本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 2 g+ Y( Z5 ~0 @2 t8 D. ~0 S S' A- m" D* A# g 转帖7 Q' }! J& @ C+ ]8 K* h7 Y
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) # m! R" @$ p6 V8 x) y9 ^5 N7 ]- U1 \: F, ~0 @
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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)& ?$ R6 S$ ]. h6 {5 s8 l4 q/ Q8 j
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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 g4 S# M1 M" @6 z; G ( Q" W: Q* h0 i$ G$ t1 vThis 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)) l" ~: S% w% L/ X) N
' ~. W9 ^' I, Y4 k0 w# q0 t# t" QThe 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?) 9 \0 z/ c0 `, P) [4 C( d2 a2 Q- W3 w
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。)+ d/ a7 s7 [, J% P/ r0 {7 Y
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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)4 S9 _/ y+ w# Z- e5 A9 P9 C3 a9 M
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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!) . u2 g; {" z. I/ Q" P# o' i- F/ `: c+ m" h
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)% F# c$ Y: ?2 j8 a( g
1 _* j& z& A9 d; H- WWe 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 L4 f. T, h" f3 c9 R' C( l) E, ?8 ?0 {5 s, ^, H1 ?# r7 ^
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?) - @# V* h) K6 s( x2 P3 F ' }7 W; _- h, {, i9 o& g6 U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!/ i! p. y+ T$ t. I, X3 R1 Q
6 j5 ]2 G3 W, |: O, T9 b# C% Y% D# @ 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。 & `7 O3 o8 @( H3 U0 h; ?; G# x7 ?1 H- w% F. f5 e0 x) g9 X# a6 t* W
例如: & q7 L- ^& @$ b5 a: C2 _ " {' z: F6 [; m+ R) V) H0 B7 A0 a( 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)! }* \/ a0 s6 E: o0 _
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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)2 j6 f, T" H x5 h% d/ D
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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) 2 X. f. S& K$ e" E$ R 8 m" B1 B7 O, b7 d6 A$ Z9 q2 c4 k$ CHe 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) & T6 U5 C) E$ J + o8 O7 M3 G: f# s4 u! R' o% yIn 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) 2 u: Z% l- o) B) g4 H ' \: F& }9 e- w7 G: o( uShe 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)# }! D- t/ t2 [* K r' H. S+ f7 `
, K1 X. v G# BI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)& ]7 [/ g8 X) U) e
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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:3 t# m) s0 a9 Z
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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。)* Y* K; x- `5 B+ M. y8 U# j
4 s4 v7 Y! [6 W3 C$ NThe 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.) 0 K7 T6 f. d3 ?1 Q- O6 N4 t# n3 S. x% R u* D, I+ Y
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 H; V. A+ w' h0 |- ^+ m6 \% ^# C3 c; I
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) 5 K7 m( M+ y c8 W % p9 N1 K6 L z1 lWe 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) 2 I( m# H( D6 [8 z$ g# O% \( P
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): R- ? C# ^* O8 L( a: @
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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.) J. j- f+ C% \% p: e
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 / X8 W y) ]4 u7 I* @, Y6 \% N % b! W, i- b y/ `3 ]. L/ W6 p1 J3 |& M 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」。- ` K# S- [. I7 u" O# h
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! t0 k u4 I* C* K1 r$ [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) 5 G8 m- _1 {- r C3 Q, a5 p1 |; I/ d
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)$ O: U4 S6 l8 D2 R8 L! Y9 M( E: T
) t/ h; u6 S- Y% l" G5 SThis 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 }6 J, [" x G: w
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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。) % D+ a- a8 V H" u4 e, w# ?1 W, O# O% p! Z7 x# S. e% J2 G% \
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。)% L% X+ K6 n, B. [& u2 S" b/ z, S
+ c3 S$ J7 H$ [2 R% x" u% ePolicemen (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) 8 G4 a" Y- R' H1 _ / ?: c3 c7 T- u9 E! |7 \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) 0 j5 O2 T/ b2 S& w1 k; l+ P4 _3 L7 O( P2 c0 q( Y
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。) + F2 n+ r& r( i& q! q3 b- k/ d# K3 {* I/ B
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。9 Z. I0 z |9 ~2 \5 }6 T
3 o+ z! q/ \' I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: ' u1 X7 l/ A# q& B& ~/ z$ E + \9 p: K* X1 c) F8 g/ N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; 9 O. U% O/ i* ^0 O! ^- e6 J / [; n2 } E$ G3 I6 e" W |1 X4 K( J' k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;7 X# ~) W* o& X7 n1 ?
0 m: ~' i- e, X' C) z0 f8 H1 h对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;. M" M9 T: ~# ?$ M- y
9 [& F9 F5 n" x! ]0 ~+ }7 L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)。5 h* r* Z8 p" e4 }' q) l0 U