本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 4 g4 V( `+ V+ [) ~" A
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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)6 Z k7 m/ H v' S3 q3 N
# ^8 D/ p: o5 a0 b- `例如: & G, c% ]& M `1 a" A0 A* P- p6 Y ! O* M( H6 j; t6 j; p; u9 ~, s% jMany 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)3 v9 x" g' }5 ^* H" C( ^& e
, ^) q6 Y+ `/ {1 a' _& |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。)' k# U$ o- W. Z. X T. S$ y$ i
" C' h" E# @) }$ NThis 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 s+ C% j+ N7 ? v9 j; A
. p+ Z2 v; r, i3 J' J1 B8 yThe 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?) 3 j1 U7 E- C) N' ]) d1 Y2 w6 `% ?: v9 `+ l6 h. l
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。) * O4 U. V6 N8 B, ~$ a% M6 r . o- S3 G5 p5 j$ [% q* y4 R( yMr. 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) $ [1 y# y6 B( d* u 9 ~& Q& d& o# E5 ?7 C3 y- PWe 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!), k3 E3 e: E. G! J8 c5 B4 g
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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)" v; L5 V% V% ?) D
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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。) ) K/ a8 z/ s3 E! j7 M " u, M; k, m6 x9 C7 v( ^5 [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?) ( ^8 {) C" d/ W& F3 I$ y% z( k3 f! ^) S+ {8 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! # E* l3 P" O' s' S/ O5 W! V4 t- E. D3 R L- j* I9 M7 C5 C
. N% n# u) x' V$ p 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。/ M M) n0 W6 d( W0 k7 T$ s. M
- j" V0 [" w7 I- M! m# y! G例如: 8 F* u3 r0 [+ ^0 m$ X& C * | M# p+ ]1 ~( @" F1 `! b- N0 PAt 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) ' J4 S" q0 r* `+ Z3 `! L$ L) V, V/ c/ x, A0 I
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): |' h. h- e0 U8 g
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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) . E9 P8 d- t4 x6 P) V" K- |: C- d+ ?, M+ a3 Y4 u
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)+ Y: w6 P6 b! A/ Y" w6 Z& C
7 z, @. Z3 t0 a, _1 }- _ j- YIn 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) 2 N1 U" u! k \" H+ A0 }! c8 M& ?( ]% X/ V [4 D& v" m
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)4 j8 c. W, I/ ?* M! b' t- v y
( p3 v* u' i1 {2 K# y6 N2 B& kI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)% S5 i: d7 R J& {: S' A6 |' n
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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: , u' S: z1 H) G! `6 \7 R# h: K- W0 a3 {: D% j! A+ O! _) I( X1 y4 R
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。) - ]' l I I2 O# V& J! a1 p6 T# m* `# E
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.), T% U2 k! ^2 u9 M: {. q1 U/ _7 K8 s
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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。)) v( j s7 [; F! Q
; A3 W) ~/ c' R! }1 N4 oHe 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)! D I g$ r- f! r. R8 r4 Q
) J# a4 j/ h; ^! C- k) b+ V* XWe 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)! i0 E5 y8 C. c5 l e0 A4 v
- h# V! ]3 p0 _# v8 gEnclosed (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 p! t7 o4 {/ i9 J
! [7 S2 N2 l/ T+ k5 Y! c/ e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.)* \5 T; `6 U2 }: y0 a/ b
3 D. a, O' W3 A- |' {此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! \5 b- E: m( ~. ^! Q7 h- Q# P
o/ Q; i: Z" j' [7 ~/ g# Y) J例如: 7 C+ B# \$ g$ H& I: O6 S3 `% Z1 s" k4 e% Y& Z. n% r
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) - x. a' c$ c h% S( Z0 I4 R* _- a3 M$ w% z+ b& R- c3 i
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) , B* L$ m/ V6 ]0 c4 z5 W# Y5 ]# B) D2 `) J s( U
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)/ H) _3 R: s$ U4 L2 S! @
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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。)2 y, k/ ~9 U( x) g7 [7 p0 I; }
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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。). a8 w0 W3 l1 m, ^8 n5 \: p
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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) * e- c S& y, D! \) ~& `/ H, w& n, [. i
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)+ _$ G, T& Y$ l9 u1 w+ D! v
- P* H. V$ x {( {! tStewardesses 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。) ! i: W& H( @/ ^% {; R8 m; o# {+ d' o% M" Y' D4 n
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。 # p1 l" g( P& v7 H: n& J E i, `5 s. v1 Y" Q/ c, c1 j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:- r0 M: X. T; |3 C1 A. l2 `. i