本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ( W. \& G# A. k- |, ^" ? ) R8 f7 ? ?% M5 g) a, ~' k% v8 s转帖 x# t- @" W4 E1. 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) 2 C2 Z! b) ^. M 5 X4 h& m; h* x6 r4 C7 V$ L9 a* ^例如:7 X; X: C/ v6 R$ j
. l! \9 n# @6 p" X% s% m% o. NMany 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) o. V8 H' f# F0 g5 M8 x, o* J% ^+ G+ X" @# g8 F
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。) & _5 Y; m. D4 O+ Z; D4 S* ^ 5 H2 v' B6 X# ]" BThis 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) ; N/ k7 }8 C0 r6 S& G2 @% m( _ 5 G2 L: I3 e6 C& dThe 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?) # g Y, ~; E9 o% C2 h5 d5 I4 V, w2 S9 D. {
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。): ^. e5 E: ^! D
9 I R$ p/ m# Y: C$ Q9 bMr. 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) 5 b4 B8 c4 V/ B . f$ J" z+ ^8 W, v) wWe 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!)( B' s( [, o2 [) s
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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)2 @# @6 R1 C. @
! p! m2 z4 P0 Y( B: K BWe 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。) ( e& Z- n. k- l- [& V* a3 V$ E0 [+ e8 G H
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?) ' n& N0 s2 v. e% ?5 Z5 ?8 j0 a* s9 s2 M, e4 A
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!/ }' o6 [& P0 w- A* R7 Z @
# i+ d6 ]. `! J9 `; d; p. D9 ]( f; \ 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。+ |( ~$ p+ T" n+ Y
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例如:4 G, m8 U1 y0 Y2 x1 ~
2 x( \/ @8 I0 x& U, ]" X3 f2 IAt 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)$ g1 Z2 C" U$ q, V! j
+ u. ^6 O* t$ m: Q) ^8 N* u6 rDespite 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)4 z& {0 M" f: U6 g0 B
# G1 l% \$ I, 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) # Q+ t1 t% e P3 s* b L N K S5 `( p- BHe 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) + L- B0 C5 q$ m% _' y 3 g& c; N5 v% a# k& \! O* GIn 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) 0 n8 m; _' a5 f3 @) H; g- T9 T 9 q R. e9 l- m( r& {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)/ V P/ X" h2 Z% v) j
2 Z; p9 u1 H0 v' r* K. hI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) , W3 ^+ [, j9 z3 {" T# |9 L3 I, ^" V/ X& ]5 Y
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:3 g' [# K2 O% P% d. S; {
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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。) , _( {; D8 ^& K1 n3 ^9 ]5 L1 o 3 h/ w! ~" ~, |1 t! m2 nThe 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.)- q& w* F. F5 V8 `; s- a
2 x# t% d8 h5 ?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。) 7 M* e" b/ a% p; H' s' r3 y5 ^$ Q; O" M8 x$ N+ N
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)/ K3 p1 G$ b; F e" J; G/ u' w
$ e8 E9 A( q* Q8 z4 o+ jWe 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) ) O0 r9 \: w V7 I% E. c9 y }: h a/ g& yEnclosed (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) 1 f4 w4 o% Q$ s- f2 W# W0 x) i& w8 K* p$ s
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.)! H- S( ~4 ^( s) b a
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此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。; b6 R" W W6 V' f# s1 I n- k6 X
+ c) P. c$ ^- c6 S. V% M) ]% u 3 A4 i! @7 t1 c- F! e3.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」。7 a c" d; i) J/ {8 L$ t
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例如: $ W) [3 g4 A9 ?- N' a/ R5 v, u% G4 N/ W
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) 4 j+ n/ X( |/ ?9 z; n0 E$ @1 y4 Z! W+ f# d& ^' m% ]) R5 Y
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) y5 |/ N2 L7 C: F 0 N! |6 L5 K8 X! p& B2 ]/ U1 }4 yThis 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) + V& K/ J# [7 y3 y: a- s * H- O* @% J6 DHe (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。) . U, f1 g# L7 `4 P, V5 r& u7 h+ X8 W7 q8 t* o; I: p: L/ F; z7 K
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。) ) ]4 G, \. g4 ]; |, W/ ^0 p & l6 Y5 Q6 A$ r! J$ L! j4 b0 sPolicemen (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) ! H3 V" }* Y' o1 A; A $ |! c6 H% _1 @9 }. Y9 g v5 YCongressmen (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)$ Y! j# F: m i# @
, `/ n$ G$ t) b9 U$ _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。): Y- f+ } r% E; i4 u7 y N
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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。 : C& p; M2 k( l+ h- Z' C+ c. [& M / |7 B: K" i' y* k% u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: 5 l! N' b4 i6 |$ f% {8 d* p4 Z3 ~6 }% e3 ?1 ?5 R: ?5 }
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;8 H& G/ e, P8 m9 c, ?5 _* J' R
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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;0 c2 R& P5 U0 R" O3 @* ~
: x; C" q- S. k0 Z. @; Y对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;) E+ e* ]1 d( Z P/ r( i
, _; D. O$ j' Q% z& s对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;0 [- }, a" C5 l e
* i) o( C* Z( ^1 T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: % T% r9 z r- L/ x 2 N! m! v* ?* B: {7 V# ~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)。 7 h- `" _4 v6 G3 ~ & i( ?4 i5 F5 d9 d& ]: b4 T+ K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)。 ) G6 h) ^4 o8 p1 P7 U