本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 . a" }; n% t1 T+ G7 U. W; S * H& L( k( w v: r- c! M' K转帖 8 V+ j3 K8 \5 x6 v1. 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)' c, o- c E" r: g+ ^+ |: j
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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) ' ~& N: R7 c- Y+ [! J 0 F2 ~+ A c' N: s1 } `, hThree 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。)! F$ h% }: }2 C, X0 ?/ r
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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)$ J+ X! ]' {7 J2 S" x, C" i4 M. {; _
, O# \) t, g2 lThe 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?)3 O: J8 h3 s' h- T# K& B& Y
/ d' H4 ?8 ~# ?' J" g% YI 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。)0 \) H9 a; E1 c* c9 i( G
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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)$ ~" z; n3 [. ?5 a. u
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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!) S( f5 u7 H" G7 {9 d1 b3 X# E , l9 f8 ?7 `2 D* e7 BThe 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) ! f6 i6 Z* Y0 }7 [ @+ o 0 g2 ~; K- x- w" S# AWe 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。) 2 x8 e. ~9 }4 g3 w) i9 d3 a6 M$ ~6 f O( Z
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?)- S) \* T6 `: ~2 t# \- [: F T
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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!5 N0 [ B; e& C; q8 Q/ J: R
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, q% s! d6 c4 H) d2 g1 a6 y9 a 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。2 a% G5 f \! h; P4 F0 N; {
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% H& r' r2 G& a/ I$ RAt 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) " E+ x! G, F$ J) [; _5 O6 a, j7 J' U+ P" B; S
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) ( [8 O9 ?4 L) s) _7 B8 P ~6 @ A0 ]8 U$ T, g2 `2 C
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)( [% A z. z/ s* G: J8 T3 G# G% S
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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)& ~5 b/ o' X$ w- C! Q! Y0 {
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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)) {) z( I$ f3 p, N8 F
) M1 j) f! q1 A; q, ` sShe 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), h4 I! x- b+ d2 n
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ! f& r) a- | W3 m 3 [0 b* `+ `5 Y5 W! r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: 8 a) }: |+ w& J, ]0 v% v/ E5 P + Z) r( Q. P1 i$ K( f: m' z: @& fThe 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。)' y0 D7 X, p4 q5 A4 e$ ?7 o1 W
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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.)6 y( g+ C2 x$ o1 i* b$ h
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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。)' W5 g. Z1 U$ r9 O$ `
9 R7 u/ J6 U, KHe 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) & ~# i9 G F: _8 W9 h, f) [1 j% C9 q* r6 _* p
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); }' m+ w" \8 g; y
. Q" ?) c" I5 e% p; kEnclosed (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)# P1 C' n+ X, W+ A2 e
. ]9 H5 o; f F, w4 T M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.)4 w6 t) Z: O% z5 I: v2 o+ ^
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。: R) v* m a" K& A7 W: `
: r7 T; q% c; Q+ ~% u! }+ c3 _; g; D% k5 B- }5 } 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」。 + F2 _5 u' N1 T0 f( E8 W . c; b4 u; q" b0 R1 V例如: . p; I7 `4 H/ x/ C4 l# F' {- N7 T4 v/ @ A' V" h
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) 7 [ d0 g" Y1 n0 V G: d t7 P2 y* f/ E3 E4 i7 {0 A
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): Y) T5 `4 ]4 U' d. }, j- N4 r
4 e q- ]. K: X: S( x+ m( I* QThis 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)* k7 p1 ]# X; `& G9 x" f2 C
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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。) " z, w& s$ w1 H8 D6 z, I; w9 ^# u/ Q& M) s9 n) C
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。) , y1 R2 P) \+ {* @) f6 K3 ?( C- G ~7 S6 c* J/ @) b4 T
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)4 J4 w4 F$ I9 x E! @* I. m
2 _" V3 i' i& q9 c& c* JCongressmen (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)# _3 c1 B0 ^2 l5 b) h
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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。). P9 F8 w4 A/ R$ K, Y
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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。; `9 K5 j6 x9 M
: W2 Q) ?, I2 z0 ^+ j% v5 O0 P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:- R5 x1 b" R) x6 [ g
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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; " _. y: m0 ~8 s( o ' j& x5 J8 D5 K9 u! H" n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;& z5 N- @% U) a2 H }
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;+ z. x/ z' ~7 s) p+ K G: D
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;7 W7 N4 m# i) F! A- U
) t9 b( r! T3 l( c4 j* v, x5 ^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:* {) r d- Y" K9 l9 c. [
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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)。* q! M2 T& S6 ^ _) r+ |3 D. v/ P2 s4 G
% T7 d# a9 ^" f3 ^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)。8 ?0 L u2 O- j- f