6 w/ _1 Q6 @9 N3 o2 }. u转帖 " O( u; g$ G8 m* s+ l$ @) G. A9 X1. 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)7 J$ Y! I7 A4 G h) S. F8 F! c
+ y& o( s! W$ ?- {例如: # M! [' g" B. B- w+ F( q5 n3 T' x+ w5 i; e
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) : j9 q2 D& L2 p7 U0 }, v: \ # V$ W+ ^! w5 c9 \$ h6 Z2 O2 ^/ t3 MThree 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。) 4 B% C( v/ k. o5 {% n8 j2 k/ {' |4 L) o8 w
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) ) \* m: a. F8 z P* M, s& Q, w: Y: g9 A* `. ?# x
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?)" I7 X+ z, @' m/ Z1 t
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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。) , j( o7 c L7 r/ P2 i; H3 Q1 W ' ]' s1 X# d2 @7 K' MMr. 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) / X! n, o+ O/ [# C: g1 j, c! }: l9 {) v! Z& O" I# s, F$ o
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!)! w; u+ f" T* J7 @4 l& q* `, K
; A" c# q# y# C8 t: s) B6 `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) - m& ?; h/ H* F5 j3 L2 k+ H+ H# m" ~6 q6 o0 T0 \
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。) ! b& d$ A+ v3 B- E5 ]% S: v2 p" K
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?) ' |$ ?- m% U0 I% e) G8 \; }! H, ^. S H) Y" D* O( y) b
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!) e3 u7 t: Y g R
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( R4 e/ e% j$ N; z, C* l+ T 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。 % [: s' X) V- i0 a3 t9 j; Z) W! l R1 V
例如:8 x" g% ~0 f. M
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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) 0 d! @* B& r: f" F 5 {+ O. U; z) R' B- sDespite 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) # X }; q1 j4 N5 j1 e! w a' w% J: ?3 }0 ?
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) - `) Y4 V! E0 I2 I 1 B5 M/ T0 _ ]6 v# y$ Y- n! QHe 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) ; V1 o9 T {, V4 _; P ! X' H& F% W( G# Z2 x" ]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) 5 b6 L7 N, v' N& \( k q0 z8 E5 Q7 R7 ^2 [5 t* f
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); }( {, T' O6 o
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I will bring the matter to the attention of Mr. Wang. (我要通知王先生) 1 B i/ t- O# r3 ]% Q b4 p( l( S' {* O% F6 S
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:" K C _& m; r8 ^
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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。)1 l. \. D! o l3 E5 ]% o4 U5 T
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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.): j8 s( N6 ]% T3 N! B/ |9 K
; t( R8 [6 b) J2 Q: kHe 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。)# O# e& }2 m8 T" {
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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) 4 S+ V5 S+ ~! _9 S4 X- L9 r4 `4 ^0 J5 |, A+ N. O* R, P* S5 O' O$ g
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) 1 @3 M! P2 S0 j+ ]% [2 |( r$ z" }, Y: n% z4 ~+ ]; Z8 X% @
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)$ R- f# C- J' i9 Q- S7 T8 a
- M. r: U! x" c9 e) ^7 _" X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.)) N, @) I! D" l' x. j( |
0 G, r- ~* O$ U3 v/ ?( w" x此外还有:in reference to = about;draw to close = end; at an early date = soon等。+ `# {1 ?7 i, d8 c' @
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2 u3 g! q! u8 b8 {& ]6 I. U 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」。 ]6 Q7 k+ \7 U1 O. g" [
( \6 ?2 T5 d* b2 p4 sMankind 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 I/ n3 `" }3 b* ]3 b" F7 h5 {7 u6 [6 \; [9 G( v/ P$ 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) # t' y4 D! {( A8 T$ b* I K % a4 H* [. x; }( V7 M; ?9 qThis 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)- M" {) h. K7 {3 u$ D6 r7 }
# Q- c9 q3 ~0 S8 ^& {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。) 0 o) S9 W2 D0 ~$ N9 H" M' q7 M8 b* j, T- W, G! {; y
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。) 8 X& t" Z& r. r4 X, m; J M/ u' R5 s8 L: l4 {# l: z
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), U% Y( a; g) U6 P: l- G, B) W5 g
2 U% ] D2 v' s. dCongressmen (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) k9 x$ q. O3 o, c5 B + l. d+ [0 ?4 ~% }% g, hStewardesses 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。) O+ U" n+ |2 M. f- U# V! V/ G2 l" m
/ Q( I% n j' e Z" R( ?9 f) P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。 2 v' u1 {- w3 I( I1 l$ P0 J- X! A( q
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: 8 v/ H0 e: U' P( j! X! d8 o: u- b7 [6 }3 [
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;! l' n, C, {" d; {+ j
7 G0 |6 i! p3 @ C3 E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; ' u' i5 J# G" I3 A9 H3 r6 `) I# \, d7 p
对犹太人不要用 Hymies,应该叫 Jewish 或 Jewish people;" b/ U9 [, z# Q+ K: F5 k
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对越南人不要用 Gook,要用 Vietnamese; " K7 T A3 y1 o: s; f. I: X 4 K' U& L. T% F7 k9 j" f$ U7 {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:7 D4 t7 @0 U* g9 @
* @6 |2 {" o) U) P# J {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)。 : n- P$ A6 _ b9 P5 O; g6 B 8 n% A" O% A! {: f0 {9 l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)。5 c; H7 I: B7 V+ ^' b% `