本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 8 p4 ~' B. g" [/ j, o! { 4 t4 n& l1 N x( b/ ]- X$ d转帖! e( z$ l0 m( E% T
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) / n6 }5 M* W, A* v8 y1 p 3 h5 ]! ~& c- S5 x/ z R# D0 n例如:3 X) \2 e" g- V, _9 b) L" d h
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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); c( e* r% N. r* `; x. l
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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。) l% c4 l& f" |: a0 T6 p) [$ K8 G9 Q8 T4 k' K# 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) t' j! a$ C: T
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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?)! C" W. ~1 O7 V0 r8 \
. G, d2 Q9 r& M) VI 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。) : ]- T( l/ @5 d4 N. B7 j/ N8 ` 9 e0 R6 ^2 z, z' z/ J/ RMr. 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)3 |, D# B: C5 B$ x3 _/ D& p
+ z' f8 t7 ?$ r9 n5 t/ KWe 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!)3 D6 c8 v0 |7 k4 O
* ?* j( L+ t3 K) e0 G) Z1 ?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)3 C1 Q+ y" x. C
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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。) & E: k1 R' r8 l5 s( H. A4 ]. z' @! ^6 N) g9 X' O0 Z
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?) : Y& r( {/ S2 C5 M% ~3 z- k# J+ a9 x: t) r
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! 3 z; O0 L9 I! w" D e( ` j, \ / P# x5 w5 ^5 R3 N9 L1 Z1 l" I/ M7 r* [$ P& W 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。: z3 E3 f' B5 s$ V8 z
7 o$ d8 @* b) b! B7 W8 v# a# E1 Y例如:! f- y6 ~" W" d4 t4 H% p( f
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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)" t2 T7 V9 o/ V7 Q8 |
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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) 6 h7 Z2 x! |3 Q4 e6 I# v' t2 [' w; V9 a% p) S( u! E
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) + n- r$ z* q; m& R) t( c + b& h9 L8 ?/ a& yHe 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)1 K! Q6 O# ~" M2 [2 M
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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)1 B2 y! \* u4 v; U) P
% S; g0 I/ m4 f/ D! gShe 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) 2 N4 j) n% R T" ? L' J t- u! k" ?9 t) a% \* D
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)+ K3 h# ]' k1 _2 {" ^: o
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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:1 t- A: e9 a% R- N6 L( E$ p) J
0 `( p7 s0 a) K( f/ YThe 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。)8 A' F+ x8 ]: z* z- M- A
G7 J- O# a c: PThe 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.) , I7 J% ~7 j3 N% M' M- m `- s $ f' _2 o- ?; R6 w s& ~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。)3 R; ], a0 q" b0 ]+ t
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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)% U2 G% L- P8 e* g$ ~
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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)/ p9 \& [( x% y1 q5 N
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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) 7 q' E; |' s6 K $ j! [& S/ i/ p6 f: h' b% p2 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.)* f3 \) c& b) c& E A$ y5 j' B
3 J& P' Q" v- x' ^. V- B此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 _+ s4 `: s4 e* {# D. w" g+ j! M0 f' B( O# p: E% D: d+ e& p
+ M! ?( h/ f0 C! U5 M+ dMankind 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) + ~3 Y# _8 B' ^% J4 k) v) T& w7 \7 _; C- P* G& K1 m9 `- k% X$ s
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)4 ?* Y9 C, [% a0 r, Y: C; @( ^
- b( y% m. X2 c, pThis 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)) i; w+ `* s7 M
/ s0 ]. e% z# V9 S9 nHe (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 F7 g* o' F0 a# w- r" l: U
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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。)% x) p) S* b! i# g' E# f. a
8 `( ~3 M5 m5 W3 b4 K" a- A EPolicemen (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) 9 R+ h9 ?4 x% F6 k4 d 2 K' C2 D$ `7 I& l3 L, bCongressmen (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)0 i) j9 ?. N( C$ T% n* ~& W
# F' x J8 ]* j- j D) | @- |" |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。) ( X/ h. o! [0 T, S3 c6 |: H4 Z# M5 z% |! p! t% t
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。 4 j6 I1 h: `. M. V6 q$ n @& I! k4 N7 ~/ _! ~* C: _3 K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:* `2 B2 j0 W$ o5 p
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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; 2 e) Z/ ?! {$ U$ T0 Q ^; g" |. u! [0 O3 I, W4 J4 y
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;6 _0 c5 Q( s) ^0 u+ @$ ? ]
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; 0 g+ C. t& |/ c8 p& Q" T- A: j* q6 F: L' r* n% ^3 x; K2 h/ }
对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;4 c3 H6 g S7 [# @
5 S, c; n* w3 k2 [ m3 P" @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:# E. m4 H1 \, N: W
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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)。. n9 y) n- t4 L7 t8 X! l
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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)。 * x: L0 c$ j6 H: u8 |) _