本帖最后由 finder 于 2014-12-28 00:10 编辑 9 r" T. u+ J) t. P/ n4 v
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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) # x5 I- D h3 e3 d! H1 |1 k: A0 [ a# u! h+ 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) 5 Z# d4 O a8 _; q4 o5 n' b) B5 J' r. Z9 t) d3 J( i
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。)3 V4 H- L2 U. v
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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) $ a/ t6 U3 ^# h/ A# ~7 O; Z B4 c 8 W# F0 g) x% Z; M% j" ^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. D+ h. r @- d" U0 @+ f# W* _
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。) % x* _' ^- P* S1 U 8 C1 F. t2 p0 i. tMr. 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) : \: h& i6 Q6 ?* W; c# I( h6 g+ P0 a q! C, ~, c7 A$ B. K2 ^
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!) 1 g8 t3 c" K5 f1 x5 j. W8 [( P# I j( ?7 D4 e3 U* b3 [
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) " ^- E" t1 h# M! {, ? * ^# k2 O, ~8 kWe 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。) ! B' X: }5 E' I# x% m _+ Q6 k, d4 I" N8 K# o5 _! M
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?)& x: g9 b! }3 n8 ~3 S; N
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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! # I. O% N) W" m2 m$ B! o % v Y! W( M5 Q- p( S! H a6 E& P 6 |1 i: n2 e% F" Z# w+ m2. 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 ]" S1 i+ F7 ^+ u% R
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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) ; A; Q. H4 u( i$ a+ n 9 A) U' Z6 P5 [! @9 @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) 4 N1 A; Q. ~1 M! \ n8 _1 ?, r! e6 a" J0 g7 K+ Z
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)' X! ^6 X* t0 r. E- f
7 }* I; K6 j! x& K( f ?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) ' L, F2 y1 r4 K/ h/ }( o% X + P& N" F$ L! [1 m. AIn 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)* v6 v# U0 ^+ U8 R
) F; e1 y+ C7 q1 a% \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)" {& X5 O7 f. r7 m6 _9 |
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) ; v$ \0 S" W" k( [2 l* o/ b. b# B* O; F% U+ L
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:( J9 K& U, g* w' I0 P
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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。)3 b& ] r4 | k* s" h! F
' F* u" |6 P Y5 n& A0 }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 W, u3 ]; h. ?' y9 K
- h4 E2 C- D' t R! rHe 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。) ' ]0 W$ c( u8 T4 u' Z* T" m8 c4 s 7 K2 j% ?8 W8 N4 s' [# j/ E% `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) 2 T; c \+ Z. a) F: y! b2 {- o8 o! d
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): F2 v5 @% h: s$ y3 ?
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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) ' \1 u: S& S$ K + c0 P3 O$ b# u! I# D6 g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.) ) W3 L6 E. O) O- N; q u7 X* A , K. c" m/ L" X0 T* Q* c4 m此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。 u0 n8 C& ~1 I5 F
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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)8 @* I+ U: Q) R, K; X
9 [. q- O J/ G# ~/ S9 d: r& b 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)# O- `! I0 [4 x" R2 r# 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) 7 k2 A+ `7 K8 q# ?/ G5 v6 ^2 z/ V ( H/ T8 m2 U; s* t" V* ZHe (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。)* q, c+ q! u) _' ]/ u+ W
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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。); U& ^- E" W3 x+ x
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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) ( r4 F, o1 V: Q( k . v) T8 O& Y1 B6 Z" KCongressmen (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)# A! E& ~: h: h0 `
" _, X+ e$ W) ^3 v3 l0 ?2 Z: L! W5 S \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。)% L( \- ^) u; E8 u$ G6 F
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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。 . R- w% `- [! I1 s, H) ^ C$ v6 f6 |- \' e
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: % q" \; |) s! Z$ V5 x3 M+ H4 R1 k% L0 G' `( q5 y" E
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; $ e8 K9 L# H- T 0 q% P, P; Y5 V' }& C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;8 i' `2 |9 ]/ @- S2 a# e
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对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people; + ~) L1 n4 b, [ w& U " L* K8 a' j/ ]1 X! w! N对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; 2 a& d3 ?! v2 Q2 z! o( {6 J% q; c! ^! h8 b0 t1 C
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:( {& p# W* q0 l4 }3 y: [$ y
) e" P+ s0 |5 i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)。) h9 z' D. E: y" C