本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 p4 d: R/ J6 }! ~/ X# F2 g4 O, F# r# D; Q' J 转帖+ h4 F: ] w" `$ h: x: k
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)% U: ~5 Y, L: E
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例如: . v1 N3 y8 r5 E5 l 1 Y4 [$ E. z; _8 a& lMany 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), }) B C. \7 f8 R/ B1 i0 _
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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。) - g2 a* z3 r7 S8 Z' i4 m& ]: }( Y/ |# H$ k
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)" k }1 _* S! A6 g; {
" P4 ^+ J, c3 CThe 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 C ?1 | O0 L6 d( e, l. B0 {9 w$ ~3 a
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 L3 K/ J! w* |& k$ n9 k) B, B 9 F) r, i0 a, g9 X' dMr. 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 F. v& [4 @5 l6 F* @' Q7 I # m8 n/ I# N7 y1 t, B, C. EWe 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!) % N2 k% c' `+ ?) U2 K6 e; | c3 S' B
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)1 n% @" i7 F% O2 ?1 e
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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。) / F9 V9 ^2 X9 s$ E; z/ U: L# k3 m - m/ F; t; C8 K6 k$ v' RPlease 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?)) {+ l6 h6 _. C3 n
' Y9 U, e* l0 D. R0 M4 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!+ M% m) u7 {- P5 H7 ?$ R
( S7 d6 l) H! w* e, B8 ^& C5 P5 L% n: o& a) W( ~ i 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。& B7 o+ Z9 c3 L7 K# \* E& f% r
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例如:1 z! g, T# F, E
+ y& I3 z7 r0 f7 T, [ m# ^At 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) 7 e" R& w, z c4 M5 ?8 j. f- H' f: @1 l0 |8 x# C
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) " c: l2 _0 Z2 Z3 I2 S4 H , ^# m5 E+ w! @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). f, M4 d0 I4 Q9 w+ [$ J( B
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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)6 L1 Z7 P0 y# v" T$ {- m: x5 _; ^
2 ^6 A8 {. U0 a+ `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) ' A: F$ v" o- ]# f3 ~# y) H+ v8 l7 n. O/ ^7 ^) m# r2 Z
She 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 p3 n4 f! V; G3 j" @
0 Y- a3 G5 _3 P, {I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)% O W2 S* E5 l2 Y+ ^5 G) h; u
8 t0 }: h8 S+ B3 O* S V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: # P* e! I, c8 {4 S& B' s3 \& V8 m- Y# `% s
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。)9 D: C# r0 B8 f. P- S' @3 C9 a% `/ L
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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.); M: M8 ?6 U1 B- v4 a
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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。) 1 K6 |' x% K# v' b2 j1 {# v0 s: e/ _# h* _5 N6 H* `! v
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) % p: c. J7 @8 @+ T3 B+ g9 \" ]0 |6 p) H7 _! A1 M/ g2 ]
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)* X5 c: S. n6 {* a! q
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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) - D& n! v9 D( D& a0 k1 `% v) W; z- I8 b! b! c
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.). O, B' ?; E& b. _9 X7 Y' ?
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 " j/ Q, x! J9 j/ |1 Q% {7 ~& R; M& T w: ^: }
5 j; F2 H8 T, ^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」。 " e* z& x: m/ t* @! M/ a! v 5 J/ ]& Z" d, ~" E例如:0 t5 n$ w" Y: R l! [' b# L# Z1 ^
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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): [1 E, |1 U, M/ Z! `/ p
[% d: y( P8 [0 ?4 d, D" xManpower 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- g+ J3 h0 W6 R3 o$ ` " ^2 E) F5 J0 W; y5 G, RThis 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) ( E1 i4 _, f* X; n* Y# n3 q ) v5 i. l9 B5 }) e, M, p* i( PHe (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。) + b7 @: B; m- w$ F+ l$ }, ~3 y ' I2 l4 q5 \" i% ]2 Y2 VMany 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。) ( K8 I0 _/ x% V1 a; b) G1 F7 l' D N
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) 6 `7 o% Q r7 P % c9 d5 U$ x6 e' c: I6 nCongressmen (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)2 E) y- }! a- i$ K8 c: [
P- w* T( I# {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。)& \9 N. }: o; j$ Q
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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。 * u! T# O: G e9 Y6 R$ N' P! T " }7 t/ u9 O- C( e: @8 s; S& Z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:/ P) N4 {6 L" Z* J
* c; v! N$ a7 u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; % P1 H, O. K. @% O$ s( B6 z' ~; `
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; 5 _3 O& p7 F# d+ ^ ! v; T3 ~% J& G3 F6 h w对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 5 |# T- @- g8 f" {1 L, R1 ~* y) _7 l( U3 D; u3 o! u3 `
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; % k: V+ \( ^2 e" V2 M* S! s " Y% Q# y/ z r6 g w% j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:) Y% x' X5 y: ]4 e, @8 ?3 T
( ?7 O4 x# O( M, h* h6 e* `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)。 8 s: F2 D' ^' v* [; h ?- R5 }/ t2 Y9 i) X& T3 [
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)。 * g. }+ v, g) v9 E1 @