本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 * ^9 X" S6 e, d, y: c% N. a, R
5 Y. M! l& \" \4 ]8 p' C转帖 & P* t& [8 z9 Q7 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)* B1 S6 W, A* M6 \* _" X
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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)# M0 }9 D5 n$ @
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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。) " H7 F* V; K- R! J0 |* ]$ D( n% G* E6 a" ^) I
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) # f, H1 _' o2 M' W! O3 c 2 O+ `/ [; }* X8 G c! U0 B# t) bThe 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 A9 {/ F* d6 Y" s5 ]3 [4 j2 ~$ V# ^1 X
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。)3 a9 H7 \, {5 W3 q9 L: \" X9 `3 D X
" D6 Q& L# `3 x" lMr. 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) 0 ?7 S; A6 Q9 [; h4 P/ V5 m* s; G; M$ S* {
We 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!), U2 v* F; o* r2 c
9 T. q+ q" P8 W. D w: P+ N% \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); k1 d/ B0 G0 ]- X1 B6 U& o
9 i( Q4 x1 Y9 M( h; aWe 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。)4 l+ h8 E3 C1 ?% y
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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?)% t5 c4 P# h$ V3 X
8 N4 D/ o" H3 o& S! V. j( N- d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! ) n5 O# J! R+ i/ O* \# t# H0 \ ! B# m2 `$ G3 z3 Q3 v' ^2 [, ] $ y, y" f' G/ I9 F) B& ~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。 ; O. X4 w9 X) n* t4 l6 F ! F7 `* o/ {! X( ]例如:1 ]/ r( j) t2 Y
; T8 w3 @* Z$ y+ Z, a0 b' t: RAt 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)! [: x; H5 j) H2 I" f
7 m% T* ^9 O7 S, N; jDespite 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)" b2 v: u9 J0 N& g k; g
7 k, X5 ]* a+ S1 XI 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)$ Z, R5 `! j: B+ B
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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)) F5 F& _ _7 j$ y J
w0 k& w1 d" T# Z Z, _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) . l# d! z0 J# `& E, B+ x; q/ z" K& g4 M) h
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) # X! Y, P3 G& s( G. G. |- c( S5 g+ N. I
I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)/ \5 Q6 f/ D, m7 y. F; A
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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:5 P0 W' e% o' u( d
$ I6 _) o4 J$ vThe 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。) K! J" C1 M3 ?$ }; x
! u9 G l- g/ j! T2 P8 C; O; _' k+ R4 V; lThe 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.) 4 h& b1 m; t( Y* S/ U5 h! Y; @ E8 p e3 X , L1 v! d$ ]8 S1 f* l! x: e) [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 O; r7 ^& t3 M
m: t5 Y- h/ @9 LHe 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)/ q2 w0 M/ i& ]7 ]$ i& c
3 y8 {/ S& S! lWe 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)9 s1 [! Y+ R& I2 C" v# R: v
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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) 5 H, |5 f- Z$ P! m 4 ~1 W `; [& |- f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.) + u8 O6 h, \% ^$ p4 V% m# R : i" p( I" R8 Z2 y9 c% a4 s; |4 a" \此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 0 Y5 O# p U3 }7 f/ f/ u8 h9 ]/ h1 e M4 P) t: P
7 Y% g0 q0 n: w, O( D' C3.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」。+ u. B, ~; Y k2 O
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1 {) Y1 ] R% x$ Y% d1 EMankind 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) $ j) a+ O3 V6 E6 w& S) n- T% ?4 \$ c3 v! ^' B. d3 V
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) / x4 ]: `3 k( H3 w ~3 q1 @+ R: m& H: K4 Z7 R3 R9 R8 n
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) & O- S5 T0 h( o! n1 N. i Z* y5 x6 |' n0 Z: h1 j! N) d8 }
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。) : O( N2 d8 b$ P7 y. M# B2 U- s $ J+ K7 W) B6 f: o2 RMany 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。) 6 |1 O+ t3 s& r' g1 Z, J) C; c+ ~ / d" Z3 I* c% C3 ]: CPolicemen (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)4 k' n5 H, Y6 ^
) h! r' {3 u8 g! K- p% G- B" fCongressmen (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)4 J2 V! {- b; A9 J( N# M4 f
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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。), ?" ` M5 q2 U
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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。 6 }' U5 V: t& `5 F: ?7 i1 M S( n) k) Z% p F1 ]* ]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:* c: r/ {- a6 F0 h! X
( T4 l: c- @& s( ^" @6 J- D7 S/ x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; 5 ]) W# x2 T( P ` 4 z. J* G' @/ Q+ C4 [) N: m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;; ~9 r; n8 N! e& Y& W. F$ Z
, g" l1 Q+ S; [/ O9 l6 s对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 3 I a1 W% C3 Q2 O % R# l/ S v; w5 \4 B$ D; r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:( c5 k$ k& r; R1 j- Z3 @1 i
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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)。+ g! n; u, Z8 Y4 t3 Q
. c3 k! ?% V& w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)。* ?) s' u Z# C) ?) {* c9 l: l9 {. r