 u `5 F+ nMany 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) 5 c, C m! G. i2 c# H. B+ p+ K5 W* C7 |
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。)6 N4 J" D h' X' w. Q
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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) E& U" K+ b i7 X
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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?) * Y) a6 l2 u- B8 |8 Q6 k! v, N V( N. l. d i" U# K: f, e: R* Q
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。) 9 w- j4 k; }! }8 R- y% q0 F( @$ f5 ~# c; \$ W
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)' `' V- A9 s( N& ?+ b. o
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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!)3 w" o: ~# `& R0 S
0 d" E; }' m8 _% jThe 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) & s# s# B9 C9 u4 O* d+ E 2 K* O. e2 H. 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。)) Q. C2 m* V9 A4 Y W t
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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?) 9 E4 X6 T! k ~- o ?# t4 W& c
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! ) T6 G, W& _' L! [ 0 i5 ]5 k: W7 E6 H! p9 G) R7 n : ^- ~* o3 H3 t$ v- J2. 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。. o2 E% U4 @/ k/ J8 x
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# y' V5 T2 B/ uAt 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)6 v7 P' N( ^( r3 [0 u
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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)( F. M: K. u1 O6 U4 N" b& x
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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) 4 `* c7 N5 U; z! P; a v+ h* V$ Q- B" `, a" s( ~
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)+ I9 B) p0 Y; ?
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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). v. a- v2 L% W5 W3 b
/ f& M$ y" I; p1 Q; T: x) rShe 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) 1 b" a/ c0 ?/ U) {+ ~* j4 |$ q3 w; q/ P
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ( W$ b9 f4 ?: O' X# ^- O, U* d$ J/ G) T* o* M- {; k' a
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:; Q3 _% f- x# M7 o% i/ E" O
* `6 T& c4 k5 \% v$ J1 Z* N& RThe 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。)3 K' e; k! h# _6 `+ e
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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.)' d/ X j I' J4 I7 L; Z; }
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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。)9 p! x( O8 W5 H0 p* n
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He 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) / Z0 @7 b: o7 f3 ~ X' v! u/ Q( |& _: A
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)( \ n" h' Q U s. z
0 J5 h6 r" I" T9 g9 T; R+ REnclosed (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' T0 Y5 m9 Z& A) \/ `* P! x . R7 H" o5 q' v* H8 @) W6 U$ S. R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.)' b) R; U' F. i4 ^# D& M9 }
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。5 U$ R( W/ R2 E% t
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" Q+ f2 ]( z8 t; |. ^4 }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」。+ Z$ h8 ]2 f6 _9 L9 n% r5 ~5 I
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例如: ' f9 [6 I; i# K% e" ?3 u' W: K8 b 9 j$ D' t+ {4 q7 oMankind 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)* f% k- ^/ a% ]" o, ]6 K+ [0 x
2 l9 u3 M2 N8 L2 G( AManpower 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) 9 \: a2 o! g! \; s0 ?/ A, z; W/ ^) F; |* e \, i' a) K
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) : U* h! A" p, p8 W8 }& ^/ [& B4 o# m) e2 m i
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。) - W9 n4 A% h' |; T& S3 H2 I, |' o4 s& k
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。), b3 c5 a. Q: b
- |6 b: c* @7 m' f( r FPolicemen (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) " f$ y8 N( t$ t! F) U, Y3 I/ |3 z' {4 x2 A" U8 z. b
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)4 L/ N- D* Z3 x4 U4 T% `3 W$ |% I
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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。) ) w4 ]5 Q& d) g6 t$ | & h+ C5 c, k" p4 f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 \$ A: u+ I& \8 f7 P0 A8 b+ y& ~ 1 `& z7 U$ E* \% U6 B" d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: 4 p7 @; A5 M; m . ~3 M: W5 x" P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;% E/ ~& T. P) s8 l2 F
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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;8 Z. P9 |; F" h0 W
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 6 M3 }& D3 R( S" U5 k6 t6 X7 }( R% h : |4 ]) Y% W: E5 j0 D6 I2 m对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;4 o- ?+ B+ V% [: L/ X9 Z9 o3 w
. @ o6 b1 t7 B% ?1 \7 ]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: 5 D* U( C5 u* G! `' n 1 R8 y7 w% f, |% e3 U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)。 9 G& V3 |+ k3 q _- m3 d$ K, r; l( H m6 h) w+ |6 r" b
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)。7 c( T, W8 r2 O