本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 6 W# g* n/ ]' `& g& H6 `! c3 j
0 ^, E9 u5 o( ]+ I4 d8 ~8 a* a8 U 转帖 N5 L. O x1 [ i- q. q- C1. 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) ; a9 t. ^- A; A ( D4 F& N, Y! p. e" a' U! I0 Z/ X$ F例如:) y/ F9 G% t4 L( W* e
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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) , X e6 `' x& U8 Z% t; x2 G5 V0 \7 T. V- Q: y* j7 n
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。); W' ^- F4 d, \1 C( p/ ^) J9 g( f& n, }
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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) 4 E+ C$ q" j+ a- C$ S6 Z$ I5 b) G0 v2 k/ z2 L& \! d+ l
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?)) j) [) N. I2 u( f" }( F5 r
1 l7 p8 m2 ]+ G) Z, x7 q( pI 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。); r0 m5 Z- ^. ~: ^5 y2 \! ~. v1 q
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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) * E/ c1 ?3 E+ Y; D& e , O8 i4 D9 K2 r- Q# iWe 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!) ; I S) m) j! B2 u9 ^. Z, ~' v # h0 X! v1 E+ H4 ?1 RThe 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) 7 k! z/ ^1 O# X! f' r2 S" J! I5 J 5 M" Y+ L) ~0 O+ [! y# f6 ]% k8 w1 HWe 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。)1 J( u0 m7 R5 P- H
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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?)1 c! }$ y. |# w! M, G. `
, R, Y1 J2 e2 C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!( W& y/ _& s' w4 w/ t0 ^7 ~- R
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' j7 k6 s# u2 T! B2. 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。1 e( Z! C5 m8 u' c
2 S7 g. s9 G: G% X例如: $ H. h+ S" Z+ W% w7 G , _& i% C- A& P; S3 H; fAt 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) 4 Z. x+ ?' o, V7 \7 V! H9 ?+ [0 P5 ^0 [3 a6 b
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): N2 o( I# y; h$ K$ z) v
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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); @" c- u: y- }, Q S
8 j$ K+ A2 T# s% d9 V/ x% ^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) / F, A0 k- }# e1 Z: o 8 M8 o+ g4 i0 J6 R- wIn 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) 6 R& |6 c B$ _ : i' P! z5 \ CShe 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)& f |- ^7 x0 O7 T9 y
! B/ D! {4 e/ x' t$ ]I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)/ U4 z. a! w$ x6 Y/ h( Z) J
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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:" m8 A7 y% u( U1 l! s6 j$ Z1 Z
& a$ T" S1 X: Q! T qThe 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。)6 U& h: n* y' i# t% |7 w& g" j
! Q$ K6 }; h; c6 Q0 kThe 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.)' T! O5 A1 O/ @7 {; 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。)+ y2 P) _0 }6 Q! z; w
) [" w3 d/ s; s- aHe 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) `( K( G& E8 H* I/ `* C ; U' T; Z* i" v, aWe 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)8 \. w- C- f; ]2 v. M( l: X9 `4 i
0 f# C+ l9 {/ z, o7 b9 h1 LEnclosed (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)$ k0 J! |. a) x% 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.)% D W5 F% i( u
0 F3 X2 c- p" F8 f3 c此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。* N& ^9 u( d9 o" a3 K; d
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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)$ Q& b0 |* ?; @- s, A+ z
" k0 P) ] l$ a% q6 _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)! u* e. n- h. s1 M: e9 E
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This 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 M# r3 D/ P D+ L, Y. R
; x& G6 }7 D+ A, D, QHe (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。) 1 O$ h9 T$ M2 D4 V8 L* P" y t6 L4 u$ K e; T$ r
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。)+ U9 A4 H0 t l* _4 l9 n
! r h/ |. ?' H5 ?8 hPolicemen (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)+ S; p( ?' w- d1 _# u
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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) + w; O6 s2 \' V' Y; N / c% Y; Y% K9 c# ]7 ^* Y3 \4 XStewardesses 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。)3 M" u! K' B# Q# y: R; E
/ z3 h* r( w1 b& K& l u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 B2 w0 |8 D4 A8 e2 A z
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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 T8 a- n! g5 u0 c5 `4 V