本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 % s- g7 x: u1 r! h
: n& ]9 R. ~* F5 j1 E 转帖 % l$ a( ^( }4 v! }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)' z5 M) Y. O1 J# T! M
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例如: & X+ x! o+ r2 ~+ ]# J2 E' S" Q: M. X% Z1 r
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) [0 k0 C: c" G
$ y u7 R8 V9 V& p9 D# T. ZThree 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。): ]. A! _$ m! x
& e$ P4 L' M$ M( L" v5 vThis 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). J0 E- n r/ `" d2 h
6 B* ` ]( G+ lThe 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?)% B. ]+ ?; r2 e% D! _
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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。)/ Q d. l( M7 B9 Y+ L* Z, {. 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) " v$ @9 y2 o& N6 [ 5 h2 \8 S4 `/ _9 z; O( VWe 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!)' [; U/ }0 ?9 g0 J6 U! _( J
; e; }8 U7 J6 g, G. c2 rThe 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) 7 M- e! i+ ~4 N. B, v6 G & l; R# G; ~5 L5 h! E, I) W$ s* WWe 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。)8 U6 p) U+ C |1 m, M% i
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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?) * O$ `% `# m$ x6 o , W4 u: ~7 ]* G; O8 F q, W5 e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! . y) H4 h# o% e9 N8 ]% v) H! j* C* n9 i+ j( r8 \# ]
8 g# m6 o6 O7 B% W! a2. 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。2 w, x8 M5 f0 f. N/ T* B
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例如: 3 J$ n9 s2 h( H& `2 q ! W/ v7 ]; X& j5 o4 B- u/ LAt 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) + O+ ?( b" A9 f/ f ( m9 H6 X: ?' i. C$ y4 dDespite 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)' m5 p8 H/ z" ?1 X Q
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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) 1 r$ M- k+ Y) @4 {; C2 n: d1 ?( D) l. W/ e3 M9 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)& B7 H) f2 e X$ q) L* G
# N* p4 F& \/ B( I+ X. h. vIn 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) - s3 R% B/ m% R: O1 a5 y6 M0 O- u' N
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)+ e ^& ]% r1 {/ ?6 h3 [
: Z2 J. o+ I1 q; r% V a `# WI will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生)' C- I0 j$ X1 {" Y$ T- Y4 S# t K
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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:+ ?2 A3 W; _" h# }( ~9 h
7 W4 x3 A5 F5 r* I1 uThe 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。) 6 R& K# j+ y# Y' e, ? ! r y& f1 |( N& |# {& @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.) 6 d5 ^* h1 }- O5 o/ `5 ^( {/ e, A) O
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。)- R/ r( k: J4 L6 \7 Z+ A& X& R# @0 z
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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)) @/ o; v( ]# e& e7 X
6 J* k" c- ^ X- \- \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)" P0 ]- r: V" T1 S7 w
9 ]! I8 @5 b: g6 b) AEnclosed (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), G0 I ^* q( j% d* O1 b% _
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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.) ) ~% i, \* i( l. m+ e# [0 X" Z, I( \6 I: R
此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。! M1 m- @! ?) @" l! y
& h& \: a1 o, T( i' f9 @$ AMankind 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)0 F* U4 x$ Q4 R2 g
[: A6 ]6 R7 m* yManpower 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)2 K# S8 q$ j. Q/ }
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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) t9 J) S- A/ Y* c8 i- u6 T5 ~% @# _ r- U- ^' U0 b2 W/ V9 m# d
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。)8 z) @# D N B N2 D
3 m; K. V1 |5 o& ]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。)- O2 b7 |$ c0 J$ l1 W
1 o' y" F* ~ g7 h- b( E+ G/ B& KPolicemen (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)! D" O3 T5 R9 j; ~5 \# W8 [
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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)4 F* Q; w9 @- p1 k! G* w4 Z
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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。)2 e4 u2 J5 F$ c
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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。: l. x4 D$ W; B4 o. l
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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: Q1 G, }- U2 `4 p7 H* ]