本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 }% d6 D2 C* }5 g& r! Z1 Z
( n, o: Z6 P$ @9 ^ 转帖 - }2 s' K& r$ W( T: B1. 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)1 ?" g. {, v4 y2 j7 u
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例如: ) q0 y' Q+ F W2 ^) N: T/ m6 a ! Z) ]. z; J& F4 b+ |" o' R3 R1 TMany 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) 5 B* z& \+ K5 O$ u) V+ z; o6 ^# @( |! u, A2 R: N, y c: V% c
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。), Z+ Z* d# }. R) o. P# k- {
7 Y1 ]- X; d5 HThis 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)3 e5 |9 C* N' c* x, 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?)# L' O2 x3 E+ y/ K8 L
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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。)& B, y5 w( ^ A: O: D, z( [
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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) ) d5 [' X8 U( J1 @' ~ H# F 3 ?# u" A6 ?" N! sWe 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!) ! s6 G: _' O4 Y& ^: L: h) ^ 7 r) J8 Y$ p. n5 g' w1 @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) + k% ]3 Z' Z$ i; E) V& W& P8 l' H0 ^! j3 q) l0 {( ]! L' e/ W% L! p8 ~
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。) & H E" C, u, Z8 L A( A. Y7 L6 K' j E8 [8 aPlease 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?): J. U: k" E: `. W6 g/ N
2 k3 _5 x' Y- y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, q$ C7 J) e5 }
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# V1 i5 E- Q! u3 U! |0 x 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。 / }. v. M+ C h8 x; l: {( I! W3 _' \5 U' |7 k
例如:4 I( O6 w' b3 B9 H. R& F/ Q2 [8 r
+ q1 Z" o+ v8 J+ [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) " E: _# y. V$ V8 I8 `( t% E ! {4 u7 j# U2 t' sDespite 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) 1 o, b- X+ w5 W9 ? . K5 c! U B, O7 n x8 f& HI 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)* w8 m1 w% {" i" d2 X3 d6 X
0 W, R" m( _" e+ F: JHe 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) . G* K7 B* b0 a$ [" |9 V& O; o) s 1 M3 y# O% t0 iIn 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): v9 m/ e3 b$ s- a
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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) 7 k5 a+ \, @+ g! f" L0 A# a! D ' ]6 ]( F' x* nI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , T2 X: X1 U; K( F7 B4 a; M0 I2 R6 ~4 Z. @* D# n
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 T- M q# m( m* C- @( u" R/ V' ?7 U& @
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。) ( D- j5 M5 ?4 H/ u+ C: d4 T/ A* P4 n 8 F0 [, e2 a" X# ZThe 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.) ( o" x5 [* }& ~9 p% M ' ^# [- S0 e' x# `5 T8 GHe 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。) / k, r2 H) J5 Y& [ . y& O8 z: d U' y4 |0 y, fHe 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) V7 K: O1 v* V- K8 _& Z( v# k5 Y3 Y3 r k; O1 j
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)1 P& A8 H, `; {- W
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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) , K+ ?4 Y6 I! s5 d: w - g6 w* C1 @5 Q" o$ ~9 N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.) % _( F9 y* H. g9 Z3 [& A, P7 l% o& \% ]9 d- B; @9 p3 d
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。7 W) Y7 U5 Z/ C. @ ]3 q4 T; B3 Z
0 p! v5 T/ j2 P% g " s# u% w% D/ N+ P! r. r3.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」。 0 G# Q ?9 f6 _2 Y8 r( m 5 l4 D/ K* m9 r J6 p" X- G+ v例如:3 B( Q* T" @ B" @4 v, A
! o. x1 e! b) vMankind 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)" }% e L6 v1 \1 ]1 J
^) l* M% q# y5 U3 b- d5 e! zManpower 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) 0 p' E0 {( }6 }8 p6 a" q, h' { x; m; S& K _! {5 cThis 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) $ f# M! B6 ]7 D% }6 Z3 ~$ m4 M+ O% _" S0 k/ Z
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。)' A% [ s5 V$ r; B! p2 [
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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。)' X3 x7 ^% I+ h" r# e( ?
; B( o$ M. Z1 CPolicemen (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)7 d8 ?" o S3 v% _ Y: i. p. A
: N/ k) D9 S- v6 u0 `7 wCongressmen (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) ' p x, O6 d+ M: H. U5 c: l ' P: g+ M" l& wStewardesses 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。) 6 ^* K% ~# z8 l! y) T5 x ( c! h$ P4 ~3 g- U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。 / H. \, B: j+ y# H) @ u B , l& o8 e# v% j" V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: 6 i$ j K4 i7 b# Y6 ~ N7 O w9 Z3 n5 f4 E& W# a
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;# G2 l7 `. F9 P0 X, O
; V$ Y* b7 O+ r/ J' k% f6 E对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; # `1 K L- i! j) k! c. @ ~- `- W ( _- ~+ H5 [9 `对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;5 d# L0 g. j8 F" W, P% z
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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: 4 C0 R. ?& K A( B; b ) O& ?! K p8 t9 P3 ^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)。: s" z1 W, X+ A9 A
. }6 f: n. r3 b6 J% ?% \ U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)。. D4 B4 q/ f) v% a& h- s