本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " J7 a' `8 b: H, Y5 @5 z* \. F6 ^2 r y6 {4 f( n( C5 h 转帖 7 ^# \4 y s+ T: v! {% l" p1. 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)( ~' p) B g0 i" n
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7 g9 a2 B' I0 t; u1 ` G, _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) : e. x+ F2 S; { * u. S# x6 V1 [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。) , s, R; ^3 |7 q" ]3 B# f0 |8 c
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) 6 P/ i( Z3 Q, D | 5 ^$ j4 F3 y0 [6 G9 ~& Z0 ?9 H4 E4 _: GThe 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?)5 a& G6 R2 M2 H( m) i. g% b
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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。) " ^& M) y/ F. Q/ x& ^( j' ?3 |9 t- H @. {# n
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): | h. b! Z& {
! F; L9 f: f3 I, HWe 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!)# C0 L2 A; v4 G9 Z& I( U9 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) / _8 Z" h/ `) s1 D; J3 V ) l/ H1 q5 c1 ]6 F, \) 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。) " F5 d- n" F+ l' [0 m+ k& A$ K* E2 r9 a4 N. f
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 v$ c3 [% z" g6 U+ q& X4 x
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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! $ F6 a6 l6 ?) ^/ [& y. B6 ^9 Z: g 0 L2 R! P2 l3 o/ a( c+ ^' y' d2 U+ h 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。& ?) @5 V/ i. m/ { \% }
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例如: 1 B+ c9 o' S/ L( h4 O) a+ R 9 g- r" J9 W1 x, w9 R$ d4 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)+ x0 m7 O3 v+ o; B, Q V! R
1 R% r: X5 ~/ ]- Z/ UDespite 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): D6 C% Y3 D4 X7 c
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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) 7 m2 s7 x9 `. W4 c- _1 k1 O0 b# C0 }( _ M- l- a
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) . ~+ o" C" [5 }" a1 C) S# y + P& W7 x/ a$ p; b* MIn 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)" f6 t# M" {# I) y3 f# C
! Y$ V; [/ l+ L! IShe 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 g) _7 ?- B! L+ f% \ ?- U7 M; k7 e2 a& V( _% Z
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)5 J2 c5 B% q/ h: i
( H& T7 j3 j& x' Q$ Y6 m0 _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: - {, D7 R" @$ i- a- ]5 ?, H6 h6 b* D* z' s# ?( r7 O
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。)* \/ `% \; D1 u: Y1 d
" n3 ?0 H ~/ C: e Q7 a3 u4 |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.) 4 ^- p! \0 H% S - I( S! M4 C) O# cHe 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。) + a3 t. C* o4 V+ | 4 @' x% s; ^! o( ?( GHe 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), j- |4 ^% D) W% t1 |' ~+ W/ H$ m' N
9 g' T: b* ?# z7 EWe 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) + C4 d2 }+ w6 X! d) a! C; G) V/ ]' c1 D" V- g! I
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) 8 {9 Q9 Q7 L) g* g0 |7 c, U- t' W& T1 y( d9 ?
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.)6 Q! U5 N% q, \' }
; [ a* Z6 A) r2 a1 x' h$ @此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。' z; q V. @8 U1 y
, H2 j6 u E, M6 R, R! h' I2 h* c0 K/ B! P, g2 X 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」。2 F) x+ d+ w& c, n2 l) t9 { T
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. i% ~ D" h4 I5 f- ^% f& ~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 ]9 T/ Y7 \2 Q9 f' B, s
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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)6 E( `1 J1 G" x9 g6 ?
; s! w% X# k6 ?) g0 A- T( WThis 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) ' j- x$ I2 E1 a8 }7 f# {) C ' Q0 o' ?% P0 N9 ]% RHe (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。)& A x1 }, |- [6 ~* R# S
$ v, A2 N$ k; c1 P5 c* tMany 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。) 0 h3 a- R6 T9 |) B3 M' [3 ?6 Q2 V: P/ m4 c* G% t5 A6 @) H9 c
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) # o$ Q9 c* J# h; B3 B* m3 p$ q8 m$ l) U# v1 |) Q, q/ n1 F! }) `
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) . H4 l8 b6 `. C( ~7 v. I: Q/ ]" j- W% l
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。)- I0 x& c. K* U% v B; `
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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。 3 U- m0 W7 ]7 K% m3 u" k7 b9 a$ P. x- Z n* 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:. Q& p# @, l( a2 \9 @
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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;: ~) c$ b- N6 t" e- D% ]
' e8 z, O7 M: H, w7 j5 U& f6 D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;; j8 K z% k \3 A0 W8 e
# L2 m* [/ d D3 j5 I对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; - |, D( M/ Y1 P) e* U9 t 9 d( l k7 f) `# U+ e0 b$ U- a对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " s, G: r8 p: z. I8 E3 i; b 0 q; g* ?0 Q5 q1 ~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:: F; t, M6 J# |$ l1 q3 T
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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)。 0 P. Q/ x0 T- G$ v' |3 b6 ~. F8 M8 ]" h, O7 K, [9 Y& g6 C5 `; @
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)。+ C" M" M7 i7 q" B