本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * Y3 M3 _" G9 O, o4 m2 q/ `3 D8 S5 @' |. W7 k/ G 转帖 \$ z6 X$ p" H- E+ n" i1. 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) ' W+ c/ m9 y: L' h8 L' y% o; o0 a: T2 D4 M5 D, y+ K
例如: , J3 d1 A8 @# ~9 E * X& g2 m4 j5 H$ J0 t! s; r2 n `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); u; c; E0 B: r& ~) D5 s
9 H. Z" t9 B1 l6 eThree 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 a% F4 i- ]: _& o$ t6 C. R, c: s
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)9 g7 n# D" I% L4 X3 O& F
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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?)2 {# H, ^0 J7 u( u$ [/ j d
# a; A# q2 }. a6 \8 mI 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。)2 s! ?) g- q; A% ^5 @9 `) ~2 p$ k
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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). R; y3 F3 I* y; i
9 s1 T- p% v* T" {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!): j z' L( P9 V# t9 @8 R
3 P" M, ~; I0 l. F5 lThe 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) # }* L% D ?/ R# w' _0 h + b4 r6 i7 y6 {- z' ?9 q' oWe 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。) - h& c7 x( e4 @ : K5 n+ ?+ X( S5 @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 N" ?* m( ?# W) f: t& j6 v3 F$ {6 A/ a4 E4 j4 y6 x
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!3 [2 Y @* k: J2 [0 j
2 y7 x: M9 V, U- M( L% @5 e8 h4 c' w/ u- n 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。. e \5 d$ F, r/ [* E7 k$ J
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例如: $ Z$ M5 n: g6 o 8 t+ w% Z2 ~1 p/ v. T$ 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)5 a; ?; _. N1 L) Z# M; F3 e6 I. h
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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) 6 L) v4 o0 v: o# {- `+ I * n# p3 m: ^% \& {# V0 nI 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)- u, t. o ^! P+ _
. W) U, g; w( S# zHe 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)( F8 e6 U" u. T5 W& S* {* w! |
2 f5 H3 Q& \* E ?+ NIn 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) 5 J2 H6 [- f# p0 | 8 S8 d% |( P& R+ x0 H* MShe 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)- H: g) a/ L8 g2 T& |7 x `
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生): I! b4 \( A2 I
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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:/ e& I9 A9 M" L' t/ r9 b% D- S6 j
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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。)1 l: e4 D# O. R8 {% J0 V! B) ^- @3 g
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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.) u& R6 `: B+ N; \; Q G) H4 z, c 8 c+ U5 l: |& E9 z3 x+ K8 rHe 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。) 8 p4 q" Y' I2 y" N5 n- `( v . c [+ w& B4 Y. a* e) d" D2 yHe 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) ( L, M+ I+ N: L4 U u3 n, _ ' ?' J N) u& C7 dWe 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)$ P& Y- |8 D/ m$ j+ n
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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)6 p( |7 ~4 b5 m0 {5 H7 R! C2 [
2 P+ y, E7 n1 C1 i7 ^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.)1 y9 R X$ i7 g) ~) u; O
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 4 [3 Y" O, y. I* P7 Y# O; I, f3 B- G) i, T5 @! L, M/ y
: X9 `. ~, }3 ` 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」。 P4 n3 F( m: s # }, M7 t" a, d& Z- S$ ^( ~7 w例如:& P& g+ q: X( p }% H8 E/ N# s! }1 v
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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) # I, G! i2 Y! E9 B" K: ^$ `4 I4 n2 o8 F5 p5 f5 C- [: X$ G
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) 7 M. u( W/ M f; B& E8 w% V+ k! _% w6 \- i$ |, P2 X) F
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) 7 n1 G t: r. d 3 @& ?1 g, \: c2 S& l# SHe (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。) 3 f8 C' [7 [9 }" K8 ]3 N, Y3 ^+ t: R/ _% a0 x) [3 n9 l
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。) $ T) X6 ]( _; d 3 J6 z) e) i* K1 g' F% ~" MPolicemen (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) ' {$ d# X( N0 k: l; t8 [, l, ?+ p0 h1 d/ ~
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) # N: I$ l+ p# O6 _3 J 6 ~5 w5 Z6 f% u- l! e/ q; dStewardesses 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。)/ e& {: ]$ K. N g) d- ]
0 \/ f6 H, V1 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: ; s0 f) v2 H w5 J" e/ W0 `9 j$ \6 N$ R9 S' Z7 |* i* q! 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;% Z8 j% M) G# G) T* |# Z
; ~; [1 Q3 @3 |9 a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; ^3 r2 Z4 F; b4 Z$ C% g
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;% E0 h. I: | P6 J( x
9 n3 S* N$ h. e" Y" r* k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)。3 @4 g& h" u6 P, f& I2 `