本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 " u1 Q9 A) R4 Z. O) m# E* C- j4 L3 ^
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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)# L( \+ a: m. C* `9 i
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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) 4 w2 ^: `% @7 a% G* z3 T4 D, d- a! A- `. l
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。)8 l( j; I& y2 Z
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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) ! k- r3 M9 a+ M7 M) o$ z. C7 M3 y! F+ X5 \
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?)* w: s- R9 r' T( l, }# W
7 h1 Q* j+ c% R B' u6 i6 W' oI 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。)6 Z: s' Z6 v! ?6 B8 X! M& N) w
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Mr. 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) # v0 h5 o0 n/ N+ i) g1 T( U9 c+ i- F4 s5 j* W7 B0 d6 N
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!) ) c8 e0 H. D' d+ W2 c4 y* h+ X: ?0 R' v. X, w \$ E% q
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)( j- ^% z! V+ W* v7 i
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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。) 7 g0 M+ E# i) O( @ k5 p/ L1 G5 _) @
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?) 0 b; r5 N6 Z! q' D: b ! l% F# J. U4 ^) t; 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!3 G4 X; ~3 E9 E- _$ e, S( L/ m8 n
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1 F$ {( z2 p) P6 t2. 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。 * K$ K3 \- l! P% | 3 _5 w5 H6 B' ]/ Z0 q: o例如: 6 f1 M$ L5 b, k% F: u5 }7 G' H9 _, `3 V- u8 V7 P$ B
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) I3 S) n0 i2 t& g6 N3 F8 l6 z& ]
- M. T' [, i/ s& S( S3 H+ qDespite 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 f1 y- m. `/ b* _
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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)& N3 A4 a& x5 \5 I% r/ O
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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)! ]7 V; |) Q% W2 I9 S
3 W; c+ F! D3 Y: _ d3 uIn 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)9 O- O$ N l T/ G- t5 k% }, _
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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)( o5 _. v6 u {4 W
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)" L. U% i( K6 I4 q
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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:6 _. [: N: q L- E
6 |2 E6 H+ n/ q; Z1 d# iThe 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。) , b: s; {7 k3 B$ J! p: V; ^) m9 _: _5 a& t& s
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.). |" j2 z2 z# k( g& P+ O0 e$ J
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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。) 7 A8 `5 u, s( u } , v E [' f- w& B9 f) @4 j: QHe 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) * Y6 ]7 R9 E5 v0 |) B o% g1 h& y: f$ {; r: |( Q1 s
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)( ` K8 a; e6 W
1 K8 K$ Z, i: j2 _* CEnclosed (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)3 h# D: G- d$ K* W( d+ ^
# h8 z/ ]0 t; b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.) 3 `5 T% |$ s8 f& K+ O$ |. f" U* }9 l
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 - o. W- W( Z1 G) r2 S7 V3 M4 j6 Q1 `
3 F! y' z$ z1 |' C; R5 M. s 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」。 2 e5 H$ G: n+ _6 D [5 @( n2 I+ }9 w. A, g" q: {0 [例如: 4 M9 O$ F3 ? h# \; b4 N3 @9 D2 s3 _+ Y$ a+ j/ u( G+ ]' r# `: y& [
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) " b& j3 M9 g' m( }3 c# q9 f+ G3 K; }5 r / g8 k ?: A2 qManpower 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) 3 y% U4 s! W9 f & j& D* s- b/ T, w% ]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) 4 v& G" s1 W' ~ 8 a* Z; f0 o) |: A' b; [; K1 g/ XHe (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。)9 h: r, h8 {' @+ {
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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。) ( K2 g& {, q7 S) K- H# q _* G/ o! I9 J/ j% m$ uPolicemen (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) * d6 d8 v& A4 v& q# m0 s ! U! y8 b* L# N H- p& e" vCongressmen (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). ?' Q# r9 h. ?9 v( u3 U
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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。): h; y4 C A- q' q6 D