本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 ) r& F5 T& ~. X7 B) Q6 a$ P
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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) 2 B! Z1 z! I4 B, K8 e+ y + R0 l2 C" l4 F% j6 t# ~例如:) J/ X1 j4 k& m1 K
$ f; U6 S. \0 ^9 Y" g, t2 \/ @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)6 R, S4 u- P$ s+ ]" \' o, E& F
3 {8 x9 f& V& E, a. @3 H cThree 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。) ! V( B) K* S `; ] C/ | ]) ] B! p4 z
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) [% V# R4 n$ ?, m3 [. a
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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?) 2 {& V' V) Y2 b# j4 h( g0 O: q/ P5 k: V$ `. f( K* i
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。) 1 U. c0 y: j0 [5 b $ x# C! v7 z6 m7 e8 Y0 t9 PMr. 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) " M3 V; k5 [1 _7 D8 u* \ / G0 ?5 F+ w: W0 aWe 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!) ' S. w0 q2 l+ M, Q. l 8 Z, h- F2 `9 O0 t( PThe 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)# X/ D$ _4 K; c
8 O" t* _8 Q% e, n" a5 IWe 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。)7 S7 D/ a- b- z6 a
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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?) , y8 u' p; y* c7 C% @& I1 b9 b. g& n6 w
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! & B0 |$ F8 y/ I, z5 ^ 5 ~0 L6 M' u& V0 p# \% q# Q9 T 0 g+ b# S1 p% g2 x5 c2. 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。 5 q% d9 u& s" G% N: N 1 H+ G2 K1 M) |' @! A0 U例如:$ r: U: F4 ]; f* ?2 s, P6 H
2 K& M4 p6 l7 _: m. L. ^1 m7 QAt 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) ! d. g2 G. E, ?4 |" Z" q \7 X1 w1 O& |4 a; h
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) L1 X* h5 c( A
: y! Y' Y8 q2 V* D% T+ W: _1 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) & W/ r1 _5 W( Z1 D ! n b+ E; y* T$ m, qHe 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)$ [/ r4 m$ X s* z) W8 q
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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)3 H. p! b% x2 @4 S2 y$ z( y! `
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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) ' _5 m- Y0 q6 p) p" j e+ r1 D- j- I9 Y6 ~
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 5 g0 N' e5 }2 X/ a# f% p' W9 O) h1 Z5 K1 N7 b! i
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: 9 }1 n8 I$ f6 G4 U8 W) b5 V, N 3 H& z' }& e- t) ~% A nThe 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。). r7 g% R" i/ y d" G
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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.)! E' n- U" g/ E
+ x, f+ e1 G' T" P3 ~ m* c" kHe 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。)2 x. [2 Y8 v! S/ L. w2 H4 q
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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)5 c8 O6 \& n+ y7 L+ [: ~
% B1 G( c I3 [8 w+ h8 t/ s) ^5 y2 @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)7 E! s* T. N. F ^4 l: R
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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)2 v5 G" {- O* z) e$ a
3 v/ R3 D# `8 |5 l# U+ t/ h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.) k! C5 S9 p1 |$ O5 B+ y( i+ L6 Z0 [, c) V. ]
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 ) Q/ F+ z3 \5 Q4 g G ' A7 [2 Z: h" u% z6 q; W& Q# ?3 K3 e+ ` 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」。. y% l( @" `5 x, ^4 h/ f8 Z( Z- ?0 H
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例如:8 C8 F% w# \( e0 `% ~7 o4 e1 J
# S* R( q( C. x$ R3 q$ BMankind 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) & l- u' U3 a3 X5 v! G* Z; o' F) r ' g& O& p# g3 q. w8 C+ R+ b5 ~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)7 c# m) h% |$ \ i7 g2 r
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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)) t; I7 r" K( i! P9 t" \
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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。) , V/ H9 k" K8 G; p7 [ , _5 F; l4 j/ x: |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。)' l( W, Z! T) S. D2 p5 P7 d- _1 r
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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)8 Z0 |5 ^7 o0 Z! M. R x
4 v0 W5 i: G5 }4 f$ _& LCongressmen (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)- E8 `+ e, D ~, }
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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。)- F) X! O ?5 S( F+ l. R; S+ Q5 F9 j
2 B7 g, `, z0 k* {8 m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。 1 T4 S* G$ N& f9 \7 p & s0 H( F4 V+ ]2 G7 X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: 0 _( w8 Q1 n. N5 E* Z: u: ^6 L1 c# G& f }# E1 n8 ~& p
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 `, J9 o3 \9 D, a# r, L0 v, ^+ |+ x' V4 G/ N) a5 S& M. H
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 }8 w4 ?% y/ e
7 A5 C' c( B7 W% z: Y2 u0 [对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;5 K m4 g# J9 W! D( T
* s4 V! L7 D2 z. y对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese;; F. S+ X" }0 x
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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: 8 U$ T# Z0 L) z + B( [/ f" J1 N& q- B9 a( m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)。9 m% \3 ~. l/ K N. b6 f* _0 A9 i
- q7 g( d# l$ `. \# `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)。5 E7 N" \( @; t. j: D$ V